Instructors
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 in American Karate, Chinese Kempo, and American Taekwondo, in addition to cross training in Kyusho 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 lead the development of 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.
As well as teaching classes, 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.
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. 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 Master Haddock.
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.
Fitness Instructor
I've been involved in fitness since 2002, working first at Fitness Works for Women. I became a personal trainer since 2003, teaching at the Health and Athletic Center and later at Life Time Fitness before becoming independent in 2009. As well as my formal certifications, I've done continuing education in weight management at Cooper along with Functional Movement by Perform Better.
I'm a strong believer in the importance of building strength from the core out, working with my students to improve both their fitness and their overall health. We've also been known to have the occasional laugh….
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.
