Salvador Convento, Chief Instructor
LT Salvador C. Convento began his martial arts training at an early age of 13 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He attended Shin Karate Institute in 1986, a member of the World Tang Soo Do Association. He received his 1st Degree Black Belt on 1 July 1990. During that time, he instructed all belts young and old at the early age of 15. He became a Head Instructor as a 2nd Degree Black Belt instructing other black belts in weapons, self-defense, breaking, and sparring. He recently achieved the high rank of 3rd Degree Black Belt on 1 December 2004.
His achievements in Tang Soo Do are as follows:- Region 8 and Region 3 Champion
- East Coast Champion Forms and Sparring
- Three First Place at the World Tang Soo Do Championship July 2002
- World Champion at the World Tang Soo Do Championship July 2004
LT Salvador C. Convento graduated from the United States Naval Academy on May 1996. During his time at the Academy, he taught the art of Karate Do all four years under Coach John Critzos II. He was the Karate Team Captain in his senior year from August 1995 through May 1996. He led his team to many victorious moments all throughout the East Coast. The Karate Do Team was undefeated against the Army karate team throughout his tenure!
His list of achievements at the Naval Academy Karate Do Team are as follows:
- Grand Champion Forms (kata): Queens College, New York 1995, 1996
- Grand Champion Sparring: Charlotte, West Virginia 1996
- Grand Champion Forms (kata): Charlotte, West Virginia 1995
- Athlete of the Week 1996
- Undefeated Against Army Cadets
- Earned Third Degree Black Belt in Karate Do on May 1996
- Instructed a Bo-Staff Seminar at Ernie Reyes Karate School in Columbus, OH in 1995
- Published in various newspapers, All Hands magazine, and December 2004 Black Belt Magazine.
Thomas R. Yahner
Thomas R. Yahner is a 3rd degree Black Belt that has over 20 years of martial arts experience and has been a certified instructor in the World Tang Soo Do Association a total of eight years. He has attended many martial arts clinics and seminars including those taught by Grandmaster Shin, Dan Inosanto (most trusted and senior of Bruce Lee's students), and Pat Miletich (five-time UFC champion and trainer of Matt Hughes). He also has a Bachelor's degree from Penn State University in Communications and Information Technology.
Mr. Yahner began his martial arts career in 1987 at the age of 6 at Appalachia Tang Soo Do in State College, PA and became the first member of the Penn State Martial Arts Group's youth class to reach Black Belt, earning his Cho Dan rank in 1993 and E Dan in 1996.
At the age of 16, he left the World Tang Soo Do Association for a period of five years and studied many different martial arts including Ninjitsu, Shaolin Kung Fu, Jujitsu, Judo, and Aikido, gaining valuable knowledge that made him a more complete martial artist. Mr. Yahner returned to the World Tang Soo Do Association in 2003 with Arteca's Martial Arts to develop his martial arts skills to a higher level as he trained to achieve the rank of Sam Dan.
Stephanie Spears
Miss Stephanie Spears is a Cho Dan (1st Degree Black Belt) with over 8 years of martial arts experience. She started training in kickboxing in 2000 and Tae Kwon Do in 2002, earning her black belt in January 2007. Miss Spears has over 1 year experience teaching children and will be continuing her teaching career with the Youth Class and Tiny Tigers.
Miss Spears works as a personal trainer at Snap Fitness in Point Loma training clients of all ages and fitness levels. She is a talented aspiring artist and is currently a Junior at San Diego State University studying Business Administration.
