Eric Colon has been training in the martial arts since 1988 at the age of 15 years old. He began with the Korean style of Tae Kwon Do and received his first-degree black belt in this style before moving on to other arts. He continued his training while attending Kutztown University in Kutztown, PA at the age of 18 years old. He did so in their Martial Arts club where he was unanimously nominated and voted their club president. The club consisted of the various martial artists that the student body offered.

In 1994 at the age of 21, he began training with Chris Ascari of the International Martial Boxing Academy (IMB). The training consisted of group classes and private lessons in all that the IMB offers. The arts are Muay Thai Kickboxing, Western Boxing, Catchascatchcan Wrestling, Jun Fan-Jeet Kune Do and Doces Pares. In July of 1995, he received his Phase 1 ranking under Ascari of the IMB. He then continued to train with Chris Ascari as well as Kru Phil Nurse, a 3 time Muay Thai Kickboxing champion in New York City. In 1997 he was accepted into the IMB Instructorship Program where he received his rank of Apprentice Instructor under Chris Ascari and former student of Bruce Lee, Richard Bustillo.

He continued his training with both instructors and added Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to his training. He began this training under Renzo Gracie out of his classes offered in Middletown, NJ as well as with Chris Ascari of the IMB. In November of 2000, he received his Associate Instructor rank under the IMB Academy. After continuing his martial arts education with the above instructors he attained his Full Instructorship in November of 2001 with the IMB Academy. He also received his first-degree black belt in Doce Pares Escrima from Cacoy Canete in July of 2000.  In 2003 he was honored to be nominated by Sifu Richard Bustillo to the United States Martial Arts Association Internatonal Hall of Fame for Master Instructor of the Year.  He won the award and is forever grateful for all Sifu Richard has done for him and continues to do.  Sifu Richard awarded Eric with his Senior Full Instructorship in the I.M.B. in September of 2008. In 2011 Sifu Richard awarded Eric his Master Instructorship Rank.

He holds a 2-3 mixed martial arts record as of May 2004. He has fought for the B.A.M.A. Fight Nights as well as the United States Mixed Martial Arts Association.  Eric has also been a Super fight competitor for the promotion Mass Destruction.  He was privliged enough to participate in one of the first Super fights in an Octagon ring in the U.S. 2001 for the Mass Destruction promotion.

Eric Colon owns and operates Tong Dragon MMA in Bayville, NJ. He teaches adults, teens and kids the arts of Muay Thai, grappling, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and MMA. His submission fighting team, Team Tong Dragon/Fernando "Cabeca" Sarmento Jr continues to compete. Team Tong Dragon Kids won the North American Grappling Association (NAGA) Team Championship title for 2000, 2001, 2002. Eric also won the NAGA "Instructor of the Year" award in 2001. He also has trained multiple National ranked number one champions according to mma.tv national rankings. This includes Multiple Pan Am Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Champions and No Gi Pan Am Champions.  In 2001 Tong Dragon had 4 of the nations top 10 North American Children Grapplers and in 2002 he had another 3 in the Top 10 of the country(according to Graplling Magazine). All from his single academy.

In 2003 Eric's team joined with Jerry Fatjo of Fatjo's Martial Arts Center to form the NJ I.M.B./CABECA BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU COMPETITION TEAM.  Jerry Fatjo and his team also are students of both the IMB academy and Fernando "Cabeca" Sarmento Jr. Jerry Fatjo's competition team was named TOP NEW TEAM IN NORTH AMERICA by the North American Grappling Association (NAGA).

Eric continues to learn from Chris Ascari, Sifu Richard Bustillo of the IMB and Kru Phil Nurse. He also began to continue his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training with Brazilian Black Belt and champion Fernando "Cabeca" Sarmento Jr. Eric achieved his blue belt in BJJ from Fernando in 2003, purple belt in 2006 and his brown belt in 2010   Eric continues to train with Fernando and travels to Brazil to train with Fernando's instructor, Nilton Ferreria in Salvador, Brazil.   He has traveled to Brazil to expand his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2010 and continues to go yearly.

Eric has judged many mixed martial arts competition for the New Jesrsey State Athletic Control Board (SACB), Mohegan Athletic Tribe in CT, Foxwoods Casino Mashantucket Pequot Athletic Commission, Maryland Athletic Commission and the Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission.  Below is a brief highlight list...

Eric is also a former Mixed Martial Arts Fight Inspector for SACB.  He has and continues to train multiple inspectors for the state.  He also has taught edged weapons and defensive tactics for the Ocean County Probations Department in New Jersey.  His student body  includes many local, state and federal officers.