Instructor/Staff Profiles

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Owner/Chief Instructor
Rank: 7th Degree
Training Since 1984

I have been actively training for over 40 years! "I love the martial arts as a whole. The structure and discipline is very much needed in our society today. I enjoy learning and practicing self defense techniques. I enjoy working with my wife Courtney. She is my inspiration and my strength!

I enjoy teaching all ages from 3 to 93. Sharing what I have learned with others brings great satisfaction. Seeing my students get better than me is the most awesome feeling. Having a parent tell me that karate has helped their child in school or helped him protect himself is all the reward I need.

Part of my goals are to see UMAS Karate become the leader in character education and martial arts instruction for the whole family through providing superb customer service and a highly trained professional staff.

Director of Operations
Rank: 2nd Degree 

Training Since 2004

I enjoy karate whether I'm teaching it or learning it. It has done a lot for me personally and I've seen what it's done for so many others as well. I love working with my husband he is an amazing man and is the source of everything that we do.

I love watching children learn. I must say that the Lil Dragon's class is my favorite. I love seeing the smile on their face and the light in their eyes when they know they "got it". I am blessed to be able to teach our students 1st karate class and see what they are when they walk in the door and watch what they become. I love it when parents tell me their child has taken something they learned at karate and applied it at home or at school. Seeing that what I do on a daily basis impacts a child's life makes it all worth it for me."

Chief Instructor
Rank: 5th Degree
Training Since 2001

"I began training for the same reasons that a lot of children begin training at UMAS: My parents knew that training in Karate would help me develop the self-discipline to be responsible for myself, the confidence to face challenges and stand up for myself, the self-control to make good decisions, and the determination to overcome obstacles. I had an amazing group of instructors that helped me develop these qualities, and now I have the privilege to teach these qualities to my students. I take immense pride in the responsibility of helping UMAS Karate achieve the goal of "Changing the world, one black belt at a time!"