Shihan Josh Moree
- •7th Dan Black Belt | Ryukyu Kempo Tode Jitsu | Seale Academy of Martial Arts
- •6th Dan Black Belt and Senior Instructor | Shuri-Te Bujutsu | Shuri Te Bujutsu Kai
- •6th Dan Black Belt and Southeast Representative | Small Circle Jujitsu | Small Circle Jujitsu International
- •3rd Black Belt (Lakan Tatlo) | Modern Arnis | International Modern Arnis Federation
- •Black Belt | Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu | Diego Saraiva BJJ
- •Brown Belt | Judo | Atlanta Judo Midtown
- •IBK International Kyokushin Budokai USA Representative | Kyokushin Budokai
Almost 30 Years on the Mat.
Shihan Josh D. Moree has trained in martial arts continually since 1998 — nearly three decades on the mat — and has taught professionally since 2005. He founded Evolution X Martial Arts in 2008 in Atlanta's Old Fourth Ward neighborhood, beginning with a clear idea of what a martial arts school should be. Today EVX has grown to over 100 members across two locations.
His primary foundation lies in Okinawan martial arts — specifically Ryukyu Kempo Tode Jitsu and Shuri-Te Bujutsu — grounded through his training and affiliation with the Seale Academy of Martial Arts. He also serves as Southeast Regional Director and black belt in Professor Wally Jay's Small Circle Jujitsu, one of the most technically refined joint manipulation systems in the world.
Beyond his Okinawan roots, Shihan Moree holds black belts in Modern Arnis (Filipino Martial Arts) and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, with additional training in Kyokushin Karate and Judo. As the IBK International Kyokushin Budokai USA Representative, he approaches the martial arts from a classical integrated perspective — drawing the best principles from each system rather than practicing any single art in isolation.
Martial Artist. Coach. Executive.
Shihan Moree's work extends well beyond the dojo floor. He holds a formal education in Coaching Psychology — the study of human performance, behavior change, and goal achievement — and has applied those principles directly to how he structures instruction at EVX. This led to the development of the CBM framework: Cognitive Behavioral Methods applied to martial arts instruction, drawing from established Cognitive Behavioral Therapy methodology to create a deliberate, evidence-based approach to how students learn, retain, and apply skill.
Alongside his martial arts career, Shihan Moree works as a Senior Executive Coach for technology companies — advising professionals and organizations on performance, leadership, and development. The same principles he applies in boardrooms and coaching sessions shape how he teaches on the mat: understanding how people learn, what motivates them, and how to build durable skill rather than surface-level familiarity.
He has taught and presented across the United States and internationally, conducting self-defense workshops for organizations throughout Atlanta and appearing at seminars worldwide. His work draws on the full breadth of his training — martial, psychological, and professional — to deliver instruction that is practical, principled, and built to last.
How He Teaches.
Shihan Moree's teaching philosophy rests on a simple premise: technique without understanding is memorization, not skill. Every class at EVX is structured to move students from exposure to comprehension to ownership — using the CBM instructional framework he developed through years of teaching martial arts alongside formal training in Coaching Psychology.
He believes the best martial arts instruction is honest. It does not inflate rank, manufacture progress, or tolerate shortcuts. It asks students to show up, do the work, and earn what they receive. The belt system at EVX is not a retention tool — it is a reflection of real development, evaluated quarterly and awarded only when the standard is genuinely met.
He also believes that the best instructors never stop being students. After nearly 30 years of training, Shihan Moree continues to train, continues to refine his understanding, and continues to seek out instruction from teachers who challenge his thinking.
"There is the saying, 'No man is an island.' I would not be who or where I am without the help of every one of my teachers and students. They all have empowered and enriched my life; for that, I am most thankful."
"After almost 30 years, I'm still learning. That's not a problem — that's the point. The day I think I've figured it out is the day I stop being useful to anyone on that mat."
Train with Shihan Moree.
Book a class or text us directly at 770.692.3977.