By Kregg P.J. Jorgenson

Most martial arts champions enjoy a short stay in the winner’s circle.

Time, tough opponents, and injuries each take their toll, and any time they do have in the limelight is usually hard fought and harder still to hold.

However, Sgt. Don Gulla of the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Center in Burien has managed to hold onto his championship status for well over three decades, and counting.

Since 1985, the 53-year-old King County deputy has won five gold medals in the World Police and Fire Games in Karate with his most recent win coming in this year’s International games held in New York City.

In his teens he was a Junior Olympic gold medal winner in Judo, and in between then and this latest Karate gold, he had also managed to squeeze in regional championship titles in Tae Kwon Do, Flipino Arnis Stick fighting, and Kung Fu.

True to form Gulla is humble about his many career wins and plays down his tournament success.

“I’ve done okay,” he says.

However, those who know him best will tell you that ‘okay’ doesn’t really sum it up his martial arts abilities and will tout his talent and staggering record of wins in more laudatory terms.

“Don is one of the best martial artists and coaches I’ve ever seen,” said Commander Gabe Russell of Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Protective Police, one of Gulla’s sparring partners who helped him train for this year’s international games.

“He’s not just talented. He’s focused and dedicated, which shows in the time and considerable effort he puts into his training. I think the gold medals just reflect that degree of dedication.”

Having spent the last 10 years studying with Gulla the 20-year law enforcement veteran will tell you that the King County sergeant’s proficiency and achievements are nothing short of remarkable.

Master John Chamkunthod, the former Light Heavyweight Muay Thai Champion of Thailand and now a major figure in the Pacific Northwest martial arts community, agrees.

“To get to the championships in the martial arts you have to be a gifted fighter. To stay there, you have to have that special something,” the Des Moines resident said. “Don has it. He is a very gifted fighter. He is awesome!”

When he is not in the Dojo or competing the 27-year veteran King County deputy, serves as a Crisis Intervention Team Coordinator at the Criminal Justice Training Center. Gulla is also a former SWAT team member with 500 missions under his gun belt, a Master Defensive Tactics Instructor, and is the founder of the police based mixed martial art called Arrestling.

His previous four gold medals came in the World Police and Fire Games in San Jose, California, Vancouver, British Columbia, Melbourne, Australia, and Stockholm, Sweden.