Sensei Serge Sognonvi started his training in Shotokan Karate at the age of 11. He achieved his black belt at the age of 17. He fought on the competitive circuit for five years as a nationally-rated fighter in the North American Sport Karate Association (NASKA) and the Professional Karate League (PKL).

Sensei Serge was a member of the Metro All-Stars, which was the No. 1 team nationwide for five consecutive years. He was also one of the top 10 nationally-rated fighters in the junior black belt division.

Sensei Serge is a born and bred New Yorker. He grew up on the Lower East Side of Manhattan but has lived in the Ditmas Park neighborhood of Brooklyn since 2001.