…Master Instructor of the Year 2012
Honored & Recognized by US Hall of Fame for contributing to the martial arts around the world. For their efforts to advance the teachings and traditions of the martial arts and dedicating their lives to instill discipline, confidence, and passion for martial arts into the lives of their students and community around the globe.
ILEETA (International Law Enforcement Educators & Trainers Association) Certified Member
I am a certified member of ILEETA (International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association), IMAC (International Martial Arts Council of America) & am a trained and certified Instructor in the Defensive Tactics and Ethical Protocol of Security & Law Enforcement. Instructor certification includes Proper Use of Force, Controlled Force, Protective Force, Aerosol Defense Restraint, Impact Weapons, Weapon Retention, Weapon Disarming, Report Filling and Psycho Motor Skill Design.
Fear, chaos, and violence are all situations that can arise in an instant and quickly escalate into life and death situations. My life experiences have allowed me to understand the formula for responding to these situations when most people who are not properly prepared naturally shut down.
I have over 15 years in the field of security and body guarding high profile clientele and venues. My experience in this field of operation has equipped me with the realistic experience of extreme life and death situations. It was in the security field that I have been well versed in the true effectiveness of awareness and the difference between the fighting techniques needed for competition in the arena and personal protection on the streets and in the home.
Thanks to my bodyguard experience and professional MMA fighting and training, I am highly skilled at creating as-real-as-it-gets situations to train everyday people with. Furthermore, my informative persona and tactical experience in street level combat effectively grabs the attention of a wide range of participants, from the timidness to the wildly over-confident, thus keeping everyone engaged in my life saving workshops from beginning to end.
My aim with my training program is to provide the proper confidence building, thinking patterns and tactical techniques, which allow participants to respond both assertively and definitively.
TRANSFORMED BY A TROUBLED PAST
The most powerful and effective technique that can obliterate our enemy in one strike is kindness. This is because one strong act of kindness can instantly convert our enemy into a friend.
-Jermaine Andre’
I am Jermaine Andre. I am a 5x United States Champion; 2x World Champion; UFC Vet; Pioneer of the Mixed Martial Arts; Hall of Fame Inductee; Trainer of professional MMA & Muay Thai fighters; Police, Security & Bodyguard Defensive Tactics Trainer/Certifier; Self-Defense Expert; Member of ILEETA (International Law Enforcement Educators & Trainers Association); Member of the “International Martial Arts Council of America”; awarded the “Voice of Empowerment” award by the Megan Meier Foundation; owner & Master Instructor of Andre’s Academy; Vice President of Team Bully Response Squad; Mental Toughness Coach; Author; Public Speaker.
But my journey wasn’t always one of success. At 18, I found myself on a destructive path, consumed by anger and violence. My high-risk, rebellious behavior made me fearless but directionless, pushing me further from my family, community, and a positive future. I embraced a “dog eat dog” mentality, believing that survival meant standing up to anyone, even at the cost of my life. This mindset led to confrontations with authority and a series of expulsions and arrests, driving me deeper into a self-induced cycle of ego and defiance.
It was in prison that my life took a turn for the better. When I entered the Wyoming State Penitentiary for armed robbery, I expected the worst from the staff, particularly Warden Duane Shillinger. Instead, I found a man who treated me with dignity and respect. Duane’s kindness pierced through the hardened shell I’d built around myself, challenging everything I thought I knew about strength. His leadership and humanity showed me that true power comes from integrity and respect, not violence or ego.
Through the support of the warden and others in the prison system, I was able to transform my life. I realized that the energy I put into the world—whether positive or negative—came back to me. This understanding became the foundation of my philosophy and the driving force behind my mission to guide others toward self-mastery and personal redemption.
When I left prison, I was not the same person who entered. Instead of continuing down a path of destruction, I committed myself to helping others find their inner strength, discipline, and integrity. Through martial arts, mental toughness, and personal responsibility, I have dedicated my life to empowering individuals to rise above their circumstances and build a future of success and honor. The same principles that saved my life now guide my work at Inside Edge, where I help others navigate the challenges of incarceration with the tools they need for survival, growth, and, ultimately, redemption.
EX-CON RETURNS TO STATE OF CRIME AS HIT ROLE MODEL
Age 19- ARMED ROBBERY; age 29- 5x U.S CHAMP; age 33- 2x WORLD CHAMP; Age 42- HALL OF FAME!
ST. LOUIS NATIVE returns to Wyoming and proudly opens Casper College HUMANITIES FESTIVAL on “REDEMPTION”! Something for St. Louis Natives to be PROUD of!
In February 2016, I returned to Wyoming after 24 years, driven by my commitment to complete my redemption. Casper College funded my journey, thanks to a professor who had read my autobiography, Muay Thaiger. I publicly apologized to the town of Sheridan and its citizens, as well as to both black and white communities, for fueling prejudice and hate in my youth. My message of transformation moved the audience at the Humanities Festival, where I shared my journey from crime to becoming a martial arts champion and Hall of Fame inductee.
The most profound lesson I’ve learned through all my trials is the power of kindness. Through my experiences—from prison to fighting bare-knuckle Muay Thai to becoming a bodyguard and befriending dangerous figures—I realized that kindness is the most powerful technique in life.
Now, I seek to bring a message of unity and hope to St. Louis and beyond. Having brought the first sanctioned MMA World title to St. Louis, I’m ready to rally those who believe in bringing care and unity back to our communities. The bell has rung, and the question is: What are you going to do to make a difference? America and St. Louis need this message now more than ever.
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