Our Instructors:

Master Morris Lawson

Master Morris Lawson has been studying martial arts for over 30 years.        He is a liscensed & certified WTF instructor. He teaches Tae Kwon Do, Karate, Cardio Fitness and Speed & Agility classes. He is a 6th degree Master instructor in Taekwondo, a 5th degree Black Belt in Karate and a 4th degree Black Belt in Pankratia. He is a certified level 2 coach through the US Olympic Training Center. A former 2 time US National Champion and a US Open bronze medallist as well. In 2003 he was inducted into the Hall of fame.

He has been awarded instructor of the year for the last 4 years.                      (click here to see his bio) 

Master Lang

Master Lang has been studying both eastern and western martial arts for more than 40 years. He has a 6th degree black belt in combat arts, 5th degree black belt in Taekwondo, and a 4th degree black belt in Arnis. Master Lang holds various degrees in other style as well. He has trained national champions in Kick boxing and Taekwondo.

Sensei Matsuda

Sensei Matsuda has studied Aikido for over 20 years. He has also studied TaeKwonDo, Tai Chi, Batto Do. He runs and teaches our Aikido program. Sensei is a certified instructor through the Japanese cultural center and a member of the Aikido World Alliance.

Master Lotter

Master Lotter has been studying martial arts for over 30 years. He is a certified WTF 5th degree black belt. He is a 5 time Gold medallist in the Illinois State TeaKwonDo Championships, a US National Gold Medallist, and a US Open Gold Medallist. Master Lotter specializes in sparring & the coaching of athletes. He has coached athletes at the state, national & international level. He is a certified level 2 coach with the USTU.

Master Tolbert

Master Tolbert teaches advanced and black belt classes. He has been studying martial arts for over 15 years and is a certified WTF 4th degree Black Belt in Taekwondo. He is also a former national champion  in forms and breaking competition. Master Tolbert is currently pursuing his Black Belt in Aikido and his 5th degree in TaeKwonDo.

John Kelly

John has been practicing/studying T’ai Chi Ch’uan since the fall of 1979, initially, in an attempt to improve a ten year chronic back problem, which traditional western medicine had proven unable to diagnose or alleviate. He has studied with teachers of Professor Cheng Man-Ching’s short form of Yang style T’ai Chi Ch’uan in Milwaukee, Kansas City and Seattle.  In the spring of 1990 various martial arts teachers in our northwest suburbs persuaded John to teach T’ai Chi Ch’uan.  To this day he continues to attend workshops with direct students of Professor Cheng who are world renowned in their own abilities in the art including: Benjamin Pang Jeng Lo, William C.C. Chen, Dr. Tao Ping-Siang, Maggie Newman and their students, including his original instructors.

Ms. Jessup

Ms. Jessup is the lead instructor in the cardio program. She has been studying martial arts for over 10 years and is a certified WTF 2nd degree Black Belt in Taekwondo. Ms. Jessup is also pursuing her Black Belt in Karate and 3rd degree in TaeKwonDo. She has been certified in Group Fitness instruction for over 15 years having obtained ACE and AFAA certifications, along with Functional training and FIT Tour and KardioKarate cardio kickboxing certifications.