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Head Instrutor of USA Freestyle Martial Arts
Rank 3rd degree black belt
- Favorite Food: Sushi
- Vacation spot: Las Vegas
- Hobby: Kickboxing
- Why I started MA: Inspired by the Ninja Turtles
- Favorite MA movie: Mortal Kombat
- Favorite Non MA movie: The godfather
- Why I continue to do Martial Arts: My passion for constant and never ending improvement
- Years of Martial Arts Experience: 21
- Occupation: Martial arts education
- What I like most about USAFMA: Great people, state of the art facility
- Favorite book: 20,000 Leagues under the sea
- Sports Team: San Diego Chargers
- Favorite TV show: Sportscenter
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Rank: 4th Degree Black Belt
- Favorite Food: Chinese
- Favorite Hobby: Martial Arts
- Why started martial arts? Watching Bruce Lee movies
- Favorite non MA movie: Avatar
- Occupation: Martial Arts Instructor
- What you like most about USAFMA: Positive environment
- Favorite book: Wheel of Time Series
- Proudest moment When my son Tristen was born
- Favorite thing to do in San Diego: Spend time with my family
- Favorite sports team: San Diego Chargers
- Favorite TV show: Glee
- Other Fun Fact: I like cars and belong to a car club
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3rd Degree Black Belt
- Favorite Food: Anything I don't have to shop for and cook
- Favorite Vacation Spot: Maui
- Favorite Hobby: Golf and Playing with Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren
- Why Started Martial Arts: For the Exercise and after watching daughter Debbie in the adult class
- Favorite Martial Arts Movie: Jackie Chan movies
- Favorite Non Martial Arts Movie: Sleepless in Seattle
- Why do you continue to do Martial Arts: Love learning new things - it is challenging and helps with coordination, balance, and overall fitness. Working with the STARS. Working out with daughter Julie
- Occupation: Mostly volunteer work with STARS program and Senior Self Defense
- What you like most about USAFMA: The people of all ages - kids are super - adults always friendly - Acceptance by all of a senior!
- Favorite book: Haven't read it for a long time but have always liked "Gone With the Wind"
- Proudest Moment: My personal accomplishment was earning my first black belt. Proudest moment was becoming a great grandmother!
- Favorite thing to do in San Diego: Taking our dog to the beach every morning - 40 minute walk - rain or shine, cold or warm!
- Favorite sports team: I'm a fan of any San Diego team… Chargers, Padres, kids soccer teams
- Favorite TV Show: Right now it is probably "Dancing with the Stars"
- Other Fun Fact: Have no desire to skydive but did ride along in a race car. Have had 3 Holes in One.
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Rank: 3rd Degree
- Favorite Food: Lay's Potato Chips
- Favorite Vacation Spot: The Mediterranean
- Favorite Hobby: Golf
- Why started martial arts? My kids inspired me
- Favorite Martial Arts movie: Mortal Kombat
- Favorite non MA movie: James Bond Movies
- Why you continue to do martial arts? Makes me feel empowered
- Occupation: CPA
- What you like most about USAFMA: The cool cat classes and the fabulous families
- Favorite thing to do in San Diego: The zoo with the grandkids
- Favorite sports team: Padres
- Favorite TV show: The Good Wife
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Rank: 2nd degree black belt
- Favorite Food: Italian food
- Favorite Vacation Spot: Ensenada
- Favorite Hobby: Playing football
- Why started martial arts? I started martial arts because my mother did not want my brother to be Bullied and so I joined too!
