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Timothy Fred Kennedy was raised as the middle child among three siblings in San Luis Obispo, California. As a child, his mother enrolled him in cooking and piano lessons. To balance her influence, his father signed Tim and his brother up for shooting schools, boxing classes, wrestling teams, and Japanese jujitsu training. Kennedy graduated from Eagle Academy, a private high school, in 1998. He then earned a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from Columbia College of Missouri in 2002. While still in college, Kennedy began competing in sanctioned mixed martial arts (MMA) bouts. After graduating, he enlisted in the United States Army in 2004, joining the elite Special Forces, known as the Green Berets. Despite his military commitments, he continued participating in MMA competitions. In 2005, when the Army launched a service-wide Combatives (hand-to-hand combat) tournament, Kennedy entered and won the light heavyweight division, a title he held for three consecutive years.
Military career
Tim Kennedy enlisted in the U.S. Army on January 4, 2004. He completed Basic Combat Training, Advanced Individual Training, the Basic Airborne Course, and the Special Forces Qualification Course. He was featured under the pseudonym "Tom Kendall" in Dick Couch’s book "Chosen Soldier," which focuses on Green Beret selection. In 2007, Kennedy graduated from Ranger School and was assigned to the 7th Special Forces Group, serving on Operational Detachment Alphas. During his service, he functioned as a sniper, sniper instructor, and the lead combatives instructor for C Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group. Kennedy deployed multiple times in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. His military decorations include the Bronze Star Medal.
Mixed martial arts career
Early career
Kennedy began martial arts training in 1999 at Dokan School of Martial Arts in Atascadero, California, under Terry Kelly and Barry Smith. He also trained with notable fighters such as Anita Baker, Adan S, Chuck Liddell, Jake Shields, Gan McGee, and John Hackleman at The Pit in San Luis Obispo.
Kennedy started fighting in 1996, compiling an amateur record of 30-1 across 31 bouts before turning professional in 2001. In 2003, he won a one-night tournament at Extreme Challenge 50, securing victories in all three fights. After joining the Army in 2004, he competed only once in 2006. In 2007, he fought for the now-defunct International Fight League but did not compete in 2008 due to military deployments overseas. During this period, he authored a three-part series titled "Letters from a Foreign Land," which detailed his combat experiences.
Timothy Kennedy currently lives in Austin, Texas, with his wife and children.
