The RT story
Overview:
From 1993 - today Diana’s classes, seminars and private trainings on a variety of martial art, self defense and law enforcement/security topics are well regarded. Through her twenty year apprenticeship to Guro Rick Faye and her many opportunities as his seminar assistant, she has become one of the top female martial arts instructors in the country. Diana is known for her ability to adapt her curriculum and teaching methods to a variety of clientele. In addition, she is sought out for direction and mentoring by martial artists from around the globe.
The Beginning:
Diana Rathborne began martial arts and self defense training in 1991 at the Mn Kali Group under Guro Rick Faye. (Guro means ‘master instructor’ in the Filipino martial arts systems). Her journey as a martial arts instructor began in 1993 with the MKG with women's self defense classes and twice weekly women’s kickboxing classes that mixed Muay Thai, Jun Fan Kickboxing, Savate, western boxing and the Filipino boxing system called Panantukan. Shortly thereafter she began also teaching a weekly Phase 1 Mixed Arts class, a Kali Knife class, a Thai Boxing class and substitute teaching for Guro Faye. These were her regular teaching commitments for over 20 years. She was able to learn more about these arts by teaching everything on the MKG class menu from trapping to grappling. Sometimes her martial arts instructor apprenticeship involved teaching as many as 20 classes per week!
In 1993 Diana was also introduced to and began to learn from Marcus Wynne via his 'Nakita Project' self defense and the Jedi Ventures executive protection (Close Quarter Countermeasures for VIP protection) courses. These courses focused on stress based functioning in threat to life situations and were an integral part of the MKG Self Defense programs.
Her apprenticeship consisted of continuous training and an impressive number of hours as both a student and an instructor which led to her acceptance in the prestigious Inosanto instructor program (Kali and Jun Fan/JKD) in1995. In 1998 with lots of coaching, support and hard training, she took the Thai Boxing Association's instructor test. Today she has been awarded Full Instructor status in each of those systems. Over the same time period she met, learned from and train under Sensei Erik Paulson, founder of CSW (Combat Submission Wrestling) as well as other phenomenal instructors in the US, Spain, Germany and the UK, all of whom helped her develop as a martial artist and as an instructor. She started the MKG retail and video company MKG Products as well as doing seminars and workshops under the Rathborne Training, LLC brand in the early 2000s. From 1995-2015 Diana taught, trained, created and offered trainings to all types of students carrying forward the examples of professionalism and dedication to the arts and the students set forth by her instructors.
The Next Chapter: Rathborne Training
October 2015 - February of 2016, Diana hit the road on a training sabbatical. Her goal of broadening her martial skills base included training in martial arts, self defense and firearms. Her focus continues to be the creation and development of a martial arts and self defense program that enhances the defensive capability, offensive skills, physical, mental and spiritual health of her students. After her training 'walkabout' Diana was back at her home base in Minneapolis. She continues traveling to learn from the best in martial arts, instructor development and firearms training from around the US.
Guro Diana's ability to bring self defense and martial arts training to all skill levels: the complete novice to the experienced professional is widely known and well regarded. Her students vary from those seeking personal self defense and fitness, to martial artists and instructors seeking technical information and curriculum development as well as law enforcement and security personnel.
Credentials & Experience:
The list is included for your convenience. There are links to each of these instructor's businesses on the links page and are listed by state. If you have any questions on anything in here or on the website, feel free to contact us!
