History
Martial Arts USA Est. 1993
One of the first Taekwondo Masters to come to the United States in the late sixties, Grandmaster Soo Woong Lee opened up his first school on the east coast. His leadership, along with a few others, helped sparked the popularity of the art in America. Grandmaster S.W. Lee’s students became one of the most talked about competitors during the seventies. During the Eighties, he moved to the West Coast to open up a series of taekwondo schools which placed a direct emphasis on developing a program to help change kids lives. Along with his son Will Yun Lee they developed this kids karate success program that helped and continues to help tens of thousands of kids to do remarkably better at school, home, and social settings. You can watch a mini-documentary on our website, in our ABOUT section, on Grandmaster Lee and Will Yun Lee!
Martial Arts USA was one of three schools in the bay area owned by Grandmaster Lee. One of his prize students was a young boy who walked into his Napa Studio in 1988, Mr. Scott Sinan. Since becoming a black belt, Mr. Sinan has taught and helped at all of his schools. When the opportunity came to own and run one of the studios, Mr. Sinan jumped at the chance. This young man would pave the way for another generation of young champions to become successful at home and school through the martial arts.
Will Yun Lee since developing the children’s programs in the eighties and nineties, moved to Los Angeles to pursue his acting career. He’s appeared in many films and TV shows over the years.
Click here to watch more videos of Will and to follow his career
Programs
Tae Kwon Do
Rock Steady Boxing Petaluma
Tae Kwon Do
Offers classes from age 4 and up.
Little Dragons | Dragons | Teens | Adults.
Studio Fit
Rock Steady Boxing Petaluma
Tae Kwon Do
Is our fitness studio that offers a wide variety of classes from Fitness Kickboxing to Strength and Conditioning classes. Our classes are for everyone from those who want to get in shape. No other workout is more effective or exhilarating!
Rock Steady Boxing Petaluma
Rock Steady Boxing Petaluma
Rock Steady Boxing Petaluma
This amazing program gives people with Parkinson’s disease hope by improving their quality of life through a non-contact boxing based fitness curriculum.
Instructors
Scott Sinan
Owner/TKD Instructor/Studio Fit Instructor/Rock Steady Coach
At a very young age, Mr. Sinan began his training under 9th Degree Grandmaster Soo Woong Lee in his hometown of Napa, CA. It is there he began his teaching as an assistant instructor, under the direction of both Grandmaster Lee and his son Master William Lee. Mr. Sinan has over 30 years experience teaching and training in the art of Tae Kwon Do.
Today he is a 5th degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do, and a Fundamentals Coach for P.D.R. Personal Defense Readiness, a division of Blauer Tactical Systems.
"My goal is to continue to provide a place for students regardless of age or ability to grow mentally, physically, and spiritually. I believe in the benefits of training in the martial arts and fitness industry." - Mr. Sinan
Yulianna Schmidt
TKD Director & Instructor/Studio Fit Instructor/Rock Steady Coach
Ms. Yulianna has been training with Martial Arts USA since 1999. She has been training under Master Scott Sinan for 20 years and tested for her 1st degree just at the age of 10 years old. Ms. Yulianna has placed in the top three of her division several times at both the Junior Olympics and Nationals. She made the 2013 AAU National Team, in which she traveled to the German Open to represent the US. Now a 4th degree black belt, she is a head instructor to our Tae Kwon Do Classes and competition coach.
"I want to create a supportive and positive atmosphere where my students can build life long friendships and challenges themselves."
Alex Campbell
Tae Kwon Do Manager & Instructor
Mr. Campbell has been apart of the studio since the day he was born. He started taekwondo when he was 3 years old, following in the footsteps of his old brother. Like brothers do, they challenged and competed against each other in many ways. Mr. Campbell was very eager to surpass his brother in rankings and join the instructor team. He is the youngest instructor to regularly lead a class on his own at the age of 13 years old. While his brother did not continue, Mr. Campbell taught through high school and returned after starting college during the pandemic he return to become our assistant manager and lead instructor.
"There's nothing better than having a community that you can always return to."
Ryan Duffy
Tae Kwon Do Instructor
Mr. Duffy started taekwondo when he was 9 years old.
Ella Smith
Tae Kwon Do Instructor & Office Manager & Rock Steady Junior Coach
Ms. Smith started taekwondo when she was 7 years old. She earned her black belt in 2018 at 13. Ms. Smith joined our instructor team and also runs our front office.
Jace Merrill
Tae Kwon Do Instructor
Mr. Merrill started taekwondo when he was 8 years old. He earned his black belt in 2018 at 13 and it is his most proudest accomplishment yet. Mr. Merrill joined our instructor team after completing his certification in 2019. He has a lot of fun with teaching because he loves being around the kids and his fellow instructors. Mr. Merrill spends a lot of his free time watching movies and playing music. His favorite movies are Up and Edward Scissorhands. His music idols are Billy Joel, Elton John, Queen and Tower of Power.
Patia Curtis
Tae Kwon Do Instructor
Ms. Curtis started training when she was 7 years old. She is now one of our instructors in training at the age of 14 years old. Her favorite part of taekwondo is seeing a student grasp a concept that they were struggling with and watching them have fun as they reach their goals. Ms. Curtis' favorite memory from taekwondo was when a student came up to her after a class she was assisting in and told her that she was a great teacher. She wants to continue her training through at least her next degree, but she will continue as long as possible.
"Tell me and forget, teach me and I remember, involve me and I learn."
- Benjamin Franklin
Ryan Sullivan
Tae Kwon Do Instructor
Mr. Sullivan started martial arts with his daughter.