Mike St. Amand
Mike grew up
outside of Boston, MA and moved to Charleston in 1985. He is the
co-founder of Masters Studios of Self Defense along with his partner
Philip Beauregard. Mike has been training and teaching for over 20
years and is a 6th degree black belt in Kempo Karate. He continues
his Kempo training under 8th degree Black Belt Master Bob Nohelty
from Boston, MA. Mike has visited China three times and has been to
the Shaolin Temple. He has worked out at the famous Temple and
learned a Broad Sword form and a Straight Sword form from the
Shaolin Monks. Mike continues his Kung Fu and weapon training under
his friend and teacher Sifu Yao Li of Boston, MA.
Mike also
studies and teaches Tai Chi Chuan, Tai Chi Jian and Tui Shuo (Push
Hands). With the help of his Tai Chi instructor Joshua Grant, he
has built a large Tai Chi program. Mike is the Director of Masters
Studios of Self Defense in Mt. Pleasant.
Wally Freitag
Wally is
originally from New York and first started training in the Martial
Arts in his home state. Upon arriving in Charleston, he continued
his training. He has been teaching and training for over nine years
with Masters Studios. He is a forth degree Black Belt and Chief
Instructor at the Mt. Pleasant Studio. Beside Kempo Karate, he is
certified to teach Chinese Kung Fu (Nan Chuan, Chang Chuan) and
Weapons. He is also certified to teach Tai Chi Chuan and Tai Chi
Jian. Wally is in charge of organizing the day to day teaching of
all the classes. When Wally is not teaching, he enjoys working out
and practicing the three section staff, which is his favorite
weapon.
Wendy Burkhardt
Wendy
Burkhardt has lived in the Charleston area since 1987. A life long
athlete, she became a certified personal trainer in 1992. Martial
Arts became a part of her own training in 1994. She is currently a
Forth degree Black Belt in Kempo Karate. She also trains in Chinese
Kung Fu, Weapon forms, and Tai Chi Chuan.
Wendy's
teaching duties at Masters Studios include the Conditioning and
Sparring Class, Beginner and Advanced Tai Chi classes, and karate
and Kung Fu classes among others. Her background in fitness adds a
unique perspective to the classes.
Sonja Long
Sonja Long was
raised in Ohio then moved to South Carolina in 1986. Sonja
developed a foundation in gymnastics early on and later turned her
interest towards weight training and fitness. Her curiosity in the
Martial Arts came about from her father's Kung Fu training and this
would later lead her to Masters Studios of Self Defense. Sonja
began training in 1994 and at the present has attained the rank of
third degree black belt. Sonja also practices Tai Chi Chuan, Weapon
skills, and Chinese Kung Fu forms. She is currently an elementary
school counselor.
Bucky Buchanan
Bucky Buchanan
has been training for eleven years and is currently a third degree
Black Belt. Along with teaching and training in Kempo Karate he
also trains in Tai Chi Chuan and Kung Fu. Bucky attends Wando High
School where he swims on the swim team. Bucky's favorite weapon is
the Double Broad Sword.
Bobby Smith
Bobby Smith is
a third degree Black Belt and is originally from North Carolina,
but has lived in the Charleston Area most of his life. In addition
to Kempo Karate he also studies and teaches Tai Chi Chuan and Kung
Fu. Bobby's other activities have included at various points animal
studies, racquetball, snow and water skiing, painting, playing the
guitar, inline skating, writing, rock climbing, and computer
software development.
 Sharon
Scott
Sharon started studying Tai Chi Chuan in 1994 in order to improve
her level of physical fitness. She soon found that Tai Chi Chuan
was a very demanding discipline. The rewards, however, have always
sustained her mental and physical commitment. Sharon has also
started training in Push Hands and Kung Fu to complement her study
in the internal Martial Arts.
Sharon's other interest include gardening, travel, and cooking. She
is married to Graham Scott (Tai Chi student) and mother of three
children: Siobhan (first degree black belt), Meagan and Doug (second
degree blue belt).
 David
Bachman
Bio on the way.
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Mt. Pleasant