• overview
• disciplines
• white crane silat
• teachers

Soane Veamatahau, Instructor, has taught and performed traditional martial arts, music and dance of the South Pacific since a child in Tonga. He has lived in Oakland for over 20 years. Currently he travels the world playing traditional drums and ukulele with internationally acclaimed performance groups such as Te Mana O Te Ra, which recently performed at the 2007 San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival.

Rafael Vasquez, Instructor, has been training and teaching White Crane Silat Kung Fu since 1988. Born in El Salvador, he grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area. Rafael has trained Judo, White Crane Silat and Muay Thai. He trained and taught kung fu while residing at the White Crane Silat headquarters in Bogor, West Java, Indonesia for three years.

Laura Mazzola, Instructor, has been training and teaching White Crane Silat Kung Fu since 1988 in Indonesia and throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. Her current focus is the Yin System (also called the Women's System) of training and sparring. Her other interests include biotechnology, music and caffeine. Laura grew up in Kalamazoo, Michigan and now resides in San Francisco.

Jim Juachon was introduced to the martial arts as a youth in Chicago. He began his studies with Fred Dagerberg in western style boxing and trained in Eskrima (Filipino stick fighting), as well as Muay Thai and Tae Kwon Do. He was fortunate to have studied with Danny Inosanto and other masters Filipino martial arts. He was a member of the U.S. Olympic Tae Kwon Do team from 1980-1989 and operated the Juachon Academy for Martial Arts and Body Fitness in Hercules during the 1990’s. Jim loves to combine fun and hard work in his high energy, mixed martial arts classes.

Bryce Carter, PhD, Instructor, is an internationally renown martial artist with over 30 years of experience. Having trained in Indonesia under the direct supervision of the late Grandmaster Subur Rahardja (Suhu), he has taught individual and group classes in White Crane Silat Kung Fu in San Francisco since 1984, and is currently the Chief of Instructors for White Crane Silat Kung Fu in the United States. Bryce has also been a licensed clinical psychologist in private practice in San Francisco for over 10 years. Bryce specializes in the treatment of depression, anxiety, relationship difficulties, anger management, and crises counseling. He has extensive experience in counseling and martial arts instruction with children having worked with the San Francisco Unified School District from 1986-1999 and in the Youth Guidance Center from 1996-1998. Bryce's current clients include adults, children, families, and couples.

Leigh Ann Martin, Instructor, has been training and teaching White Crane Silat since 1998 in San Francisco, Berkeley and Bogor, Indonesia. She works as costume designer for choregraphers throughout the SF Bay Area. Leigh Ann Martin was born in Virginia and now resides in Oakland. She spends her days teaching great artists at Creativity Explored in San Francisco.

Peter Ajemian, Founder and Chief Instructor of Soja, has taught White Crane Silat Kung Fu throughout the United States, and trained at various times at the PGB-Silat World Headquarters starting in 1995. He was first introduced to White Crane Silat Kung Fu while obtaining his BA from Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, NY in 1985. Prior to training White Crane Silat he studied Shotokan Karate as a child. Peter is also an assistant instructor of Bay Mountain Wing Tsun, having studied since 2004. In 2006 he decided martial arts needed to be a the forefront of his life and has subsequently opened Soja Martial Arts. He is fascinated with all forms of martial arts, self expression through flowing movement, and human awareness. Peter has over twenty years experience in special event coordination, community development, and management as Executive Director of 501(c)3 arts and cultural programs. In 1995, he received his Master's Degree in Public Policy Analysis and Management of Public Sector organizations from the Graduate School of Public Affairs at the University of Washington in Seattle in 1995.

Nathanael Chawkin, instructor, has been practicing and teaching Aikido since 1994, including over two years in the highly disciplined, service oriented position of senior live-in student (uchideshi), largely under Patricia Hendricks Sensei, 6th dan, at Aikido of San Leandro. He is a 2nd degree Black Belt in Aikido, and a Blue Belt in BJJ under Black Belt Sergio Silva of Open Door Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Nathanael instructs privately, holds workshops, and is a certified life coach through JFK University where he is currently enrolled in the Integral Psychology masters degree program. Please see his website at http://www.Self-Victory.com

Ainka Fulani is a former dancer and track athlete and has had exposure to a variety of body movement modalities over the years, including yoga, Pilates, Rolfing and gyrotonics. She received her certification from Personal Best Pilates Studio in Kansas City and is currently working towards a Master's in Nutrition from Clayton College of Natural Health. A Native New Yorker, current Oakland resident and avid international traveler, Ainka believes that all things are possible when you show care to your body inside and out.

Abbie Conlee has been studying and practicing yoga for more than six years, including over three hundred hours of training in Anusara yoga. From her first class, the life-affirming nature of the Anusara philosophy resonated with Abbie’s heart, leading to an on-going exploration of yoga and meditation. She believes that yoga can open you to greater possibilities by allowing you to see your own beauty. In addition to yoga, Abbie also spends her time thinking about the urban environment, cooking, and biking in San Francisco.

Burke Zimmerman, PhD, has been studying meditation and relaxation techniques for more than 30 years, especially in the context of Buddhist philosophy and practice. In recent years he has been practicing ashtanga yoga, qigong and tai chi chuan, and has been a student of the Taoist martial and healing arts with Sifu Fong Ha in Berkeley since 2004. He has been teaching yi chuan meditation and qigong in Marin for more than three years. A research scientist by profession (molecular biophysics, immunology) and one-time biotechnology entrepreneur (vaccine development), his interests include mind-body integration, especially with respect to energy, healing and function. His other interests include stone sculpture, bicycling, gardening, music, and disappearing into the wilderness every so often.

Austin Tang, instructor, has been pursuing the art of White Crane Silat since 1992 when he started training in Boston, MA. Later, he spent three years based in the White Crane Silat center in Bogor, Idonesia. Prior to White Crane sialt he had a foundation in Southern Shaolin kung fu.

Kendal Au has a background in gymnastics, track, swimming & martial arts in addition to her training in Pilates with Body Arts & Science International and Ellie Herman teachers. She is an artist, muralist & activist who cares deeply about the world and the people in it. Kendal actively works to apply her conscientious attitude in all of her work, including her Pilates practice. She has lived all over the West Coast, a little a little in New England, and has strong familial roots in the Hawaiian islands. She has been an Oakland resident for over 20 years.

Cheryl Fralick, Instructor, started her training in White Crane Silat with Dr. Bryce Carter in 1986. She has a 19 year old son in college and runs a small landscaping business. Cheryl has taught kids in SF at the Girls and Boys club as well as an after school class at the El Cerrito community center. Traditional White Crane Silat is taught to kids at Soja with an emphasis on body awareness, body integration and coordination. Jump ropes, Hula Hoops, and juggling are used at times to help facilitate the fun of learning this unique system.

Simone Myles Young (Sat Siri Kaur), Certified Kundalini Yoga teacher, as Taught by Yogi Bhajan , Ph.D., Certified whole foods Diet Counselor, and Rebirthing Coach studying under Leonard Ore. She also holds a Certification in Massage Therapy. Simone (Sat Siri Kaur) Introduces Kundalini Yoga, “the yoga of awareness�, for beginners through meditation, mantras, & exercise sets (asna’s). Simone has practiced her sacred healing art forms in the Bay Area for 10 years, and is a mother of four.

Have a question about Soja? Drop us an email at info@sojamartialarts.com or call us at 510.832.7652