Brian Bryan

Bryan is the founder and CEO of The Combat Team. He is an accomplished martial artist from Tulsa, Oklahoma, holding a 8th degree black belt in Taekwondo and 5th degree black belt in Aikido. He was a Florida Carribbean Golden Gloves boxer (fastest KO of 25 seconds). Brian is a five time state martial arts champion with over twenty five years experience. Brian is a graduate of Victory Bible Institute in Tulsa, Oklahoma, fulfilling the vision and direction God has placed in his heart; "To use my God given talents and gifts to reach and teach people about our Lord Jesus Christ." Brian is engaged to Beverly Dunson

Brian and The Combat Team travel throughout the world performing at churches, youth groups, prisons, public and private schools as well as,  community outreaches ministering to the young and the young at heart.

Brian instructs and administers karate schools in the Tulsa, OK area. .   With his unique ministry, he delivers a clear and powerful message that communicates to this generation.

Richard Serzy

Richard started Martial Arts later in life regardless of his childhood desires. After starting his mixed martial arts training with Team U.S.A. Athletics in 2003, Richard decided to take on a more traditional school and joined American Bushido-Kia Karate Association (A.B.K.A.) in the winter of 2004. Through A.B.K.A. he was able to see how you can express the love of Jesus Christ through Karate. This was a revelation on his view of Martial Arts. The view of being bigger, better, faster quickly developed into a view of simply being a vessel for the message of Jesus Christ.

Scheduling conflicts pulled Richard away from A.B.K.A, which also allowed him to start a simple self-defense class at his home church one night a week. Keeping with his new insight of using Martial Arts to glorify Christ, this ministry grew and reached many people with encouraging stories and fellowship during and at the close of classes.

Meeting the Combat Team through a demonstration at his home church, Richard instantly became a fan of their works. There was an excitement about seeing Marital Arts and his love for Jesus combined in one large package. It was as if God planted a new revelation in his heart for the works that were possible through Martial Arts. Shortly after, Richard joined the Combat team, he accompanied them in the mission field of Sudan, Africa.

Growing up, I hardly ever went to church. There was typically a function or event that made me walk through a church door. It wasn't until High School when I had the freedom of my own car and the liberty to go where I wanted that I went to church. Don't get me wrong, having my own car wasn't holding me back from going to church, I had no desire whatsoever. What tugged at me was a protest of removing God from our school. Every morning the kids would gather around the flagpole and pray. "What a bunch of losers," I thought. Then God put somebody on my path that explained everything to me in such a way that it seemed that "Church" was exactly what was missing in my life. So I gave this God thing a try and quickly found acceptance and love like I never had before. I didn't fully surrender my heart to Christ and found myself in and out of churches over the next 15 years. It wasn't until my life was completely torn into shreds and I had nowhere to turn when I fully gave my all to Jesus. He pulled me out of the muddy hole I dug for myself and placed me on a solid rock foundation where I stand today. Funny thing was that he was always there. He was there every step of the way watching me destroy everything I had. He was there holding out his hand calling out my name. I was too stubborn to hear him. I thought I could make it without him. Truth is I could never make it on my own and neither can you.

Andy Craft

I grew up in a devout Christian home. My parents raised me very sheltered. I wasn't allowed to say "Gosh," "Butt," "Darn," "Dang," etc. And throughout my childhood, all of my friends were Christians as well so I never really heard curse words anywhere. I would actually tell on myself if I said something bad... stupid right? But when I got to middle school, I started hearing bad words around every corner. Word after word after word. After a while, I started talking like some of my other friends. I didn't curse yet; I just increased my vocabulary with some more vulgarities, gosh, butt, darn, dang, crap, etc. After sixth grade, I started cursing. Then it all went down hill. I could hardly utter a sentence without a curse word inhabiting it. Well, at school at least. At home and church I was still the perfect little child that everyone knew and loved. I still listened to Christian music, still went to church on Sunday, still watched my mouth around my family. But after a full year of hypocrisy, I felt like God wanted more for me than to bear his name bogged down with all the stuff that I couldn't stop saying. I made the motion toward my faith and stopped. Now, I still slip from time to time, but it's nothing like it used to be. I haven't cursed on purpose in a serious conversation since the beginning of eighth grade. I attribute my success in my quitting to God and God alone. No one can stop anything for real without God in their lives; it's just not possible.

Jonathan Potter

I was born September 12th, 1982 in California to a loving family. I grew up most of my life in Texas, from when I was 3 until 15. I was raised in the Church and a Christian household, and came to know Jesus when I was 5 years old. For most of my life I walked shakily with the Lord. When I started high school, I begin to let my anger and dislike of school to grow. Halfway through my freshman year of high school, my family moved to Oklahoma.

When I was 17, I ran away from my parents, sisters and home because of pride and thinking that I could do things better than what my parents were telling me to do. I moved in with people that weren't doing the best of things. They would drink many nights, getting drunk; they would do illegal drugs. During the entire time I was there, I could always feel the presence of God in my heart, telling me not to do those things and to go back home. I thank God today for that, because I never did the drugs and I never harmed my body. After a few months, I returned home to my parents.

