Martial Arts - Our Tang Soo Do Masters

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Master Instructor / Owner - I began my martial arts journey with my dad in the 80s watching all of the best Karate and Kung Fu movies, which naturally led to me spending the beginning of the 90s in a garage in suburban Escondido training in Karate-do under the guidance of Sensei Ralph Anselmo where I practiced the Okinawan style of Shito Ryu. 

In 1995 we moved up to Oregon with a change of studio where I continued my training alongside my Dad this time (super cool) in Tang Soo Do under Master John Auer. Together my father and I earned our Black Belts in 1998 through the World Tang Soo Do Association, testing in the stiflingly hot upper area of a powerlifting gym in in Santa Rosa, CA. 

Master Auer is one of the finest people and instructors I know. He has shaped so many talented and capable martial artists, many who have gone on to have their own students. I know he gave me early exposure to such an incredibly authentic, open, and fun style of training under adult leadership that it had a profound impact on me in those early years. It was in those years, training under his direction, where teaching and the desire to help others through the vehicle of Martial Arts truly took root.  

In early 2000, like it is for was for many people of my generation, the college path was touted as the absolute way to success so I graduated from Umpqua Community College in 2001 and The University of Oregon in 2005. Moving back to San Diego and having some travel adventures, I replied to an ad on Craigslist (physically, with my uniform in tow, ready to run their afternoon classes) where I began working as a lead instructor at Encinitas Karate with Master Karl Courage. It was there I earned my second and third Dan while also grinding my way to a BJJ blue belt at Gracie Barra Encinitas, which feels like a million years ago. 

It was also during this time I met a dashing Marine stationed here from Kansas. In 2011 I married that Marine and once again was whisked away from home and studios to DC where my new husband (Brent) worked at the Pentagon and I began teaching at All Star Martial Arts with Master Phil Baroody, a disciple of Jhoon Ree, teaching Tae Kwon Do in Alexandria, VA. With the close of Brent’s military service we once again returned home to San Diego where I earned my 4th Dan Under Grandmaster Rick Jones and Master Karl Courage with a title of of Sah Bum Nim (Master Instructor). It was directly after this that I climbed to the top of Palomar Mountain and caught a lightening bolt with my newfound superpowers. 

Now, some years later, graced with wisdom, which is actually just glamour speak for age and injuries, I find myself exactly where I had hoped to be with the long dreamed goal of studio ownership and a husband who is taking the full brunt of BJJ training for the betterment of all.  

Surrounded by the best team anyone could ask for, I know we all share the hope to have the opportunity, health, and skills to use our Martial Arts to serve our communities for many years to come.

Master Instructor - Sah Bum Nim Arango, a San Diego native, started her martial arts journey 15 years ago when her sons were 4 & 6 years old.  Initially bringing them to classes to help with their behavior and focus she could not be kept on the sidelines and she began her own training in earnest.  

In keeping with the family values of Tang Soo Do, SBN Arango earned her Black Belt in 2007 alongside both of her sons.  While her sons have moved on to other activities SBN Arango  continued her journey well past them advancing through her second degree under Master K. Courage and achieving her third degree in 2018 through Master R. Jones. 

Sah Bum Nim Arango allows our studio to have a deeper connection to the rich Hispanic community we have here in Vista by utilizing her bilingual skills to support our mixed language families as well as teaching incredibly awesome Karate classes.

Assistant Instructor - Mr. Roth Sr. began training in Shotokan in 1967 when he joined the US Air Force. In 1969 in Vietnam, he trained with the Republic of Korea (ROK) army in Tae Kwon Do.  This training focused on combat survival skills as well as traditional Tae Kwon Do.
After his discharge from the Air Force, while attending college, Mr. Roth Sr. trained in Ed Parker’s Kenpo and participated as a member of a 5-man kumite team sparing in tournaments in Southern California. The tournaments included Ed Parker’s Long Beach International and Mike Stone’s Four Seasons tournament at Redondo Beach.

Due to work commitments, Mr. Roth Sr. stopped training for a number of years. During this time, he implemented training operations for Qualcomm Inc. in Moscow, Russia and New Delhi, India. Later he started his own training company conducting classes in Hong Kong, Spain, and Australia. He is retired from Northrop Grumman where he was the manager responsible for aircrew training on the Global Hawk high-altitude unmanned reconnaissance aerial vehicle.  He holds a Bachelors of Technical Education degree and a Master of Science in Instructional Technology.

Ultimately, in 2004, Mr. Roth Sr. returned to martial arts when his son, Mr. Roth Jr. began training in Tang Soo Do. He received his Black Belt in 2009, his 2nd Degree Black Belt in 2011, and his 3rd Degree Black Belt in 2014. He is continuing his training while assisting as an instructor at California Karate Academy.

Coach - Coach Brent has been training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu since 2017. He earned his blue belt in March of 2019 under Professor Chris Serrell, his purple belt in September of 2022 and his brown belt in June of 2024 under Professor Aaron Collins. He currently runs our kids BJJ program and assists in our self-defense classes here at California Karate Academy. His inviting demeanor, personable nature, and life experience is a valuable asset to our team.

Brent is a former United States Marine where he served 8 years as an Infantryman. He has been on 3 deployments -- two combat -- and spent the last 3 years of his enlistment working for the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps at the Pentagon in Washington D.C.

He graduated from San Diego State University in 2018 with a bachelor of arts degree in Digital Media.