Guro Joe Marana has spent almost 30 years in formal martial arts training. In 1992, Joe began training in Taekwon-Do alongside his two younger brothers and two of the Gamboa brothers under Master Victor Battung and Miss Maria Patalinghug at Karate International in Reisterstown. Under the Patalinghug family, they eventually earned their Black Belts and in 1998 started their study of Doce Pares Eskrima under Mr. Carlos Patalinghug, Jr. at Kick Connection in Glen Burnie.
While in college Joe also began training under Sifu Chris Bengson, who taught him fundamental skills in boxing, Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Tien Shan Pai Kung Fu, and after graduate school Joe found Guro Dr. Bob Shin and began his study of Sayoc Kali in 2003. After moving to the Los Angeles area, Joe enrolled as a student under Guro Dan Inosanto at his Academy in Los Angeles, and continued his study of Sayoc Kali under Guros Travis Downing and Joey Pena at Integrated Martial Arts in Long Beach. In the following years Joe would also become a student of San Miguel Eskrima under Guro Ramon Rubia and Atienza Kali under Guros Travis Downing and Joey Pena. In 2005, Joe attended his first Sayoc Sama Sama.
In 2009, with the support and encouragement of his instructors Inland Empire Filipino Martial Arts (IEFMA) began offering classes in Claremont, California in Sayoc Kali, Atienza Kali and Inosanto Filipino Martial Arts through the City of Claremont’s Department of Parks and Recreation. These years also saw the creation of Sayoc LA, and the start of training under Sayoc Kali Full Instructor Guro Brian Calaustro’s Tribal Tactics group.
In 2012 Joe returned to Baltimore to share what he has learned and to resume his training under Mr. Carlos Patalinghug, Jr. at Kick Connection and Guro Dr. Bob Shin’s Maharlika Martial Arts. In June of 2013, Guro Joe tested for and was awarded his Black Sash in Cacoy Doce Pares. In 2015 he was awarded Black Belt under Sifu Chris Bengson in Ronin Combat Applications Group (CAG) in recognition for his study of martial arts, and in 2017 Guro Joe was promoted to the rank of Guro in Maphilindo Silat under Guro Dan Inosanto.
Joe continues to train as an instructor in Filipino Martial Arts under Guro Dan Inosanto, and though no longer publicly teaching Sayoc Kali or Atienza Kali he will always consider himself a student in Sayoc Kali under the late Pamana Tuhon Christopher Sayoc and Atienza Kali under Tuhon Carl Atienza. It is their teaching and mentorship that forged the spirit that continues to influence all of his martial art. Since 2015, Guro Joe has hosted Guro Daniel Lonero for annual seminars in Maryland to help promote the Inosanto Academy arts of Filipino Kali, Jeet Kune Do and Silat. When he is not training or teaching, Joe spends time with his family and works as a Nurse Manager of Neonatal Intensive Care and Pediatrics in Baltimore City.
Qualifications
Instructorships & Ranked Experience
Sayoc Kali, Associate Instructor Level 7 (inactive)
Inosanto Filipino Martial Arts, Associate Instructor (Guro) Level 6
Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do, Associate Instructor Level 6
Atienza Kali, Associate Instructor Level 2 (inactive)
Maphilindo Silat, Guro Level 2
XTMA Filipino Martial Arts & Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do, Apprentice Instructor 1
Ronin Combat Applications Group (CAG), Black Belt
Cacoy Doce Pares, Black Belt 1st Dan
International Taekwon-Do Federation, First Dan – Federation No. A-1-8062
Exercise and Fitness Training
Certified Personal Trainer
American Council on Exercise, Certification No. T139120, 2007 – 2009 (inactive)
National Strength and Conditioning Association, Certification NSCA-CPT #7151450907, 2007 – 2008 (inactive)
Professional Certifications & Academic Education
Registered Nurse – Maryland Board of Nursing License R203848
Certified Neonatal Intensive Care Nurse (RNC-NIC), National Certification Corporation Specialty Certification in Obstetrics, Gynecologic & Neonatal Nursing #104194265
Registered Nurse – California Board of Registered Nursing License # RN 743024
Public Health Nurse – California Board of Registered Nursing License # PHN 75048
Instructor, Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP), American Academy of Pediatrics,
Clinical Nurse Leader – Commission on Nurse Certification # 10270003 (inactive)
Master of Nursing – Clinical Nurse Leader
Western University of Health Sciences
Master of Education – College Student Personnel (Counseling & Personnel Services)
Bachelor of Science – Psychology
University of Maryland at College Park
CPR BLS Healthcare Provider, American Heart Association
Neonatal Resuscitation Program Provider, American Academy of Pediatrics
S.T.A.B.L.E. Provider
Blue Card, Nonviolent Crisis Intervention #NC9F253F
Trainer, TeamSTEPPS
Qualified Administrator, Strong Interest Inventory & Myers-Briggs Type Indicator
Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC)
Baltimore City Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)
Maryland Responds Medical Reserve Corps
LAKAS FILIPINO MARTIAL ARTS 
For just about the last two years he was living in the southern California area, it was my true pleasure to train Sayoc and Atienza Kali under the guidance of Guro Joe Marana. Guro Joe is a highly dedicated martial artist. His single minded-devotion to spreading the Filipino Martial Arts and harnessing the power of the martial arts to help individuals find the best versions of themselves is inspiring. As a professional educator for the last decade and having earned my Doctor of Education Degree in 2011, I reserve the use of the following description for the right individuals: Guro Joe Marana is a highly educated, authentic, gifted teacher. He also incorporates what he has learned from the martial arts into his own life practice to be a devoted husband, a caring father, and a good person. If you are able to do so, you should seek out Guro Joe and learn from him. I guarantee that you will enjoy and grow from your training.
– Guro Doctor Bryan Stoops, Ed.D.
Certified “Guro” (Associate Instructor) of the FMA’s under Guro Dan Inosanto
Full Dog Brother (Guide Dog) and Lakan Guro in Dog Brothers Martial Arts under Guro Crafty
Certified Module One Instructor in Balintawak Escrima under Master Virgil Cavada