Chief Instructor, Restita DeJesus
Ms. DeJesus has studied martial arts since 1978 beginning with Butokukan Karate. She holds instructor certifications and black belt rankings in: Doce Pares Eskrima, Filipino Martial Arts Academy (FMAA) curriculum, Kajukenbo-Chuan Fa (Faircloth's Method), Wun Hop Kuen Do, Eskrido, Pangamot, Chen Tai Chi, Yang Tai Chi, Wushu, and the Japanese archery art of Kyudo. Her other studies include the Japanese sword art of Iaido, and Baguazhang. She is also a Reiki Practitioner, Bullwhip teacher and blowgun enthusiast.
As a child, Restita grew up watching the 70's TV series "Kung Fu", and hearing stories passed down to her about her great grandfather (on her father's side), Santiago Toledo, who she later found out was a well known Filipino Martial Arts Master and founder of the Toledo style of Eskrima and the Toledo-Collado Style. It was these events that peaked her interest in the Asian and Southeast Asian systems of martial arts.
Although she enjoys teaching all ages, her specialty is in teaching children. In an interview on a radio show called "Modern Combat Masters", Restita says "When it comes to focused sports....gymnastics, martial arts, and such.....children are not little adults, and they shouldn't be taught or treated as adults because their learning processes are different. That's not to say you cannot make clear expectations of them and not bring consequences to the table....you have to, of course, if you want to instill discipline. However, if you choose not to adapt your teaching style to all learning types, you shouldn't be teaching kids until you do. If you can do this with kids and have the patience to do so, you can teach most anyone, adults included."
It is this approach to teaching that made her a sought-after instructor and consultant for Martial arts and martial-themed fitness in childrens afterschool programs, Pre-Schools, Middle and High Schools, Colleges, P.E. workshops, P.E. Teacher continuing education, summer camps, and other programs throughout the Puget Sound. She includes non-standard approaches to teaching, so that students not only learn the martial art, but also the underlying culture behind the art. She includes Filipino traditional Dance, Asian drumming, fables and games into her classes.
Outside of teaching, Restita is Lifetime member of the Association of Women's Martial Arts Instructors (AWMAI) and an AWMAI Hall of fame Inductee (2013), served on the board of directors for the Pacific Association of Women Martial Artists (PAWMA), an inductee in the Cacoy Doce Pares World Federation Hall of Fame (2012), an inductee in the Martial Arts History Museum Hall of Honors (2014) and USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame (2015), and a member of the National Qigong Association. She was inducted into the (Martial Arts) Masters Hall of Fame in 2011, and now serves as an Executive Board Member to the Masters Hall of Fame.
