Five-time world champion Matthew Mullins has been practicing martial arts for more than a decade. Honing his skills, studying under legendary martial arts instructor John Sharkey at Sharkey's Karate Studio in Naperville, Illinois, Matt took to the competition circuit and quickly excelled in all divisions. A third-degree black belt in Shorei-Ryu, Matt is also a six-time North American Sport Karate Association (NASKA) national champion and a five-time American Karate Association (AKA) national champion.

While at Sharkey's, Matt also trained alongside three-time world champion Mike Chaturantabut. There, the two men perfected their skills in sport karate, what would later become known as XMA, or extreme martial arts, a fluid blend of traditional forms with powerful acrobatics and gymnastics.

Matt's training with Mike, their talent and the fascinating transition between traditional martial arts and XMA were recently featured on the Discovery Channel documentary, "XMA: Xtreme Martial Arts." The documentary showcases the amazing grace and fluidity of the human form and also studies the latest scientific analysis, motion-capture techniques and bio-mechanics of body movement. "XMA: Extreme Martial Arts" is now one of the best-selling DVDs in the Discovery catalog.

"XMA is the next phase in the evolution of martial arts, combining traditional styles with more unusual and entertaining moves such as acrobatic kicks, spins and flips," explains Mullins.

Mullins also travels across the country, hosting exclusive training camps at karate schools. These appearances allow him to share his experiences and educate the public on the mental and physical benefits of martial arts. Mullins' passion for his art has become an inspiration to many aspiring future-generation martial artists.

When he is not performing, training or hosting a martial arts camp, Matt is actively pursuing an acting career. He has been featured in national commercials for America Online, Applebee's, NBC, Nike and Pepsi, and as the lead in several films, including "Kung Fu Love Triangle," "Freshmyn," and "Bloodsport 2050."

While most six year-olds are watching cartoons and playing video games, Craig began training with instructors and mentors John Sharkey and Matthew Mullins at the world-renowned Shorei-Ryu school, Sharkey's Karate Studio. Training alongside Mullins, a five-time world champion, influenced Craig to hit the competition circuit.

Dominating the musical forms, musical weapons, point and continuous fighting divisions, Craig won his first national championship when he was twelve. For his innovation and contribution to the sport at such a young age, Craig was inducted into the Tornado International Hall of Fame. At that time, Craig was chosen to represent America as a member of Team USA, competing in Vienna, Austria for the WKA World Championships.

Craig currently holds eight national and three world titles, and is the two-time defending champion of the coveted AKA Grand Nationals Warrior Cup. He is the only youth in the forty-year history of this tournament to win back-to-back championships, and he recently earned his black belt in Shorei-Ryu.

Apart from competition, Craig has been featured in countless martial arts demonstrations across the country. Longtime friend and mentor Matt Mullins recruited him to be on his Sideswipe Performance Team.

Craig's excellent attention to detail, choice trick combinations and explosive techniques also earned him a spot on Mike Chatarantabut's new competition team, XMA (Xtreme Martial Arts). As part of this elite team, Craig has the opportunity to introduce the public to a new side of martial arts, combining traditional styles with exciting new high-flying kicks and leaps. Craig, Matt and Mike's XMA style was recently featured on the Discovery Channel special, "XMA: Xtreme Martial Arts," and is one of the best-selling DVDs in Discovery's catalog.

"My goal is to introduce the sport, art and culture of XMA as an Olympic discipline, just as Judo and Tae Kwon Do are currently, through our dedicated efforts with Sideswipe and Team XMA," said Henningsen.

Craig resides in Los Angeles, California.

Inspired by his father and Bruce Lee movies, Brendon Huor began his martial arts training at the tender age of three years old under Grandmaster Chung Eun Kim. He competed in his first tournament after receiving his orange belt, and won all three divisions he entered. Enjoying the challenges of competition, Brendon continued to train, and entered every tournament he could find.

By the age of 7, Brendon received his black belt in Tae Kwon Do and traveled to Minneapolis to compete in the Diamond Nationals tournament. This was where he was first exposed to Extreme Martial Arts and it was there that Brendon knew that was what he wanted to do. He began to mimic the forms of World Champions such as Jon Valera, Mike Chatarantabut and Jimmy Phan and began taking tumbling lessons. Always wanting to expand his knowledge of different types of martial arts, Brendon also started training in Shorei-Ryu under Jai Johnson of Moline, Illinois. Because of his experience in Extreme Martial Arts, Jai was able to help guide Brendon in the correct direction with his routines and performance skills.

It was at Terry Creamer's Silver Sun Showdown tournament that Brendon would finally meet Matthew Mullins, in the Seventeen and Under Weapons Grand Championship division. After losing to Matt in Grands, Brendon began taking private lessons from him, and at the same time was introduced to Sensei John Sharkey. After a few years of private instruction from Matt, Brendon began placing higher at national tournaments, and even garnered a few first place wins. However, this did not satisfy him.

Wanting to learn more, in 2003, Brendon traveled by himself to Shenyang, Liaoning, China to train in China's national sport of Wushu. After two years, Brendon returned to America and continued his training at Sharkey's Karate School where he eventually earned his black belt in the style of Shorei-Ryu. In 2005, Brendon was asked by Matt to perform with Sideswipe at the Carnival Choreographer's Showcase in Los Angeles. His unique style of integrating wushu with extreme martial arts impressed Matt so much that Brendon has been a part of the Sideswipe team ever since.

Brendon currently resides in Naperville, Illinois, and when he's not performing with Sideswipe, can be found teaching at Sharkey's Karate School. He continues to compete regularly in the NASKA circuit and is now a three-time world champion and captain of the World Champion ISKA Team Demo team, Team AKA.

