Our Founder

Richard S. Bustillo is the founder of the International Martial arts & Boxing Academy. He was a direct student of both Bruce Lee and Cacoy Cañete, each legendary in their fields and highly influential on today’s martial arts landscape. Sigung Richard was a certified Olympic boxing coach as well as a USA Boxing certified coach and served as the president of the World Eskrima Kali Arnis Federation (WEKAF) from 1994 to 1996. Additionally, he was highly decorated as a martial artist with inductions to the Black Belt, United States Martial Arts, World Martial Arts, and Filipino Martial Arts Halls of Fame. He had the distinction of being certified as a defensive tactics instructor for the FBI and the Los Angeles County Sheriffs while also serving as a consultant for the LAPD’s Civilian Martial Arts Advisory Panel.

Some of Richard Bustillo’s most notable students are Brian ‘the Hawaiian Punch’ Viloria, Ernest Emerson, and Bruce Lee’s children, Brandon and Shannon Lee. Many of his other students, such as Walt Michalowski and Freddie Jin, were competitively successful in Muay Thai and boxing. IMB has historically produced world champions in eskrima, as well, and continues to produce successful competitors on the world stage. Many of these students teach seminars or regularly instruct classes at the Academy.

While all that is integral to the founding and success of the IMB Academy, Sigung Richard was much more than just his accomplishments or students. He was, first and foremost, an instructor - he would teach classes and seminars until the week he passed away, taking a personal and vested interest in the success of his students. He would take the helm and teach every boxing, JKD, and eskrima class, despite a busy schedule and having many demands on his time. Because of this, he held the respect and admiration of all of his students.