“True leaders don’t create followers.
They create more leaders.”
Featured
“True leaders don’t create followers.
They create more leaders.”
Master Curtis is a husband, father of 3 and the Head Instructor at Santa Barbara Dojo. He was named Hall of Fame Instructor of the Year in 2022 and was recently appointed President of Calfornia’s chapter of the Global Hapkido Association. He’s a 6th Dan Black Belt in Hapkido, and is also ranked in Tae Kwon Do and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
Master Garret Curtis is a Husband and Father of 2. He’s the owner of Santa Barbara Dojo in Northridge and has been teaching Hapkido since 1997. Master Garret is a 6th Dan Black Belt in Hapkido and a 1st Dan in Taekwondo.
Sensei Litzy Diaz is a 3rd Dan Black Belt in Hapkido and has trained at Santa Barbara Dojo since she was eight years old! She is currently our Program Director and is in charge of helping new martial artists. Sensei Diaz loves spending time with her family and when she isn’t training or teaching at the Dojo, Sensei Diaz studying hard as a nursing major.
Master Melodee Meyer has a 6th Dan Black Belt in Hapkido and a 1st Dan in Taekwondo. The United States Martial Arts Hall of Fame awarded Master Mel "Entrepreneur Woman of the Year" for 2020 and she was inducted into the Karate Union Hall of Fame for “Outstanding Contribution to the Martial Arts." Master Mel is the bestselling author of "Black Belt Power" and "Clean Food Diet". She loves to coach women online to be Fierce After Fifty.
Master Keiran is a 5th Dan Master of Hapkido. He helps teach our Black Belt class and is a pillar in our academy. He is a Black Belt in Taekwondo as well and has been training martial arts for over 2 decades.
Master Alex Rodriguez is a 5th Dan Black Belt in Hapkido, as well as a Certified Full Instructor in Jeet Kune Do. Master Rodriguez teaches the Black Belt Class and has been at Santa Barbara Dojo for over a decade. He is a California native and resides in Santa Barbara with his wife and son.
Master Ray Janik is a 4th Dan Black Belt in Hapkido and is an instructor in both the Youth and the Adult Hapkido class. He works at Fielding Graduate University in Santa Barbara and when he’s not working, he is at the dojo training! If it’s not Kickboxing or Black Belt class, Master Janik is out scuba diving, and/or traveling on some epic world adventure with his wife.
Coach Amelia Neal is a Certified Kickboxing Instructors and has taught Yoga for over 10 years. She found kickboxing to be the perfect balance to her yoga practice and is able to incorporate her yogi roots into her classes by strengthening her students’ form and increasing their flexibility. Coach Amelia loves the community at the Dojo and makes her classes fun and energizing. On her time off, she’s out hiking, camping, and exploring with her dog.
Meet Coach Eric, who started at the Dojo in 2019 and quickly became a success story of the 6-week KUT Challenge. When not immersed in the world of engineering or honing his skills on the training floor, Coach Eric can be found hiking with his dog, Malo. A true embodiment of dedication, discipline, and a zest for life, Coach Eric inspires others to embrace their passions and thrive in all facets of their journey.
Coach Kat grew up in Hawaii and went to college at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. With a senior brown belt in Taekwondo, Kat started as a kickboxing student at the Dojo and loves helping people get excited about moving and learning new skills. When she’s not teaching, she’s working hard as an architectural designer or paddling in outrigger canoes down at the harbor.