I relate this story with the parable Jesus told in Luke of the prodigal son. In the story, after the son has taken his portion of his father's wealth and spent it all and participated in many things in the big city, he was left with nothing and working with pigs, eating what they ate for food. He finally returned home, and his Father welcomed him home with open arms, even with all the bad things he had done. It is great to know that God is just like that. That no matter what you have done, no matter how bad of things, he will always be there waiting to welcome you home and to forgive you.

Later, after a few years of college, I decided to start working out again. I hadn't been praying much, and my walk with the Lord was faltering. I met a group of people who worked out in the Martial Arts that began each class with prayer. I started to work out with them and my relationship with the Lord grew. Through this group, I ended up meeting Brian Bryan, and saw that I could use what I loved to do, the Martial Arts, to tell others about Jesus Christ and how he died on the cross for our sins. I went on my first Mission Trip with the Combat Team to Brazil. I've been going on Mission Trips every since.

It is amazing how God can use the skills and gifts He gave us in such amazing ways. I look forward to the future Mission Trips and seeing in what ways God will use me to further His Kingdom. Now that I'm in the Texas area, I hope to do demonstrations in the Dallas Area through the Combat Team, and grow up a Team in the area.

Ephraim Taylor

I am married to my beautiful wife Bekah. We have a son named Evan and another baby on the way.

I started karate with Brian when I was 14 years old and after awhile he asked me to join the Combat Team. I went to Bolivia on spring break when I was 15 years old and have traveled to many other countries since.

I believe that God has a plan for everyone, no matter what they have done or who they are. He is no respecter of persons. He has always been in my life, even when I did not know it or when I was doing what I knew I shouldn't have. I am not perfect, but Jesus is and He died for me and my sins. He always forgives me when I ask. His plan is working even when you might know it or know what it is.

I was 11 years old when I first saw the Combat Team perform, and I was blown away. I didn't know then but 4 years after that I would be on the same team. God is always working in us if we just listen and obey his voice.

Who is the Combat Team? We are regular people who love karate but more than that, we love God. The Combat Team allows us to share the love of Christ and our testimonies with others while we demonstrate our karate.

We were once of this world and made bad decisions. We dealt with hard consequences, but when we ask God into our hearts, asked forgiveness, and follow him our lives beome better. He has never let me down. We have the ability to choose who we are and what we do, good or bad, but Jesus loves us no matter what. He always forgives us if we just ask.

David Murry

Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior; it is by his blood and sacrifice that I have been able to love other people and have been able to accomplish what I have in life. I hold a 1st degree black belt in American Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan Taekwondo and an orange belt in Aiki Jujitsu. I graduated from the University of North Texas with a Bachelors degree in Business Computer Information Systems in May of 1994. I am currently working on my Masters in Business Administration from Oklahoma Wesleyan University. I am married to my beautiful wife, Dawn, and have two wonderful Christ-filled children; Joshua and Sage. It is such an honor to get to serve God by being a member of the Combat Team. For the first 20 years of my Christian walk, I always thought it was just my place to earn money to give to missionaries, but now I have the privilege to travel the world sharing my testimony and telling people how much God loves them. I owe all my success to God. He is the source of my strength, power, and love.

My Testimony

I am from a broken family. I grew up in Texas, constantly moving from one location to the next. My mother had 7 husbands and countless number of boyfriends, none of which was my father. You see, my mother was busy chasing the materialistic thinks in life; a big house, nice cars, jewelry, and fancy clothing, so when she was not working to make more money, she was looking for a rich husband. That left her children having to take care of themselves. When I was a child, that made me very sad. You see, I thought there was something wrong with me, I thought it was my fault that my mother was never around. When I got older, my sadness turned to anger and I became rebellious, so my mother threw me out of the house. Six months later, my mother tried to commit suicide, so I went to visit her in the hospital. When I was there, my sister took pity on me. I had gone from weighing 156 pounds to 115 pounds, so she asked me to come and stay with her. The good news is my sister had recently given her life to Christ, so out of respect for her, I started going to Church. Often times, they would talk about how the Love of God was like the love of a father, and when I heard that, I would get angry all over again. You see, I never knew the love of a father. Then one day an Evangelist, like Brian Bryan the CEO of the Combat Team, came to my church. He shared with me how God wanted to be my friend and that I did not have to wait to go to church to talk to him. God wanted me to talk to him just as I would a best friend. He told me that God loves me and that God would never leave me nor would he ever forsake me. That sounded very good to me, so I gave my life to Jesus. That was more than 20 years ago and I can tell you God has never forsaken me nor has he ever left me. Now I still get sad and angry, but now I have a best friend. I do not have to go through my problems alone. It is my wish and prayer for each one of you that you would know Jesus as your best friend just as I have. There is POWER in the LOVE of Christ and he will change your life if you give your heart to him.

Igor Kurlyanov

For several reasons, Igor stopped his Martial Arts practice for more than 5 years, until he became a student of Beijing Language and Culture University in China, where he renewed Martial Arts training. After several months of studying Taichi, Igor became the Taichi Champion of Beijing Language and Culture University in year 2000.

