California Karate Academy - The Owners

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Master Instructor / Owner - Mikita is the Owner and Lead Master Instructor of California Karate Academy, overseeing two dojang locations serving families across Vista, Oceanside, and North County San Diego. She leads a disciplined, high-standard training environment rooted in traditional Tang Soo Do and supported by modern coaching systems.

Her journey began in the 1980s, inspired by time spent with her father watching classic martial arts films. That early interest led her into formal training in the early 1990s in Escondido, California under Sensei Ralph Anselmo, studying Okinawan Shito-Ryu Karate-do. After relocating to Oregon in 1995, she continued her training in Tang Soo Do under Master John Auer. In 1998, she and her father earned their Black Belts together through the World Tang Soo Do Association—an experience that solidified both her commitment to the art and her connection to it as a lifelong path.

Under Master Auer’s guidance, she was exposed to a training environment that balanced technical precision with strong leadership and community. It was during these formative years that her desire to teach and develop others through martial arts took root.

After completing her college education, Mikita returned to San Diego and began her professional career as a lead instructor, continuing to advance through the Dan ranks while expanding her training into Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. She later taught in the Washington, D.C. area, further broadening her instructional experience across multiple martial arts systems and student populations.

She currently holds the rank of 4th Dan (Sah Bum Nim) and is preparing to test for her 5th Degree Black Belt under Grandmaster Rick Jones in May, continuing her long-term commitment to refinement, leadership, and the preservation of traditional martial arts.

Today, as the Owner and Lead Master Instructor of California Karate Academy, Mikita oversees curriculum development, instructor training, and student progression across both dojang locations. Her programs emphasize structure, consistency, and accountability, with a focus on developing not only skilled martial artists, but disciplined, capable individuals.

California Karate Academy provides high-quality martial arts training in Tang Soo Do and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for students of all ages throughout Vista, Oceanside, and the greater North County San Diego area. Under Mikita’s leadership, the academy maintains a clear, structured path from beginner through black belt, with standards that prioritize technical excellence, character development, and long-term personal growth.

She leads alongside a strong team of instructors, united by a shared commitment to serving their community through disciplined, professional martial arts training.

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. 

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.

Instructor - Royal Harrell was born in Los Angeles, California and moved to Vista at the age of 9 with his mother and younger sister who has cerebral palsy. His family grew up poor, but were rich at heart. Because of his little sister, he later became a substitute teacher for special education. He enjoys helping people with all types of disabilities and would like to one day open a studio for special needs.

Royal is a father of four and two of them train at California Karate Academy -- a son and a daughter make up the rest of Team Harrell. Having his little ones doing what he likes to do and not forcing them to train is, in his words, epic. "Honestly it’s my daughter that keeps me motivated. She gives me hope and motivation, teaching me the NEVER GIVE UP rule."  

Besides learning Tang Soo Do, Royal has background experience in Shotokan, Shorin Ryu and Jiu-Jitsu. Because of his previous and current training he now teaches the sparring classes on Fridays. He thinks that a well-rounded martial artist should train in both stand up and ground disciplines and encourages students to do both.

Instructor - Julie Cornwell is a Minnesota native and her, along with her daughter Fiona, are two of CKA’s original students. In college, Julie majored in Latin and minored in Biology before she went off to live and work in Europe for the better part of a decade. She relocated to her husband’s home state of California in 2015.

Because of her upbringing, Julie participated in a variety of athletic and artistic endeavors such as ballet, tap, volleyball, tennis, basketball, and track.  Her interest in keeping physically fit lead her to studying Tae Kwon Do with her oldest daughter.

Julie enjoys being challenged mentally and physically and encourages other students to push themselves outside of their comfort zones. She is an excellent addition to our Tang Soo Do team and brings knowledge, expertise, and wisdom to our floor.

Instructor - Jennifer Volkman is one of the original students of CKA and is very proud to have earned her E Dan. Jen grew up in Indiana and earned a degree in Chemical Engineering from Purdue University where she met her husband, Dave. She and Dave are the parents of the amazing Natalie, and have lived in the San Diego area for over 15 years.

Diagnosed with Stage III breast cancer in the Spring of 2013, Jen has worked hard to improve her physical well-being and her Tang Soo Do practice is a key component. She is now pursuing her Kyosa Nim designation (certified instructor). In addition to martials arts, she enjoys singing and is a member of the San Diego Harmonics Chorale.  Her other hobby is scrapbooking and vacations are spent scuba diving with her family. Tang Soo! 

Instructor - Aakash is a 22 year old certified instructor and second degree black belt. A graduate of UC Berkeley with a degree in Applied Mathematics, he has developed a deep appreciation for complex systems and their underlying mechanics, which is conveyed in how he practices Tang Soo Do.

Having trained in the art for over half his life, it represents more than the deep technical foundation he has built. It represents an overarching philosophy; an appreciation for how seemingly trivial details are the ones that separate respectable proficiency from genuine mastery.

He has a strong passion for sharing this philosophy with students at every level through the rich medium of Tang Soo Do. Whether working with beginners or advanced practitioners, he strives to create an environment that is both supportive and challenging, where students can build confidence by being pushed to achieve exceptional outcomes against any odds.

Assistant Instructor 

Mr. Bowman was born in Visalia, California and moved to Vista at 6 years old. He is currently a Senior in high school, attending Guajome Park Academy, and is in a highly rigorous program to get his IB Diploma. At Guajome, Mr. Bowman  is the creator and president of the Audio and Visual (AV) Team, working closely with the school’s ASB to support plays, concerts, and many fundraising events. From a young age, he has loved working with his hands and plans to attend Cal Poly Pomona in Fall of 2026, majoring in Construction Engineering and Management.

Mr. Bowman started his karate journey in 2015 and his sister later followed in 2020. He earned his black belt in 2022 after much perseverance, discipline, and countless hours spent training and went on to earn his second-degree black belt in 2024. He has a strong passion for teaching and helping his students as well as his peers in any way he can. His favorite parts of class include practicing self-defense, sparring, and engaging in activities that both strain the mind and the body.

Outside of school and karate, Mr. Bowman has many hobbies and likes to do things like surfing in the morning and later hanging out with friends in the afternoon. He values staying active, building strong relationships, and maintaining a balanced lifestyle. Whether in the classroom, on the mat, or in his everyday life, Mr. Bowman strives to continue growing as a leader, role model, and hardworking individual.

Assistant Instructor 

Mr. Aladits attends Rancho Buena Vista High School and is part of the Class of 2026. With a strong interest in creativity and visual storytelling, Zachary has developed a passion for art and design from a young age. He is especially drawn to digital art, where he enjoys experimenting with different styles and techniques to express his ideas. Always eager to learn and grow, he continues to build his skills both in and out of the classroom.

Alongside his artistic pursuits, Mr. Aladits trains in karate, where he has learned the value of discipline, focus, and perseverance. Through consistent practice and dedication, karate has helped shape his mindset—teaching him to stay committed to his goals, push through challenges, and carry himself with confidence and respect. His hard work and commitment have led to significant achievements, earning his first-degree black belt in 2021 and his second-degree black belt in 2024. The structure and training have played a key role in helping him stay motivated both academically and personally.

Looking ahead, Zachary plans to attend college and major in graphic design, where he hopes to expand his knowledge of the digital art world and animation. He is motivated by the idea of turning his creativity into a career, bringing concepts to life through design and motion. With dedication and curiosity, Zachary aims to develop his own unique style and make a meaningful impact in the creative industry.