There is no Guro Joe without the Creator, his family, and the family of teachers, mentors and instructors that have contributed to his journey.
Guro Joe Marana has spent over 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 Master Maria Patalinghug at Karate International in Reisterstown, Maryland. 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 trained 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. Moving to Los Angeles at the end of 2003, 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 active and certified instructor in Filipino Martial Arts, Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do and Maphilindo Silat 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. Professionally, Joe expresses his Kali as the Director of Mission and Culture at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore City.
Qualifications
Instructorships & Ranked Experience
Inosanto Filipino Martial Arts, Senior Associate Instructor (Guro) Level 2
Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do, Senior Associate Instructor Level 2
Maphilindo Silat, Guro Level 2
Sayoc Kali, Associate Instructor Level 7 (no longer active)
Atienza Kali, Associate Instructor Level 2 (no longer active)
XTMA Filipino Martial Arts & Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do, Associate Instructor
Ronin Combat Applications Group (CAG), Black Belt
Cacoy Doce Pares, Black Belt 1st Dan – Cert. No. 6575
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
National Strength and Conditioning Association, Certification NSCA-CPT #7151450907, 2007 – 2008
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 Neonatal Intensive Care 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
Maryland Wear & Carry (W&C) Permit Holder
Pennsylvania Licensed to Carry Firearms (LTCF) Holder
Florida Concealed Weapons License Holder
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