Jay is a Canadian Armed Forces member with over 15 years of military service and more than two decades of experience in martial arts, combatives, and operational environments.
A former high-level hockey player, Jay’s martial arts journey began in his late teens through Muay Thai and kickboxing. What started as a way to improve his athletic performance quickly developed into a lifelong passion for combat sports and combatives. Over the years, he trained wherever life and military service took him, studying Muay Thai, American Kickboxing, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and wrestling with various clubs across Canada. He competed in seven amateur Muay Thai bouts and has continued to pursue martial arts and combatives training throughout his career.
Jay initially joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 2006 before returning to full-time service in 2013. During his military career, he has served in the Armored Corps, as a Close Protection Operator, and within Canadian Special Operations Forces. His experience includes multiple operational deployments and years spent supporting high-readiness missions in demanding operational environments.
In addition to his military service, Jay taught mixed martial arts classes at a local gym for several years, working with everyone from children and beginners to experienced adult practitioners. His passion for instruction and mentorship has remained a constant throughout both his martial arts and military career.
A SOCP Level 2 Instructor, Jay has been teaching the Special Operations Combatives Program for over five years and has delivered numerous courses to military and law enforcement personnel. He is recognized for his ability to tailor training to the operational realities of the end user, bridging the gap between traditional martial arts, combatives, and real-world application.
As the Canadian representative for SOCP, Jay is focused on expanding access to Greg Thompson’s proven, combat-tested system throughout Canada while preserving the standards, philosophy, and operational relevance that have defined SOCP for decades.