Martial Arts & Self Defense Instructorships
Level 4 Instructor: Sifu Rick Faye: The MKG Method (Kali, Muay Thai, Jun Fan/Jeet Kune Do, Panantukan, Grappling arts)
MKG Self Defense: Rick Faye
Full Instructor: Guro Dan Inosanto: Jun Fan Martial Arts / Jeet Kune Do Concepts (JKD)
Full Instructor: Guro Dan Inosanto: Kali/The Filipino Martial arts
Senior Instructor: Grandmaster Surachai Sirisute Muay Thai (Thai Boxing)
Instructor: Guro Rick Faye: Panantukan (Filipino boxing)
Coach - Level 2: Sensei Erik Paulson: Combat Submission Wrestling (CSW)
Staff Instructor: The Minnesota Kali Group - MKG International HQ - Minneapolis, MN - 1993-Present
Program Director & Head Instructor: the Women’s Self Defense Program
Law Enforcement:
Firearms Instructor Development: Dave Harrington 2018
SIRT Pistol Instructor Course: Don Gulla 2018
LE Firearms Instructor Development Course: LouKa Tactical 2017
Pistol and Rifle Instructor for Law Enforcement - Alexandria Technical College 2015
Firearms Instructor Course: Alexandria Technical College, 2012
Defensive Tactics Instructor - Alexandria Technical College
Edged Weapon Defense Instructor for Law Enforcement - Minnesota Kali Group, Rick Faye
LE Education and Training:
GWRAPs Weapon Retention, SIRT Pistol, Adv. Ground Survival Coach Course: Don Gulla/Arrestling 2017
Custom Firearms Instructor Development: LouKa Tactical 2017
Survival Pistol for the Female Officer: Louka Tactical, 2016
Understanding and Training the Female Shooter: Louka Tactical, 2016 Basic LE
Developmental Marksmanship for the Female Shooter: Louka Tactical, 2015
Graduate, Advanced Training - Seattle Police Department, 2006
Additional Education, Experience, Training:
Rogers Shooting School: Basic Handgun, 2016
2 day Intermediate Pistol: Shaw Shooting, 2016
Pistol and Combatives: Defoor Proformance Shooting, 2016
Pistol, Combatives and Victim Selection: Dave Harrington, Paul Sharpe, William April
Pistol and Rifle Base instruction, Dave Harrington
Pistol instruction, Claude Werner (Tactical Professor)
Unthinkable, April Risk Consulting
Environmental Manipulation/Araindrop, Graham Tradecraft, 2015
Fight Judge: TBA Sanctioning Amateur Muay Thai Tournament: 2012 - 2107
Offensive Driving: Sealed Mindset, 2015
Advanced Threat Assessment & Management - Gavin DeBecker & Associates, 2009
Graduate: Close quarter Countermeasures for VIP Protection - Marcus Wynne, CQB
Teaching experience:
Seminars & Workshops:
Diana has delivered seminars and workshops on martial arts topics ranging from Weaponry and JKD to Muay Thai and Panantukan. Locations include England, Scotland, Seattle, WA; Minneapolis, MN; Madison, WI; Rockford, IL. She was also an assistant instructor to Rick Faye at seminars in Germany, France, UK, Seattle, Madison, Minneapolis, Chicago and other Minnesota locations. More detailed information available upon request.
Classes:
Minnesota Kali Group (1993 - current): Thousands of hours teaching Kali weaponry, Filipino Boxing (Panantukan), Muay Thai (Thai Boxing), Phase classes (The MKG Method of blended or Mixed Martial arts), Women’s Kickboxing and Self Defense.
Lifetime Fitness, Lakeville, MN: weekly Muay Thai classes 2012 - 2015
Sealed Mindset, New Hope, MN: a Stick & Knife class. 2013 - 2016
Minneapolis Community Technical College: Minneapolis, MN Adjunct Instructor: Women's Self Defense January 2017 - 2018
Bills Gun Shop and Range: Self defense, martial arts & combatives: Tuesday and Wednesday evenings: February 2017 - 2018
Mentoring/Instructor Development: Instructor development and mentoring for numerous martial artists over the last 20 years. Local, national and international clients have benefitted from Guro Diana's coaching in this area.
Law Enforcement:
LouKa Tactical: Presented a block on intermediate and edged weapons to the Extreme CQB for the Female Enforcer: 2018
ILEETA (International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Assoc.) Conference Presenter: 2011-2018
Warrior Mindset Development Drills - 2018
Edged Weapon Defense for Law Enforcement - 2017
Combative Movement Enhancement Drills for Law Enforcement - 2016, 2015
Developing Street Combat Skills in Law Enforcement Officers - 2013, 2014
Surviving the UFC Generation: MMA for Law Enforcement - 2011, 2012
Assistant Instructor Rob Mahoney: The Bourne Alternative: Improvised Weapons Training for LE - 2010
PoliceOne Video Instructor: Tutorials on a variety of subjects for Law Enforcement Professionals.
Arrestling Officer Safety Conference presenter: Edged Weapon Defense - 2014, 2015
Arkansas Women’s Law Enforcement Conference: DT Instructor - Empty Hands & Ground Tactics
LETOA Conference Instructor: 2012-2018
Edged Weapons Defense - 2018
Developing the Fighter’s Edge: Empty Hands Defensive Tactics - 2013
Edged Weapons Defense - 2012
Empty Hands Defensive Tactics - 2012
MTOA (Midwest Tactical Officer's Association) Conference Instructor: 2005-2010, 2014
Edged weapon Defense Lead Instructor: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
Tactical Ground Fighting - Assistant Instructor: Assistant instructor to Stanley Philips 2006 - 2010
Empty Hands / Close Quarter Fighting - Assistant Instructor to Peter Hetrick- 2007, 2009, 2010, 2014
Fighting Fitness for Law Enforcement - Lead Instructor: 2009
Minneapolis P.D. Assistant Instructor: Edged Weapons Defense - Assistant to Officer Tim Hanks - 2008, 2009, 2013
Eau Claire P.D. SWAT (Eau Claire, WI): Team building; Entry Tactics solutions - 2010, 2011
Presenter: International Association of Women Police - Ground tactics - 2010
