David Hardy began studying Lotus under Mack Petry in Lafayette, Louisiana in 1996.  David earned his black on December 26, 1998, making him Mack Petry's 10th student to reach black belt.  Shortly afterward, David started teaching Lotus in Carencro, Louisiana.  He later stopped teaching in order to run his restaurant business.  David still studies and takes classes under Mack Petry in Abbeville, Louisiana.