- Favorite Martial Arts movie: Kung Fu Panda
- Favorite non MA movie : Fight Club
- What you like most about USAFMA : the friendly environment and so many role models to look up to
- Favorite book : The Giving Tree
- Favorite thing to do in San Diego : Go to the beach
- Favorite sports team: San Diego Chargers
- Favorite TV show: Adventure Time
- Other Fun Fact: Like to explore and travel places and do extreme activities
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Black Belt
- Favorite Food: All Italian foods
- Favorite Vacation spot: Oahu, Hawaii. North Shore
- Favorite Hobby: Cooking/ Baking
- Why I began MA: Joined after watching my sons classes and felt it was a great family activity
- Favorite MA movie: Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon
- Favorite Non MA Movie: Gone With the Wind
- Why I continue MA: Maintain flexibility/fitness and enjoy being a part of USAFMA
- Years experience: 13
- Occupation: Mom, Volunteer, Staff member USAFMA
- What I like most about USAFMA: The good feeling I get when I step inside
- Favorite Book: Moloka'i By Allan Brennert
- Proudest Moment: Attending my daughter's College Graduation
- Favorite thing to do in SD: Watch fireworks from my front patio
- Favorite Sports Team: New York Islanders. Ice Hockey
- Favorite TV show: Person of Interest
- Other Fun Fact: I can wiggle my ears
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Rank: 2nd degree
- Favorite Food: Sushi
- Favorite Vacation Spot: Anywhere in the mountains or Europe
- Why started martial arts? I had always wanted to when I was younger. Favorite Martial Arts movie: The Forbidden Kingdom
- Favorite non MA movie: Shawshank Redemtion
- Why you continue to do martial arts? I have a lot more to learn
- Years of martial arts experience: 13 or 14
- Occupation: Real Estate and Mortgage Broker.
- What you like most about USAFMA: It feels very comfortable and mostly like a family
- Favorite book: The Two Towers by JRR Tolkien
- Proudest moment: When my daughters were born
- Favorite thing to do in San Diego: Everything
- Favorite sports team: Chargers
- Favorite TV show: Strikeback
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Rank: 2nd degree
- Favorite Food: Popcorn
- Favorite Vacation Spot: Santorini or Venice
- Favorite Hobby: singing
- Why started martial arts? To connect with my family
- Favorite Martial Arts movie: Kung Fu Panda
- Favorite non MA movie: The Princess Bride
- Why you continue to do martial arts? Enjoy the people, enjoy the workout, it's like a family
- Years of martial arts experience: 8
- Occupation: Administrative Review Editor, registered nurse
- What you like most about USAFMA: Feels like a family, like the holistic approach, it helps push me to achieve more than I think I can
- Favorite book: All Sherlock Holmes books
- Proudest moment: Our children's achievements
- Favorite thing to do in San Diego: Enjoy a glass of wine with family and friends and a beautiful sunset
- Favorite sports team: SD Chargers
- Favorite TV show: CSI
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Rank: 2nd degree
- Favorite Food: Filet Mignon with a nice Cabernet Sauvignon
- Favorite Vacation Spot: Santorini, Greece
- Favorite Hobby: Martial Arts - really
- Why started martial arts? To connect with my family
- Favorite Martial Arts movie: Forbidden Kingdom (OK really it is Ninja Assassin but I thought Forbidden Kingdom was probably more acceptable…)
- Favorite non MA movie: Young Frankenstein
- Why you continue to do martial arts? Because it pushes me to continuously set new goals and strive to be better; I like being “in training” for something
- Years of martial arts experience: ~10
- Occupation: Emergency Physician, Associate Dean, Journal Editor
- What you like most about USAFMA: The family atmosphere, and that high (but appropriate) expectations are set for achievement
- Favorite book: The Count of Monte Cristo (OK not really but I thought that sounded good…in reality I loved the series of books by CS Forrester about Captain Horatio Hornblower!)
- Proudest moment: The days our children were born – to think Marina and I created that!
- Favorite thing to do in San Diego: Walk along the beach with Marina
- Favorite sports team: Chargers
- Favorite TV show: CSI NY
- Other Fun Fact: Won the All Navy Sailing Tournament (Rhodes 19 class in San Francisco Bay 1988) – our medical crew beat out all the other regular Navy sailor/officer crews!
