• Thirty years of martial arts experience.

• 7th Degree Black Belts/American Open Style Karate/Hanshi Jerry Piddington.

• 6th Degree Black Belts/American Jee Do Kwan Karate/Dave Adams.

• 5th Degree Black Belts/American Karate Systems/Joe Lewis.

• 5th Degree Black Belts/Okinawan Shuri-ryu Karate-do/Hanshi John Pachivas.

• Ranked 10th in the world & 3rd in U.S.A. in Kickboxing/NKA/1977.

• World Tag Team Kickboxing Champions/NKA/1977 & 1978.

• Members of undefeated kickboxing team - The Charlotte Warhawks.   

• Inducted into World Martial Arts Hall of Fame/Instructors of the Year/1994.

• Kata Grand Champion/World Martial Arts Hall of Fame Championships/1994.

• Founders of SideKick Karate Franchise in the Southeast.

• Regional Director of American Karate Academies National Association.

• Chief Instructor of American Open Style Karate.     

• Creators of Get Started in Karate instructional video series. 

• Authors of three volumes of American Open Karate Illustrated Training Manuals from white to black belt/endorsed by A.K.A.N.A. 

Charitable Activities

• Founders of Double Impact Ministries involved in nationwide youth outreach.

• Founders of Double Impact Karate Team - Kicking Drugs Out of America, actively involved in the N.C. School System. 

Films

• Angel With A Kick - a Dave Adams Film starring Thomas La Puppet and Ricky & Randy Smith.

• The Quest - A Universal Picture starring Jean-Claude Van Damme and Roger Moore.  Ricky was a stuntman and portrayed a pirate.

• Bloodsport II: The Next Kumite - An FM Entertainment Production starring Pat Morita (Mr. Miyagi) and Daniel Bernhardt.   Ricky portrayed a fighter in The Kumite.

• The Russian Godfather - A Hollywood Star Entertainment Production starring Jeff Conway.  Ricky and Randy were stuntmen and portrayed bodyguards.