Butch Hiles
About Butch Hiles
Butch Hiles has trained and competed in combat sports most of his life. However, his true calling has been the instruction and advice he has been able to offer his students and members. Although he has various titles in boxing, kickboxing, jiu-jitsu, and many other martial arts, a series of injuries, which included a torn rotator cuff, multiple knee injuries, and a herniated disc, made sure that his competition window quickly closed. So, he seized the opportunity to help train anyone who was wanting to learn, while still training as often as he could.
 
 
Concentrating on training and teaching, Hiles was able to receive multiple black belts in various martial arts, which include Japanese Jujitsu, Reality Fighting, and various other combat martial arts. His training also included extensive boxing and Muay Thai training under Leon Ramsey, who is certified under the legendary Master Toddy and is also widely regarded as the best stand-up trainer in WV history. These additional achievements, have helped him broaden the instruction, advice, and training he can offer his students and members.
Even though Hiles has accomplished the rank of black belt in various martial arts, he is probably most known for the belt he currently holds in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Hiles is a multiple degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Marcello Monteiro, who is widely regarded as one of the best Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu coaches around.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is one of the hardest martial arts that there is and it takes years to accomplish the rank of a black belt. Â It is also widely regarded as the top martial art in the world for it’s effectiveness in reality competition, such as mixed martial arts as well as real life confrontations.
Before Marcello Monteiro’s instruction, Hiles received his blue and purple belts in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu from the legendary Royce Gracie of Ultimate Fighting Championship fame.
Butch Hiles’ Credentials as a Top Level Instructor
As an instructor, his fighters were very successful and that is, in many respects, much more impressive than anything he could have personally done as a competitor, and something he is more proud of than any other compliment or award he could have ever received. He has had winners, and champions, in every major combat sport during his days as a fight trainer.
He trained the first, and only, National IKF Amateur kickboxing champion, as well as many other kickboxing champions. He trained various boxing champions that have won everything from Golden Glove titles to the Rough n’ Rowdy and Toughman. He has trained champions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu that have won everything from state, or local tournaments, to national tournaments such as NAGA and the Arnold’s. He also trained multiple mixed martial arts, or Ultimate Fighting champions. Hiles has had MMA title holders in every weight class in several organizations, which included a King of the Cage championship title when the King of the Cage was ranked number two in the United States behind the UFC.
Butch Hiles is currently the USA MMA Representative for WV and the ADCC (the Olympics of grappling) representative for WV as well.
Pictured are Some of the Champions Trained by Butch Hiles
 
 
 
 
 
Butch Hiles Hall of Fame Career
Hiles was inducted into the United States Martial Arts Hall of Fame, as an instructor, as well as several other martial arts hall of fame’s for his training, competing, and dedication to martial arts as a whole. It should also be noted that he has turned down several nominations but is currently a part of at least a dozen.
Hiles Fought For the Legalization of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu & Mixed Martial Arts in WV
Hiles also led the fight to keep Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu legal in the state of West Virginia. Due to ignorance of the state athletic commission, and their lack of knowledge in regards to submissions and martial arts, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu was briefly banned in West Virginia. However, Mr. Hiles was able to win a monumental court case to keep Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as well as other martial arts such as Japanese jiu-jitsu and randori legal in West Virginia.
Mixed martial arts (MMA) was also banned in WV for nearly 10 years. However, in 2011, with the help of Sam Minardi and Zuffa, LLC they were able to bring MMA back to the state of WV. This was a monumental victory for the sport, the fans , and everyone involved.
 
 
Leading the Charge in West Virginia
In order to give back to the community and continue to be a pioneer in the sport of MMA in WV, Butch Hiles continues to bring in top level MMA stars for events, seminars, and appearances. In 2011, Butch Hiles hosted a movie premier and flew in the director, Gregory Bayne, and it’s star, former UFC and WEC champion, Jens Pulver. The event brought in underprivileged organizations and youth from around the area and allowed them to watch the movie for free. It was one of the most successful events in WV history.
Some Pictures of Events Led by Butch Hiles or Training with Legends
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
A Promoter, Referee, Judge, and Pioneer in the Industry
Butch Hiles currently hosts the longest running grappling tournament in West Virginia as well as the WV Games, which is the largest collection or sporting events and athletes in the state, and also features that state Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu championships.
He has promoted MMA events, grappling events, boxing events, and judged and/or refereed in hundreds of competitions in WV and neighboring states.
Seminars
Butch Hiles is now doing seminars in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, MMA, self-defense (corporate and personal), bully-proofing, and much more.
Contact us for a seminar today!
West Virginia is lucky enough to have many talented instructors in all aspect of martial arts. For that, we are all forever grateful. We would like to encourage you to train with any of the great instructors and teams in your area and we hope that if you are in our area you will choose our gym. Everyone is welcome and we would like to wish you luck in your search for a good gym and a great place to train. We sincerely hope that you choose ours.
