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TEACHERS AND INSTRUCTORS

Teachers

Tony Martinez - Grandmaster

Mr. Martinez started WestWind in 1985! The longest martial art school around in Utah!

Class instructors are responsible for helping students master the mental and physical techniques of Karate

Instructors

Assistant Instructors

WestWind's teachers and instructors are selected from among the most dedicated and experienced martial arts experts in Utah. Listed below are the photos and biographies of our teachers, instructors and assistant instructors (TEAM).

Sean Kaneshiro - Head Teacher

Inspired by the Ninja Turtle and Power Rangers, Sean began his Karate Career at the age of 5. He has been training at WestWind ever since. WestWind is his life! Mr. K loves working with people and sharing the art.

Ryan Thierolf

Mr. Thierolf I have been training since he was 10 years old. His grandfather recommended that he do it to toughen him up
and help me with confidence. Ryan is a 4th degree black belt and have been teaching karate since 1998. He enjoys teaching others by helping them to challenge themselves and overcome obstacles to achieve their greatest potential.

"My goal is to earn a Master 5th degree black belt and to continue teaching and learning to improve my own skill. I have a bachelor's degree in Biology and Psychology and currently work in behavioral management for troubled youth in a treatment center. I strongly believe that the discipline learned in karate can prevent
people from entering placements such as the one I work at. My mission statement
is to improve society one kick at a time.

Randy Bennett

Randy started training over four decades ago with Tony Martinez! He is now a life long black belt. He attributes all his ability to Mr. Martinez. Randy and his wife enjoy traveling the world and visiting various Karate studios to see what the world has to offer in the martial arts. He believes that one of the most valuable things Karate teaches is Harmony...in talk, thinking process and movement. Randy's greatest joy comes in seeing who may not have natural talent or an athletic body excel in Karate.

"My goal is to continue to spar until well after we are 70".

Dylan Hatch

Dylan began his Karate career at the age of nine. He was inspired to begin his karate career at the age of nine by Bruce Lee, the Power Rangers and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. That inspiration has carried him through 15 years of training and 10 years of teaching. He is currently a second degree blackbelt.

“I like teaching because I see other people improving not only at Karate but at their lives in general.”

Mark DeWaal

Biography Coming Soon.

Atalie Boyce

In addition to studying and teaching Karate, Atalie is an award winning photographer. She has been training in various martial arts since she was 9 years old. Currently a red belt, she is working hard to become a black belt. She enjoys teaching and training at WestWind because of the supportive family atmosphere. She has a passion for teaching and the opportunities it offers to help so many people.

“This school is just like a family to me and I enjoy every second that I am here”.

Mateo Gregorio

Biography Coming Soon.

Trevor Martin

Trevor is Vice President of sales for a medical device company covering the entire USA. Trevor began training in 2008 after being inspired by watching MMA fighting. He says he teaches Karate because he loves kids and watching them learn and have fun. He is now a Red/Black Belt.

"I use so much of what I learn in day to day life. I refer to the message of the week many times a week both at home and business."

Skylar Record

Skyler started at the age of 10. Skyler attends T9 an était collage High School, AMES. In Skylers free time he loves to hunt, fish, shoot guns & bows. He also plays the clarinet. He enjoys teaching and learning how other people learn. Skyler has a goal to reach black belt and to accomplish the butterfly twist. A great experience with WestWind was the first day he did a class. He says "Everyone was so kind and jumped at the chance to introduce themself to me." A great experience with martial arts is when it has helped me stop a fight before it begins. Skyer has recieved punctual awards at school and a presidential award for outstanding academic achievement.

Kira Varga

Biography Coming Soon.

Aaron Varga

Biography Coming Soon.

Sylvia Hansen

Outside of the school Sylvia works for Media One and enjoys riding motorcycles. She has been training at WestWind Karate for five years. She was inspired to start because of what Karate was doing for her son. She says she loves the values he learned. They didn’t just teach him how to fight, she says, they taught him how to protect himself while still having respect for other people. She views WestWind as a part of her family and enjoys the people that I SWAT with and the people that are in my class.

“I always look forward to coming to karate just to be able to move and get some exercise. Karate is the perfect place when the day has been completely stressful and frustrating. It gets my mind off of work and it’s physically challenging which helps me to relax”.

Craig Hansen

Biography Coming Soon.

Corrie Record

Corrie has been at WestWind since 2009! Corrie going to college to be a nurse. In her free time she is in the out doors enjoy.

"I love being at WestWind because I learn great technique, new ways to stay fit and fun katas. I have learned more than self defense and physical fitness here, more life morals and such as Respect, Modesty, Act as If and inch by inch vs. yard by yard. WestWind is my Second Family, I have made great friends here. I plan on staying here for a long time."

Our teachers have decades of training and experience. They are responsible to oversee the techniques being taught, the values being instilled and keeping students motivated in the quest for excellence.

Sarah Curnow

Biography Coming Soon.

Jessica Martinez

Jessica started training in 2006 and is proud to have earned her red-black belt. She has a goal of becoming a black belt in two years. She enjoys teaching because she says that no matter how your day is going when you go in to teach, students will have you walking out with a smile.

“Martial Arts keeps me mentally and physically healthy”

Jessica Hooper

Jessica didn’t begin training until the age of 31, but in just fours years has attained the rank of Brown Belt. She started when her son invited her to class with him. Before they knew it her husband and her daughter started taking classes as well. They had so much fun training together that they have all been at WestWind ever since. She enjoys teaching because she sees the difference Karate can may in so many people’s lives. She enjoys watching people of all ages and abilities start to learn what they are capable of doing and the confidence that people develop as they progress.

“The improvements that happen in the dojo and outside the dojo are exciting to watch with my own family and with everyone that comes to WestWind”.