Sal Convento, Owner & Chief Instructor
Sal Convento is and the Owner & Chief Instructor of the United States Karate Academy. He a third degree black belt and has over twenty-two years of martial arts experience. Throughout the Tang Soo Do community, he is a highly-respected World Champion. He was a 1996 graduate of the United States Naval Academy who went on to become a Surface Warfare Officer and eventually a Naval Aviator. He took part in missions flying the EP3 Orion over Iraq and Afghanistan during "Operation Enduring Freedom" and was also stationed at the Omaha MEPS and in San Diego, California on three different amphibious ships.
Martial Arts Accomplishments:
• Overall Grand Champion at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Championship
• Overall Grand Champion at the Southern California Regional Championship
• Overall Grand Champion at the Mid-West Regional Championship
• Overall Grand Champion at the East Coast Championships in Queens College, NY and Charlotte, WV
• Captain of the United States Naval Academy Karate-Do Team in 1996 and once recognized as the “Athlete of the Week”
Tom Yahner, Head Instructor
Tom Yahner is the Head Instructor and Sales & Marketing Director of the United States Karate Academy. He a third degree black belt and has over twenty-two years of martial arts experience in several martial arts including Tang Soo Do, Kung Fu, Ninjitsu, Muay Thai, Boxing, and Jujitsu. He was a 2005 graduate of the Penn State University in Communications and Information Sciences & Technology.
Martial Arts Accomplishments
• Silver Medalist at the 2008 World Championship
• Gold Medalist at the New England Regional Championship
• Gold Medalist at the Great Lakes Regional Championship
• Gold Medalist at the North West Pacific Regional Championship
• Gold Medalist at the Western Mid-Atlantic Regional Championship
• Gold Medalist at the Central Mid-Atlantic Regional Championship
Stephanie Spears, Class Instructor
Stephanie Spears is a first degree black belt and a Class Instructor at the
United States Karate Academy. She has over eight years of martial arts and Muay
Thai Kickboxing experience. She is currently an undergraduate student at the
San Diego State University majoring in Business Management.
Martial Arts Accomplishments
• Gold Medalist at the 2008 World Championship
Greg Cerezo, Class Instructor
Greg Cerezo is a first degree black belt and a Class Instructor at the United States Karate Academy. He has over seven years of martial arts experience. He was a graduate of the United States Naval Academy and became a commissioned officer in the United States Navy. After a career as a Naval Pilot, he currently is employed at a successful defense contracting firm.
Daveed Rangel, Student Relations Director
Daveed Rangel serves as the Student Relations Director at the United States
Karate Academy. He has over ten years of experience in the Sales and Real Estate
industries and is one of the highest ranking adult students at the Academy.
His job is to serve as a liaison between the students, parents and instructors
as well as to organize monthly social events.
Martial Arts Accomplishments
• Gold Medalist at the 2008 World Championship
Morgan Farris, Office Manager
Morgan Farris is the Office Manager and Bootcamp Instructor at the United States Karate Academy. She an accomplished actress featured in films such as Friday Night Lights and Infamous, as well at the CBS pilot series, Swingtown.
Martial Arts Accomplishments
• Gold Medalist at the 2008 World Championship
• Gold Medalist at the Southern California Regional Championship
