Auburn Martial Arts & Fitness Instructors

When I was a girl I thought that TaeKwonDo was for boys. One day I watched my brothers test for a color belt and was surprised to see girls training and having fun.

I started training in 1985 under Senior Master Clint Robinson. I earned my 3rd degree black belt in 2003. In 2006 I won a regional championship in forms and fighting. In 2008 I earned my 3rd degree black belt in Kajukenbo. In 2009, I earned my 4th degree black belt in Taekwondo within the UWTA organization.

Over the years I have enjoyed training in TaeKwonDo, Escrima, Lameco, Jiu-Jitsu, Kajukenbo, American Kickboxing, and Silat.

1993 I began training in Tae Kwon Do under the instruction of Richard and Sophia Gordon in Raleigh, North Carolina at the age of 30. Richard and Sophia owned their own school and were 2nd dan black belts at the time. Their instructor was Grandmaster Jun Lee. As an adult beginner in this art, I was very impressed by the focus on, not only physical skills, but citizenship and teamwork as well. I was hooked!

1994 I moved to Greenville, North Carolina and continued my training under Master Byung Seok Lee. Under Master Lee, my training and growth continued. To be exposed to Tae Kwon Do (a Korean art) from a Korean Master instructor, made the experience that much more interesting and meaningful.

1996 In August of this year, I tested and achieved Bo Cho Dan black belt under Master Byung Lee. In September, I moved to Lodi, California and continued my training under Mr. Tom Gallagher (3rd dan black belt). His instructor was Master Wade Vierra. While training with Mr. Gallagher, I was exposed, for the first time, to other martial art styles. He sponsored me into the “Bahala Na” (Filipino Arnis, Escrima) Which was overseen by the founder and Grandmaster, Master Leo M. Giron He also exposed me to Indonesian Silat for which he would mix into his regular Tae Kwon Do curriculum. For the next several months, I would practice Tae Kwon Do (and silat) during the week and train in Arnis Escrima on the weekends.

1997 In May of this year, I moved from Lodi to Auburn California. Upon recommendation from Mr. Gallagher, I enrolled in the Auburn Family Tae Kwon Do School where I started training under Professor Dan Lovas. Although I didn’t realize it at the time, I had found a permanent home for my martial arts training.

2000 In August of this year, I tested and achieved the rank of 1st Dan under the “International Tae Kwon Do Council” with Grand Master Chang Jin Kang residing as president.

2003 In March of this year, I tested and achieved the rank of 2nd Dan under the “National Association of Professional Martial Arts” with
Grand Master Bob Maschmeier, Master Chi-Ching Houng, Professor Willie Cahill, Professor Vinton Koklich, Professor Joe Souza, and Professor Dominic Cerensioni residing on the testing panel.

2007 In March of this year, I tested and achieved the rank of 3rd Dan under the panel of Professor Dan Lovas, Mrs. Kristi Reeves (4th dan), and Ms. Ashley Rich (3rd dan)

2008 In June of this year, I tested and achieved the rank of 3rd Degree black belt in Kajukenbo. The testing panel included Professor Dominic Cirinsione, Master Ka Teena Cirinsione, Professor Joe Souza, Professor Vinton Koklich, Professor Wade Williams, Professor Tommy Morris, Grand Master Henry Look, and Professor Dan Lovas.

2011 I obtained my 4th Degree Belt in Tae Kwon Do Moo Duk Kwon and Kukkiwan.

In the years of my training, I would have to say that balance strikes me as the most important aspect of martial arts training. Balance is not just a way of staying on your feet, but a way to conduct your life. We all have people in our lives who have made a positive difference. Training and teaching martial arts gives me a way to pay back for those who have played a positive role in my life.

This is how I hope to achieve balance.

When our daughter Kristen was born my wife Linda and I decided Kristen would learn a martial art. After consulting many of my clients we felt Tae Kwon Do would be the best martial art for her. The summer before Kristen started kindergarten, I began to evaluate Tae Kwon Do schools. After sitting in and observing 6 separate schools I decided Master Lovas’ school was hands down the best.

I started my Tae Kwon Do training in the fall of 2005 after three weeks of watching Kristen take classes. Three months later Linda also started training. At first my only expectation from Tae Kwon Do was self defense. As the weeks and months went by the benefits from Tae Kwon Do training became clearer in many other ways. I have worked my entire adult life with horses. First as a journeyman farrier I worked my way through undergrad and veterinary school, and now as a large animal veterinarian. The flexibility and quickened reflexes from training have saved me from serious injuries on many occasions. Tae Kwon Do is more than physical training it instills confidence.

In the spring of 2008 Kristen and I tested for and received our first degree black belt.

In the fall of 2008 I entered the Instructor Training Program and began helping instruct the color belts. I was assigned the Friday classes. I find teaching so rewarding that I now schedule my veterinary practice full on Saturday and Sundays to have time to teach on Mondays and Wednesdays.

See my blog posts about why I started down the path of Taekwondo. Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3