Soane Veamatahau |
Laura Mazzola |
Jim Juachon |
Bryce Carter |
Peter Ajemian |
Leah Gillman |
Cheryl Fralick |
Abbie Conlee |
Ambika Selvan |
Derrick Easterling |
Rafael Vasquez |
Jana Kilgore |
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.
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 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
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 (asnas). Simone has practiced her sacred healing art forms in the Bay Area for 10 years, and is a mother of four.
Leah Gillman leads Yoga Immersion!, a yoga teacher certification program, practices and teaches Barefoot Bodywork, teaches private and public yoga classes and partner acrobatics. Still enjoying dance and cycling, Leah can also be found running, in martial arts classes, and participating in the occasional sprint-distance triathalon. Go to her website for more information: www.barefootmovement.com
Ambika Selvan has been intensively studying, performing and playing in the movement world for over 26 years. Although her studies began in dance, an appreciation for yoga and learning how to share it with others began after the birth of her daughter 3 years ago. Ambika's goal as a teacher is to help students find a way to use and improve their body in a healthy, restorative and joyful way. Ambika is a founding member of Ahdanco, a local modern dance company, and lives with her family in Oakland, CA.
Derrick Easterling, trains, teaches and competes in Brazilian Jiujitsu as a purple belt at Open Door BJJ, under Sergio Silva, in Alameda, CA. Derrick has been a professional mixed martial arts fighter since 2007. He continues to cross train in boxing, wrestling and Muay Thai. Derrick is working towards his degree in Business and Kinesiology with a focus on sports management and athletic training at Chabot College in Hayward, CA.
Jana Kilgore began studying Tibetan Buddhist, Zen & Indian philosophy & meditation at 15. She has been practicing and teaching Hatha Yoga since 2000 & has focused her studies on Anusara yoga since 2003 which is a Tantric based philosophy in practice. Her main teachers, Desiree Rumbaugh, John Friend and Sianna Sherman and she has taught yoga in Olympia, WA. and Grand Rapids, MI. and is now studying with her teachers in the Bay. When she's not practicing yoga you can find her studying Ayurvedic medicine, cooking, singing, writing and enjoying the community.
Chris Andersen has been studying White Crane Silat formally for two years. He has just returned from six months intensive study at the PGB world headquarters in West Java, Indonesia. In addition to his martial training, he holds a Bachelors degree from the New England Conservatory of Music where he studied Jazz performance with a concentration in Music-in-Education. Chris is responsible for martial arts training at Soja's Kids Summer kung fu & yoga camp.
Emily Zaffino practiced and trained in vinyasa yoga since 2000 after a lifetime of dance, choreography and athletics. She first taught New England outdoor sports enthusiasts, with a strong focus on alignment, flexibility and injury prevention. Feeling the influence of yoga off of the mat and in daily life inspired Emily to teach and to share the empowering mind-spirit connection of yoga with her students in an accessible way. She is also a certified Holistic Health practitioner of Integrative Nutrition and conducts cleansing programs that incorporate a Hatha Yoga practice and food-cleansing regime to instill healthful lifestyle habits. When Emily steps out of the studio she enjoys Oakland farmers markets, trail running, poetry and cooking.
Troy Taylor was born in California and grew up in the Bay Area. He has been involved in various forms of martial arts since he was a kid. In college he excelled in Track and Field, especially in hurdles, 100m and 200m. His amateur fight record is 4-0. He is currently establishing himself in the amateur Muay Thai circuit, training regularly at Cheetah's Muay Thai Academy in Oakland, CA. When not training Muay Thai Troy enjoys.....Dreaming about Muay Thai.
Leon Kenin grew up in Berkeley where he began learning Judo at age 8. A lifetime member of the United States Judo Association, a member of the United States Judo Federation, and a member of United States Judo Inc., he is a third degree black belt. He has competed in California at the youth level, at the national collegiate level as a member of the Princeton Judo Team, and internationally at the adult level. Leon has studied under many instructors on both coasts and in Spain, but has always remained a student of his first teacher and mentor, Dr. Alex Feng of Wu Tao Kuan Martial Arts Institute. Leon has been teaching Judo since the mid 1980s. He founded and ran a judo school in Jerusalem, Israel and currently teaches kids’ judo at the Downtown Berkeley YMCA. Leon practices Traditional Chinese Medicine at Be Well Acupuncture and Herbs in Oakland and is the father of four children.
Have a question about Soja? Drop us an email at info@sojamartialarts.com or call us at 510.832.7652