Now he is studying Aikido and earning his first degree black belt in Tangsoodo. Igor has Tangsoodo class in Russia and in China as well.

Here is short life story:

"I was born in Russia, in small town. Watching Kung Fu movies I became interesting in Chinese Martial Arts and in China culture when I was about 11 years old. Involving in Chinese culture makes me believe and in Chinese philosophy as well. I became a follower of Confucianism and Taoism. And I always wanted to have Chinese friends, but in my town you can't find any of them. One day a group of Chinese people came to our town. They did some kind of show in the movie centre. I came to find some Taoist friends, and was very disappointed. They where Christians!!! And they came for Evangelist meeting! I argued with them about religion, and tried to get them back to traditional Chinese believes. But one man said, that He was Buddhist for 15 year, but he did not find in Buddha, what he found in Jesus Christ. He said that he found LOVE!

I checked all my books about Taoism and Confucianism, and I suddenly realized that there is no Love! But when I opened the Bible I found the Love that I was looking for.

It was 15 years ago, and that Love never leaves me. I always feel it in my heart. And I want to share that Love with other people. The best way to do it is do what you good at for getting people's attention and to share that Love with them. That is what I am doing in the Combat Team, and this way of life is making me happy and brings the purpose and meaning for my being on this earth".

Paul Brown

Through Brian's vision to share Christ with the world, I'm also able to help when my schedule allows and continue to support him financially.

"In this life, service to others is the only thing that matters, everything else is veneer".

John James

I was raised in a Christian home, and like my brothers and sisters, came to know Christ as my personal savior at the early age of five. I never had to deal with peer pressure since I was home schooled. I tried to live my life the way God would want me to live. Though I have never faced issues with drugs or alcohol or temptations that other boys my age have, I have experienced times in my Christian life that have strengthened my faith. When my little brother, Paul, was born, he had several problems. I prayed daily for him but worried about him. When he was just a baby, he had a seizure that caused him to stop breathing. The seizure did not last long but scared me. I realized then that there was nothing that I, personally, could do to heal my brother, but that God wanted me to rely totally on Him and trust Him for Paul's healing. God did heal my brother! My faith has grown by leaps and bounds during these times with Paul.

When Brian Bryan gave me the opportunity to serve on the Combat Team, I was very excited! I had felt that God wanted me to start sharing Him with others, but I wasn't sure how to accomplish this. I had invited people to church, but really didn't know what talents I could use to share God's message. But, this team has given me the chance that changed my life! Everyone has different talents! My talent in karate is being used to share God's message with others and helping to change other peoples lives forever!

Andy Blocker

               My name is Andy Blocker I was born, September 28 1989, and I am a 1st Degree Black Belt in Tae-Kwon-Do.  Ever since I was younger I had a passion for the martial arts, and a passion for God’s people.  I met Brian Bryan 7 years ago, and had wanted to be part of the Combat Team’s ministry since I had first heard about what it is they really do.  I found out that the Combat Team wasn’t just Brian’s demonstration team; it was his way of bringing people to Christ.

                I was born with something called “cerebral palsy” which is very complex way of saying that my legs don’t work quite right.  Some people might say this was a disadvantage, but I wouldn’t have wanted to grow up any other way.  Because of my situation I couldn’t play sports, or ride a bike, but I did get to think about what things in life really meant to me.  I had believed in God all my life and I grew up in a Christian home, but to me God was always some far off voice in the sky or some ancient sage sitting in the clouds.  Then my sophomore year of high school God brought me a new group of friends that showed me the exact opposite.  They started speaking of Him as being intimate, a friend.  I had never God described in the way, and for long time I had wanted to get to that place of comfort with Him. 

              That Summer I was at a church camp called Camp Barnabas, and at the end of the week we have this event called cross carry.  The director of the camp takes an old wooden cross from on top of a hill and carries it down to the first cabin, who prays over it, and then they carry it to the next cabin who repeats the process.  It was my cabin's turn to pray over the cross, and I was desperate.  I prayed silently that God would move in my life somehow, and free me from this isolation I had placed on myself.  As I was praying something told me to look up, and I’ll never forget what I saw.  It wasn’t the same cross we were praying over, but the Cross of Calvary.  Jesus hung there bruised and beaten, and he looked into my eyes and said, “I love you, and I want you to be with me forever, will you accept me?”  That night my life changed forever, and Christ healed the brokenness in my soul, but my healing wasn’t over yet.

              You see, as a way of dealing with my disability, I created a fantasy world for myself that over the years grew into something that blurred my since of reality.  Soon the one thing I used to deal with my life became the thing that was ruling my life.  God spoke to me about that too; He brought me a bible verse, 2 Corinthians 12:9 “My grace is sufficient for you, because My strength is purified in your weakness.”  This meant that I didn’t have to rely on myself or my fantasy world to get on with my life, I could rely on my heavenly father for everything I ever needed.  Since then, God has called me to be a pastor and show His love to His people.  Brian and the Combat Team have really given me the chance to do that.