Mr. Goldberg is the Chief Instructor and founder of Aikido of Mission Valley in the United States. He presently holds the rank of San-Dan (third-degree black belt) in Aikido and began practice in 1987. Mr. Goldberg spent three-and-a-half years in Japan studying with some of O'Sensei's most enduring and distinguished disciples, exploring the roots and progression of Aikido. He ran a teens' after-school Aikido class at Francis Parker School in California, and has been the Chief Instructor of University of California San Diego's Aikido class since 1998. He is also a licensed Holistic Health Practitioner and a graduate of Body Mind College. Mr. Goldberg holds a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, a Master of Arts in Education, and has served on academic faculties at Francis Parker School, University of California at San Diego, Southwestern College, Kanazawa Institute of Technology (Japan), and Asia University (Japan).

Originally from Santos, Brazil, and a former member of the Brazilian National track team, Mr. Fonseca has studied Capoeira for seven years. He was a student of Mestre Parada, himself one of the first formado graduated by the famous Angoleiro Mestre Sombra. Mr.Fonseca formed the Capoeira Quilombo de San Diego school in January 1995 and has taught Capoeira to students, both young and old. Currently, he teaches in four different locations in the San Diego, California area.

Mr. J.R. West is an 8th degree Black Belt Hapkido instructor, seminar leader, and the president and founder of the United States Korean Martial Arts Federation. A Hapkido Black Belt since 1967, he got his first taste of the martial arts while serving as a communications specialist in Binh Dinh Province in the Central Highlands of South Vietnam. West returned to the United States in the late 1970s, when many American instructors in the Southeastern United States joined forces to increase the amount of Hapkido knowledge available to their students. By conducting clinics, seminars and testings at central locations, these instructors set a new higher standard for the average student to attain. During the late 1980's, under the leadership of Mr. J. R. West, interest in the organization went well beyond it's original regional boundaries and became the USKMAF that exists today, which presently maintains a 5,250 sq.ft. modern facility completely dedicated to the teaching of Hapkido to men, women and children in the Jackson suburb of Ridgeland, Mississippi.

Mr. Lafon is an innovative, progressive and successful sport Judo coach. Born in New York City in 1951, he started his Judo training in 1965 while living in Paris, France. In 1972, he continued his Judo training in San Diego, California with Benso Tsugi, 8th dan, and became the head instructor of San Diego City College Judo Club, a newly formed student club. Early on in his teaching career, coach Lafon was disillusioned with traditional teaching methods and searched for better ways of conveying the Judo message to the American public. He is a member of the U.S. Judo Association Coach Education and Certification Committee as well as the Competitor Development Committee. In 1999, he founded the International Judo Coaches Alliance, an Internet discussion group. Several of his players have gone on to represent the U.S. at the World Championships and Olympics, as well as other international events. Coach Lafon, 6th dan, currently is Director of Coaching for Judo America San Diego, a USJA Master Coach as well as a certified Olympic Weightlifting coach.

Mr. Ohlenkamp holds a sixth degree black belt in Judo and a sixth degree black belt in Jujitsu with over 33 years of training and experience in various martial arts as a competitor, instructor, team coach, and tournament official. He has served as head instructor at the Encino Judo Club since 1995 and has developed Judo, Jujitsu, and self-defense programs for various clubs, churches, schools, community, and recreation centers throughout Southern California. Mr. Ohlenkamp has been certified by the United States Judo Association as an instructor, referee, master rank examiner, master coach, and was named United States Judo Coach of the Year for 1999.

Mr. Dan Hausel was recently promoted to Soke Shodai, 9th Dan after 35 years of martial arts training. He is highly experienced in Karate (Shorin-Ryu, Shotokan, Wado, Kempo, and Kyokushinkai) and currently serves as an instructor at the University of Wyoming, private clubs and clinics for an international martial arts association. He is also knowledgeable in weapons arts and Jujitsu and is a certified instructor in law enforcement self-defense training. His recent recognitions include induction into the American Biographical Institute's Millennium Hall of Fame, World Karate Union Hall of Fame, and nominations for the North American Black Belt Hall of Fame. Hausel has also been awarded the JKI Open Shorin-Ryu's Instructor of the Year award.

Mr. Henry Iglesia was first introduced to the Martial Arts in 1984 when he was stationed in Okinawa, Japan, while serving military duty in the United States Marine Corps. He started formally training after returning to the United States in 1993. He has earned several Black Belts and has competed and won several Kendo competitions and state championships. Mr. Henry has also earned two inductions in the Eastern U.S.A. International Martial Arts Black Belt Hall of Fame. In addition to Kendo, he is ranked Black Belt in Kodokan Judo and Jujitsu, and studies Iaido.

Mr. Gullette is an instructor and practitioner of the internal arts of Xing-Yi Chuan, Tai Chi Chuan and Baguazhang. He has studied Yang style Tai Chi but is currently studying Chen style Tai Chi. In 1990, Mr. Gullette won two gold medals at the 1990 AAU Kung Fu National Competition. He is knowledgeable about the internal arts, tournament competition, philosophy, and physical fitness for the elderly.

Valerie Lee has studied martial arts since 1971. She has instructed faculty and staff at San Francisco State University, seniors in the Japanese Community Center, Acupuncture College students in Hawaii, martial art camps in Europe, the east and west coast, and private corporations in the bay area. Valerie holds Kung Fu classes and seminars in Chen Taiji, Longfist, sword and saber, and currently teaches Kung Fu at S.F.S.U. and has a private acupuncture practice in the Richmond area of San Francisco. She is a national and international tournament champion in fighting and forms competition. Her principal teacher is Adam Hsu.

Mr. Thompson started his martial arts career at the age of nine with the support of his wonderful family. As one of the only child students, he trained in a class of adults. In October of 1985 he earned his first degree black belt in the art of Ki-do; a blend of Korean martial arts including tae kwon do, hapkido, weapons, and meditation. In the summer of 1987 he came to Family Karate to further his knowledge of Tae Kwon Do. In December of 1988 he confirmed his rank of first degree black belt with Family Karate. He continued his training to his current rank of fourth degree black belt, which he earned in June of 1998.

Mr. Thompson has always deeply believed in the continuous cycle of martial arts, that is learn-improve-teach others what you have learned. Since his first days in the martial arts, he always wanted to teach others and bring them the same joy he feels when he learns. Mr. Thompson was certified to teach with Family Karate in 1990. He was fortunate enough to be awarded instructor of the year in 1997. Now he relishes the challenges of being head instructor, an honor bestowed upon him in January of 2000.

Mr. Thompson greatly enjoys being a student of the martial arts. He has trained in Muay Thai kickboxing and is currently studying Brazilian jiu-jits, as well as improving his Tae Kwon Do skills.

Mr. Thompson believes that attitude is everything. If one has the right focus and drive, then anything is possible. Strive to be your best in all you do.

Eddie Oshins is an instructor at the San Francisco Wing Chun Student Association and the Stanford University Wing Chun Student Association. He has served as Supervisor and as Secretary-General of the World Traditional Sports Federation, which he founded, and currently serves as North California Director. A student of Wing Chun for over 20 years, he is a senior student of Kenneth Chung, who was a senior student of Leung Sheung, the seniormost student of Wing Chun Grandmaster Yip Man in Hong Kong. He has also trained in Yang style Tai Chi Chuan and Goju-ryu Karate.