Instructors
I’ve been involved with the martial arts since the mid ’90s, teaching it full-time as an instructor and program director in the DFW area for over 12 years. I have been extremely fortunate to train with notable Masters: Master John Atkinson, Master Dave Haddock, and Master Keith Freeman. I'm certified by United Martial Arts Federation and the International Karate Kung Fu Association, and have also trained for many years in Tai Chi.
I'm continuing to train with with Kyoshi Atkinson, 8th degree black belt in Kung Fu and Chinese Kempo, and with Master Haddock, a 5th degree black in American Style Karate. As well as working toward my 4th degree black belt, I've started training in Five Animal Style Kung Fu under Kyoshi Atkinson.
I’m a full time Graphic Designer and own my own company. I also work part time as a personal trainer. I had my own school in Florida.
I've been training and teaching martial arts since the mid ’90s. Right now I’m continuing to train in American Style Karate and I’m working towards my 4th degree under Mr. Dave Haddock and Mr. Keith Freeman. I’ve also trained in Wha Rang Do and Aikido.
I’ve been studying martial arts for the past eleven years. For seven of those years I’ve also been instructing, bringing both high energy and a love of kata to the mat. I’m currently training under Master Dave Haddock for my 3rd degree. Martial Arts has been one of the driving forces in my life and I enjoy giving others the chance to experience it for themselves.
I started my martial arts training in June of 2003. Six weeks after I started, I had back surgery to repair damage from a previous weight lifting injury. During this time two of my daughters started their training. After much perseverance, I was able to join them. We trained together for the next four years, with each of us earning a black belt. I also enjoy working with nunchucks—I used them for my optional black-belt kata in my 1st degree black belt test. I'm training toward my 2nd degree.
Karate has given me two passions—the discipline itself and a love of teaching it, particularly to children. I started studying karate back in November of 2002, earning my black belt 5½ years later. I'm pretty big and fairly strong, but I'm really a softy at heart, which is why the children call me the “gentle giant.” I like lots of different martial arts disciplines, and have studied Judo, Goju Shorei, and Jiu Jitsu. I’m currently concentrating on American Karate, working towards my next rank under Ms. Paup.
Professional Development
We think it is important for our instructors to continue to train, learning new disciplines and skills and keeping their existing skills sharp. We're honored that Master Dave Haddock has agreed to mentor our staff and advise on our programs.
My martial arts journey began with my first judo lesson at the age of eleven, not realizing then that it would develop into a lifelong quest for knowledge and excellence in the Martial Arts. I continued my training in judo after I joined the Navy, where I also joined the Boxing and Shotokan Karate teams.
I subsequently earned additional black belts is American Karate, Chinese Kempo, and American Taekwondo in addition to cross training in Kyushu Jitsu. I realized that the best training I could get was through teaching others and learning from my students. This is what inspired me to develop a martial arts curriculum for a new breed of black belt excellence, opening a Karate Dojo for all ages in 1997. In 1998 I had the good fortune to train Ms. Paup as an instructor. We jointly developed a Life Skills program for small children, facilitating a bump-less transition into the juniors programs without going back in rank. This successful program is now being used by many other Martial Arts schools.
I specialize in the training of Instructors, advanced self defense, and women’s street self-defense. I am a great believer in the importance of continuing education, so I continue to train and test in American Karate under Grand Master Burleson and Master Sutton, Chinese Kempo under Master Atkinson and Kyusho Jitsu under Grand Master Hogan.
Business Side
Karate schools have a reputation for being short-lived. Often that's because they are run by people with a passion for the martial arts but with little business experience. As a student, that can be worrying—you don't want to start down the path towards a black belt—a journey that may take four or more years—with a school that might not be there to see you complete. So we take our business side seriously—we have the technical, professional, and administrative support that a business needs to grow in these interesting times.
Dave and Juliet got involved with Karate for Life after seeing the difference that the martial arts has made to people's lives. They feel privileged to be able to help Teresa continue to teach Karate in Flower Mound.
Juliet has an undergraduate degree and and MBA from New York University, and worked for both multinational companies, large nonprofits, and smaller businesses before becoming a full-time mother to Zachary and Henry. David has been running his own software-related businesses since the mid ’80s, first in England and for the last 15 years here in Texas.
