Biographie
Demetrius Angelo, born in our Nation's Capital in the 1960's among the residue of the Civil Rights Movement. During this time, his father was one of the first Blacks to integrate the Washington D.C Metropolitan Police Department which meant "Trouble" was not an option . In 1973, Demetrius began playing "Little League" sports which he credits as the catalyst for his zeal to live a healthy and active lifestyle. It was 1975 when Demetrius saw Bruce Lee on TV and immediately told his father that he wanted to do "That" so his dad took him down to the local Boys Club where he began what would be his life journey in the Martial Arts. The Korean art of Tang Soo Do was the initial Martial Art taught at the Boys Club and it was there he developed his love for Kicking. 1979 became a pivotal year for Demetrius as he was introduced to Master Donald S. Bitanga of the American Asian Combat System. Here, Demetrius learned several styles of Martial Arts which included: Okinawan Shorin-Ryu Kobayoshi Karate, American Free Style Karate, Jiu Jitsu, Chinese Boxing, Western Boxing, Largo DeMano Escrima and Kobudo. Demetrius obtained his 1st Degree Black Belt at 16 and began student-teaching at the dojo which birthed in him a love and zeal for teaching.
The 70's were a very special decade for Blacks in film because it was then that Blacks were finally portrayed as the heroes on the Big Screen. With the emergence of pioneers such as Grand Master Ron Van Clief, the first Black man in Chinese Kung Fu films, to the likes of Jim Kelly and Fred Williamson tearing up the Silver Screen here in the States, it's no wonder that Demetrius caught the bug to be an Action Star!
At 17, Demetrius moved to New York City to attend college and pursue his desire to perform in Action Films! NYC quickly became familiar to Demetrius, as his mother was born in the Bronx. Demetrius steadfastly resumed his study of the Martial Arts meeting such greats as Masters Andre "Ice Man" Brown, Dwayne Sudan Thomas and Malcolm Livingston of the Wolf Fox Fighting System now known as DFT. It was in 1991 that Demetrius would get very close to his film icons Bruce Lee and Steven Segal when he was introduced to Traditional Wing Chun Kung Fu by Master Keith Maza and Sifu Dr. Gary Young and at that same time he also met the late Grand Master Bob Bute of the Jukido Jiu Jitsu, Grand Master David Jones of Grizzmatic Touch Ryu Jiu Jitsu and Grand Master Florend M Visitacion (Professor Vee) of Vee Arnis Jitsu. Training with these Masters, Demetrius increased vastly in his knowledge of Aikido, Judo, Jiu Jitus, Arnis and Wing Chun in which he credits as the foundation of his own art Scientific Tactical Defense along with Karate, Kobudo and Firearms Tactics.
Demetrius took the character lessons of the Martial Arts and applied them to his career in the Fitness industry as a Personal and Group Fitness Instructor developing his own brand of fitness called C4 Intense Training.
Demetrius appeared in his first Independent Action films in 1994 and in 1996 met "The Black Dragon" Ron Van Clief on set, who was instrumental in guiding Demetrius to his first national advertisement campaign for HBO. In 2003, Demetrius became frustrated with the lack of diversity and opportunity for people of color in Hollywood Action films, so he started his own Independent film production company named Action Scene Combat Productions and NYC Action Actors Academy to train Actors how to fight for the screen. As the past often meets us in the present, Demetrius partnered in 2004 with his long time friend and dojo brother, LaMard J Wingster, of Troopers Touch Films and with the same agenda of placing people of color in leading roles in the Action film industry, they combined forces to create ASC Troopers Touch Entertainment, offering full service media Production and Distribution services specializing in the Action genre. In 2013 Demetrius expanded his Diversity Initiative by founding the Urban Action Showcase and Expo celebrating diversity and the multicultural achievements within the genre of Heroes.
