Our Instructor

Master Don has been training in martial arts since 1982 at the age of seven. His goal was simple, to achieve a black belt. It took him ten years to get his first black belt by pushing thru a rigorous program that tested his will and developed his character in becoming a person with; honor self-discipline, self-motivation, humility, respect, and warrior spirit. Through his educational background in health medicine and martial arts training programs, he has learned to integrate advanced health and wellness activities in with the most deadly combination of practical self-defense techniques.

Each program is tailored to meet the particular needs of the end-user. Over the last decade, Master Don has expanded his teaching and training into combative styles including close-quarters, arrest tactics, and small weapons techniques. His passion for teaching and guiding the development of people’s fighting skills is demonstrated in a variety of different age groups, backgrounds and “walks of life.” His “fist-to-fist” experience includes both real “street fighting”, years of free sparring and tournament competitions. Thus, his real life experience is interwoven into his lesson plans and teaching strategy. Master Don promotes peace and common sense preventative measures, teaching mental flexibility and adaptability related to self-defense measures. He teaches with the most practical applications that are most suitable to a multitude of possible events or dangerous circumstances.

Master Andrae began his training in Taekwondo in 1990 at the age of six, while living in Lynchburg, Virginia under the late Master Ihara. Master Ihara taught the same style of Taekwondo learned while training with Master Chung while he resided in Japan in the late 1950s. Master Andrae spent most of his time training in Taekwondo under Master Ihara teaching, where he achieved the rank of Shodan in 1996. After finishing high school in 2000, Master Andrae continued his private training with Master Ihara with the instructions that have stayed faithful to the rules and regulations of Kukkiwon. Before leaving for college Master Andrae was promoted to the rank of Nidan after ten years of dedicated training under Master Ihara. During 2000 to 2002, Master Andrae would continue to train under Master Ihara when he was in Lynchburg visiting family. In 2004, Master Andrae began his training in Jigo Tenshin-Ryu Jujutsu while working and studying in Washington, DC. The Jigo Tenshin-Ryu Jujutsu classes were taught by the late Hanshi Dong Jin Kim who studied Jujutsu while living in Japan. Master Andrae spent most of his time training in combat Jujutsu which was a combined style of Jigo Tenshin-Ryu Jujutsu, Tang Soo Do, Hapkido, and weapons (defense, retention, and katas). After moving to the permanent school to Tentleytown, Master Andrae was promoted to one of the school’s primary instructors. In 2014, he was then promoted to the rank of Yondan in JTR Jujutsu after training and instructing for over ten years. He also started training in weapon katas and Taijiju. Master Andrae also helped in teaching members of law enforcement (federal, state, and local), members of the military branches, and federal government departments. He’s one of three master instructors who continue to assist the JTR jujutsu program after the passing of Hanshi Kim. Currently a member of the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai, he has demonstrated JTR jujutsu during Budokai events in Norfolk and Va Beach. He currently holds the ranks of Yondan in Jigo Tenshin-Jujutsu, Sandan in Hapkido, Nidan in Taekwondo, and Shodan in Okinawan Kobudo. With over 25 years of combined martial arts experience.