Sensei Damien began training in Japanese Jujitsu and Judo in 2000 at Woodbridge Judokai in Woodbridge, NJ under Sensei Marian Garbarek and Sensei Victor Carlson, and pursued further training in Aikido in at a branch of Jersey Shore Aikikai at Pearl Street Gym in Long Branch, NJ and Kendo and Aiki-ken (aikido swordsmanship) as well to supplement this. After the Jujitsu program at Woodbridge Judokai closed down under its original ownership (Sensei George Hamlin) in 2007, Sensei Damien continued his Jujitsu education by training in Nagasu-Ryu Jujitsu at Edison Martial Arts Academy in Edison, NJ under the direct instruction of Wayne Ford Soke, founder of Nagasu-Ryu Jujitsu and a practitioner of martial arts for over 60 years.  The class that Ford Soke conducted at EMAA was exclusively for students of Black Belt rank (Shodan and up).

  In February of 2011, Sensei was awarded his Godan (5th Degree Black Belt) in this art by a committee consisting of Wayne Ford Soke (the final rank promotion awarded to him by Ford Soke while he was alive), and top ranking Nagasu-Ryu master instructors William Scott Hanshi (Owner and Head Instructor of Edison Martial Arts Academy), and Henry Alvin Kyoshi, and was conferred the title of Renshi (Master Teacher, 1st Rank) by Ford Soke. Additionally, in March of 2016, Sensei Damien was awarded his Shichidan (7th Degree Black Belt) and the title of Kyoshi (Master Teacher, 2nd Rank) by Ford Soke's direct successor Michael Burrowes Soke (Headmaster of Nagasu Ryu Jujitsu and C.E.O. of Tora Karate Federation), as well as the renowned Roger Hamilton Hanshi (Head Instructor of Hamilton Martial Arts Academy in California).

  Additionally, he is ranked a Purple Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under BJJ Black Belt Coach Chris Ulbricht, head instructor of Garden State Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy in Red Bank, NJ, having trained for 9 years in this academy. He continues his BJJ training at South Jersey Brazilian Jiu-jitsu in Berlin, NJ under Professor Steven Bongiorno, an affiliate of the Ricardo Almeida Association.

  Sensei Damien has been teaching martial arts and fitness programs to adults, teens, and children at various locations and to private students for over 20 years and in the community of New Egypt since October of 2008. He adores working with children; introducing them to the love of martial arts, sharing in their successes and struggles, and watching them grow into great martial artists and great adults. And, in working with adults as well, he gets to help people explore the more physically rigorous training aspects of jujitsu coupled with the deeper intellectual and personal qualities that help the student to form a well-rounded, honest, and comprehensive martial education. 

  In addition to this, Damien Wright holds Bachelor’s Degrees in both History and Religious Studies from Montclair State University, from which he graduated with honors, and an Associate’s Degree in Literature from Brookdale Community College. 

  Instructing martial arts is Sensei's full-time profession.