Seth started training in the martial arts at the age of nine. His sister, Marne, started practicing a year before him and decided she needed somebody to train with at home. So after lots of convincing and lots of very one-sided sparring matches, Seth decided it was time to learn. Seth began training at DePalma's Team USA Martial Arts in Gilbert, Arizona and attained a second degree black belt in American Kenpo from Master Fred DePalma.

In 2003, Seth went to his first national martial arts tournament, the coveted Diamond Nationals, and got a rude awakening. He saw people with skill levels way above his own, and left that tournament without placing in a single division. However, this did not stop Seth; instead he decided to dedicate himself to training long and hard, until he could reach the level of the competitors he idolized. Seth longed to be able to do the things that they could do. It was at the renowned Camp Chat, led by seven time world champion Mike Chatarantabut, that Seth found the help he needed. He met and started taking private lessons with legendary instructor John Sharkey, and in 2007 Seth received his black belt in Shorei-Ryu Karate from Sharkey's Karate Studio in Naperville, Illinois.

Seth was also asked to be a part of Sensei Sharkey's prestigious Team AKA, one of the dominating teams on the NASKA martial arts circuit. When Seth turned 18, he and fellow Sideswipe/Team AKA members Donald Mills and Brendon Huor were named team captains and in 2007, Seth was asked to be part of Team AKA's elite competition Demo Team. In that same year, the Demo Team won the ISKA US Open Team Demo World Title, and is still the defending champions. Through Sensei Sharkey, Seth was also introduced to Matthew Mullins, and with hard work was invited to become a member of the Sideswipe Performance Team. With Sideswipe, Seth has traveled all over the US, Guam, Cuba, Turkey, Italy, Spain, England and Greece, and also performed with them on NBC's America's Got Talent.

He is currently living in Phoenix, Arizona where he can be found training, studying film, and working towards his associate's degree at Rio Salado College.

At the age of five, inspired by countless Saturday mornings full of Batman and Ninja Turtles, Donald decided to try the martial arts. After a few trial lessons at the local park department, Donald met Anthony Howard from Dunlap's School of Karate (DSK), and began training with him. After a short while, Donald started competing and winning locally, but after his first national tournament at the Bluegrass Nationals, he was inspired to improve and compete on that level. He began competing on the National Black Belt League (NBL) competition circuit and, because his own instructor could not accompany him on his travels, he was taken under the wing of Sensei John Sharkey.

Eventually, he began commuting to Naperville on the weekends to train in the XMA program at Sensei Sharkey's school, and was soon after placed on Team AKA. During this time, he continued to train at Dunlap's School Karate and earned his second degree black belt in Shorin Ryu Karate. Donald was introduced to Matt Mullins at one of Sharkey's Karate's many training camps and seminars. Matt invited Donald to be a part of Theatricks, Sideswipe's 90-minute theatrical production. This soon led to other shows, including America's Got Talent, and several Armed Forces tours.

Donald excels in the nunchucks and sparring, and has won a continuous sparring world title in the WSKF (World Sport Karate Federation). Donald is now one of the captains of Team AKA, and helped win the 2007 ISKA World Champion Demo Team title.

Within six months of starting to compete on the national level, Luke Broadlick was dubbed one of the hottest competitors on the Sport Martial Arts circuit and has never looked back.

Luke started his martial arts path by sheer luck when a friend gave him a free karate class coupon in his Halloween basket when he was 7 years old. Soon after receiving his yellow belt, he competed at his first local tournament and took the first win of his career. Luke pushed himself to try and match the level of his instructors and was never afraid to try anything new. In 2003, Luke earned his black belt in American Kenpo at DePalma's,Team USA in Gilbert, Arizona. A year later, he met Sensei John Sharkey and Craig Henningsen, who would go on to become his mentors and take him to a level and career that he never imagined possible. Luke excelled in Traditional Forms and Extreme Martial Arts and, in his first year on the national level, won 5 of his 13 NASKA World Titles competing all over the US, Canada and France. The next couple years would bring back-to-back ISKA World Championships in Forms, a coveted Warrior Cup, and an invitation to be a member of the ISKA World Champion AKA Demo Team.

Through his mentors, Luke met Matt Mullins in 2005 and started performing on his Sideswipe Kids and Sideswipe Performance Team. He has been fortunate enough to perform on such shows as The Ellen DeGeneres Show, America's Got Talent, Theatricks, and to entertain our troops in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Continuing the tradition of mentorship that Matt and Craig have taught him, Luke has now actively taken on that role for other young martial artists that aspire to become better.

Luke has also followed in Matt's and Craig's footsteps in another way: by pursuing an acting career. Luke has starred in several national commercials including one for Bratz Dolls and Time Warner; print jobs with Target and Getty Images; has performed on the Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards; and has just landed a host role on Nickelodeon.

Luke has now relocated to Los Angeles to be closer to the entertainment industry and to his mentors, Matt Mullins and Craig Henningsen.

Jake Greenburg has been training in Shorei-ryu Karate for the past 11 years of his life, and holds a black belt under Sensei John Sharkey. While training at Sharkey's Karate, he also learned Extreme Martial Arts under the tutelage of Matt Mullins. He began performing with Sideswipe Performance Team five years ago, and he says, "Getting up in front of a live ccrowd and giving them everything you've got is one of the most exhilarating things on the planet."

Jake is proficient in a wide selection of martial arts weaponry, specializing in the Japanese Katana sword. He resides in Naperville, Illinois, and when Jake is not competing or performing with Sideswipe, he helps teach classes at Sharkey's Karate Studio, and is a sophomore at Waubonsie Valley High School. Jake also studies music and enjoys playing his bass.