Lauren Wheeler     Senior Instructor

Lauren is a 3^rd Degree Black Belt and has been teaching for over 18 years at DCSDKA. She is the founder of the Peaceful Warriors, the DCSDKA teen performance group. Lauren has been a trainer at the National Women’s Martial Arts Federation annual camp. As Director of Peaceful Warriors since 1995, she has dedicated her time to empowering teenagers at this critical time in their lives to make healthful and positive decisions. The Peaceful Warriors have organized trainings and performances in the U.S., Cuba and the Dominican Republic.

Sarah Wolf     Senior Instructor

Sarah started karate in 1991 after taking a self-defense class offered by DCSDKA. “I found Sensei to be such a fantastic teacher, I knew I wanted to learn more. The karate students who assisted were strong, kind, confident and patient. I wanted to have those qualities in my life.” Sarah is a 2^nd Degree Black Belt and has been teaching for more than 15 years. In addition to teaching many classes in the school, Sarah teaches in schools and leads community self-defense classes. She is the Director of Student Services.

Christine Keck     Senior Instructor

Christine began her training in 1995. “Martial arts training has been a large part of shaping the confident, strong individual that I am today.” She teaches both traditional karate and sparring. Christine is also Co-Director of the Peaceful Warriors, DCSDKA's teen performance group. “Martial arts teaches that we should give back to our community; teaching is part of that circle. I enjoy passing on the tradition of our art to new generations.”

Adilson Salvador     Instructor 

Adilson began training as a young boy back in his native El Salvador. He began training here at DCSDKA with his young daughter in 2000. “It is the way I live life, it gives me mental and physical strength. Sharing with people through teaching gives me great satisfaction.” Outside of karate, Adilson is a crew manager for a leading pool company in the region.

Ashley Cruz     Instructor

Ashley Cruz began training at DCSDKA when she was a teenager. She is Co-Director for the Peaceful Warriors, DCSDKA’s teen performance group. “I have much more self-respect in my personal relationships and can be more assertive, tell people 'no' and take care of myself better. As a teacher, I now talk to students and parents more carefully and carry myself in that same assertive way." She is a high school English teacher in Montgomery County, MD.

Gary Cooper     Instructor

Gary is a retired police officer who currently directs security in the Federal Courts in Virginia. He started karate over 13 years ago. He has taught cardio-kickboxing for DCSDKA and currently teaches our Ninja classes. “Karate has become a way of life. The DCSDKA community is a family. I enjoy teaching children, watching them progress and seeing them reach their goals.”

Crissy Dyer     Instructor

In speaking about how she started: “Doctors told me that I needed to get active again, which would help me mentally and physically. So I decided to try. I started researching different styles and schools online and decided that I was really interested in Tae Kwon Do. With DCSDKA, I was impressed from the moment I spoke to the staff on the phone.” Crissy is now a lead instructor in our children’s programs. Outside of martial arts, Crissy is a professional in a medical office and enjoys running and weight lifting.

Rick Carter     Instructor

In addition to his martial arts training, Rick is an avid athlete who has run numerous marathons. Rick says, “I enjoy immensely the mental and physical challenge the martial arts presents. It's made me physically stronger, more disciplined and more patient. I find that I employ a number of the strategies I learn in class at home and at work. I also cherish the many people I train with. They make coming to class each week easier, and I am happy to be a part of this great community. In addition to teaching karate classes, Rick is an instructor in the DC IMPACT self-defense program and directs training for other marathoners. “I enjoy teaching because it allows me to work with people from many walks of life and help them explore the martial arts. It's a great feeling to watch them progress and gain confidence from week to week as they learn the basics of the discipline. It's also an amazing learning experience for me."  

Jason Owen     Instructor

Jason began training in karate after his wife, Charlotte (a DCSDKA Black Belt and instructor) encouraged him to give it a try. "DCSDKA has been a perfect match for me. I appreciate how supportive everyone is in helping me overcome challenges, and I enjoy learning about martial arts. I am always amazed that each class I take teaches me something new on technique or outlook. Not only am I learning forms and sparring, I feel safer on the street now that I know some practical self-defense and what to do if I am attacked." Jason teaches in our children’s programs and is also an instructor in the IMPACT full-force self-defense programs. “I like teaching because the kids are so much fun to be around; they are always ready to participate, and they have an abundance of energy.” Outside of karate, Jason is currently in school to get his degree in education.

Jill Nolde     Instructor

In describing why she like teaching Jill writes, “I love the moment when a student “gets" a technique, when I see that sudden improvement. In addition to seeing them improve physically and mentally, I know that I am helping to prepare these kids for bullies or attackers. I truly enjoying karate because at times it feels like it is 'play' but I am teaching them to be stronger.” In addition to karate, Jill is a major sports addict of all kinds, but especially Washington Mystics and Purdue women’s basketball. She enjoys reading science fiction and urban fantasy and writes short stories. Outside of karate she is an electrical engineer.