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Rank: Black Belt 1st degree
- Favorite Food: Fruit and cheese
- Favorite Vacation Spot: Anywhere there's a beach
- Favorite Hobby: Reading
- Why started martial arts? To be with my son Matt
- Favorite Martial Arts movie: Jean Claude Van Damme's Bloodsport
- Favorite non MA movie: Sandlot
- Why you continue to do martial arts? To help empower children and women
- Years of martial arts experience: 17
- Occupation: Self-defense instructor
- What you like most about USAFMA: They are like family
- Favorite book: Bible
- Proudest moment: Winning Miss San Diego & earning my black-belt
- Favorite thing to do in San Diego: Going to coffee with friends
- Favorite sports team: Favorite Baseball player: Josh Hamilton
- Favorite TV show: Once Upon A Time and all talent shows
- Other Fun Fact: My 21 year old son received his black belt before me
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Rank: Yellow Belt
Receptionist-Staff
- Favorite Food: Mexican Food
- Favorite Vacation Spot: Lake Havasu
- Favorite Hobby: Painting/ Decorating
- Why started martial arts? Because I wanted to try something different and be able to say I did it to the fullest
- Favorite Martial Arts movie: I haven't seen many, but I know Jackie Chan was in Rush Hour 3 and I love Chris Tucker. Therefore, it would have to be Rush Hour 3.
- Favorite non MA movie: The Godfather
- Why you continue to do martial arts? To stay active and involved to the fullest in USA Freestyle Martial Arts
- Years of martial arts experience: ~ 3 months
- Occupation: Receptionist at USAFMA
- What you like most about USAFMA: I enjoy seeing everyone with a smile on their face as soon as I walk through the door and making people's days fun and new
- Favorite book: Letters for Emily
- Proudest moment: Getting into the college I wanted.
- Favorite thing to do in San Diego: Go out at night with friends
- Favorite sports team: NY Yankees
- Favorite TV show: Law and Order: SVU
- Other Fun Fact: I am a natural blonde
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Founder Of USA Freestyle Martial Arts
Hi! I started my martial arts journey as a little boy, at first I have to admit I was
timid to attend, but after a few lessons I really began to enjoy training. During Jr. high school through high school I cross trained with Tae Kwon Do, Wrestling,
and Judo eventually becoming a top competitor in all three disciplines. Since
then I have trained in Boxing, Kickboxing, Muay Thai, Escrima, Karate, Jeet Kune Do, Wushu, Aikido, Kajukempo, Ju Jitsu, Israeli self-defense and weapons. I have had the honor to train with martial art Legends, Olympians, and World Champions. My Passion became martial arts and I wished to share my experience with others. While attending San Diego State University, I started to teach for Free or for a nominal fee to anyone who wished to learn martial arts. In 1986, USA Freestyle Martial Arts was founded and I have had the privilege to be a part of many peoples lives. I encourage you to try a class and be part of the USA Freestyle Martial Arts family!
Rank: 7th Dan
- Favorite Food: Asian Fusion
- Favorite Vacation Spot: the entire globe, but I do enjoy Punta Del Este, Uruguay!
- Favorite Hobby: Martial Arts
- Why you started martial arts? My father did not give me an option
- Favorite Martial Arts movie: Bruce Lee's "Enter the Dragon"
- Favorite non MA movie: Star Wars
- Why you continue to do martial arts? It's a life long journey!
- Years of martial arts experience? Almost 40
- Occupation: Personal Development through the martial arts / Entrepreneur
- What you like most about USAFMA? All of of the wonderful people : )
- Favorite book: "Tuesdays with Morrie" by Mitch Albom
- Proudest moments: Every time one of our students earn a Black Belt!
- Favorite thing to do in San Diego: I enjoy the beautiful weather
- Favorite sports team: Team Freestyle!
- Favorite TV show: the original "Kung Fu"
- Other Fun Fact: I love Superheroes that save mankind!
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