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Martial Arts for Children - Tae Kwon Do / Hapkido - Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu - Russian Kettlebells - MMA -  Kickbox/Muay Thai  - Tai Chi


 



 Somnath Sikdar

  4th Dan Black Belt, RKC Tae-Kwon Do
   See Video1

   See Video2
   See Video3
 
Master Somnath Sikdar is the Head Instructor at the Dragon Gym and has been training in Tae Kwon Do and Hapkido for 20 years under Grandmaster Chae Teok Goh. He is currently a Fourth degree black belt and is certified by the World Taekwondo Headquarters (Kukkiwon). His training has covered a broad spectrum of martial arts to include a variety of weapons, self-defense, traditional and sport Tae Kwon Do.   He has also studied Hapkido under Grandmaster Han Jae Ji.  In conjunction with martial arts, he has been studying and training with the Russian Kettlebell, and currently holds the Level 1 RKC Certification.

Master Sikdar has competed successfully in local, state, and collegiate tournaments. In addition, he continues to study western boxing, Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.  He has attained a BSE in Electrical Engineering, along with minors in Systems Science and Economics, from the University of Pennsylvania. While completing this degree he was the President, Head Instructor, and Coach of the University of Pennsylvania WTF Tae Kwon Do Team.

Master Sikdar still coaches competitive Taekwondo athletes and is an active advisor to the UPENN WTFTKD Team and the West Chester University Taekwondo Team.

     
 Lonnie Beck
  3rd Dan Black Belt
  Tae-Kwon Do
  See Video1
  See Video2

Assistant Master Lonnie Beck combines his experience in Western Athletics and Eastern Martial Arts to effectively instruct both the children and adult students of the Dragon Gym.  Through nearly 20 years of intense training in Tae Kwon Do, Hapkido, Kickboxing and a variety of weapons Lonnie attained the rank of 3rd Degree Black Belt. He also has earned a Blue Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under the instruction of Alex Britto of BAJJI and Team Alliance. Lonnie instructs the Muay Thai Kickboxing program and is the head instructor of Dragon Gym’s Pee Wee program (ages 4-6).

 

     
 Chris Taylor
  2nd Dan Black Belt
  Tae-Kwon Do
  See Video1

 

Chief Instructor Chris Taylor has been a part of the Dragon Gym family since he was a teenager and has been involved in teaching for a decade. He has had the opportunity to train and learn directly from Grandmaster Goh and in turn has adopted his effective teaching style. In 2008 he received a commendation from Kukkiwon (World Taekwondo Headquarters) for his efforts on teaching and spreading Tae Kwon Do in the United States.  Chris is currently a 2nd Degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do and Blue Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Chris is our Head Instructor for the children’s program ages 7 and up.

 

     
  Phil Stick
  4th Dan Black Belt
 Bio coming soon
     
  John Canale
  4th Dan Black Belt
 Bio coming soon
     
  Dennis Brumfield
  3rd Dan Black Belt
 Bio coming soon
     
Al Tolbert Ph. D.
  2nd Dan Black Belt

Alfred J. Tolbert began his martial arts training in 1984 at the Dragon Gym. He achieved his second degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do in 2000. In 2003, he was introduced to the Soft Arts (Moo Yung) Program by Grand Master Chae T. Goh. Al instructed this program for three years. In 2006, under the guidance of Tai Chi Master John Armstrong, the Soft Arts Program was expanded to include Tai Chi Chuan, Hsing-Yi Chuan and Pa-Kua.

Professionally, Al, a Speech Pathologist/Audiologist, provides speech therapy and personal amplification (hearing aids) services to children and adults. His private practice is located in Downingtown, Pennsylvania where he currently resides with his wife, Ellie.

 
     
  Steve Grabicki
  3rd Dan Black Belt
Bio coming soon
     
  Bill Coombs
  3rd Dan Black Belt
Bio coming soon
     
Sienna Treiber
  2nd Dan Black Belt
Sienna has been a member of the Dragon Gym family since 2003 and received her instructor's certificate/1st degree in 2005 and 2nd Degree in 2008. In the process of studying early childhood education she realized she was happiest teaching kids in a fitness-oriented environment. Before tae kwon do she was a ballet dancer from the age of 5, and later a teacher. Sienna danced for 3 years with The Sacramento Ballet as a member of the corps, and 2 years with The Ballet Conservatory in San Diego as a soloist. After moving to the east coast she discovered Taekwondo and was immediately hooked. She continues to train in Taekwondo, Hapkido, and Kickboxing.
     
  Joe Levin
  2nd Dan Black Belt

Joe has been training at the Dragon Gym since 2001.  Under the instruction and guidance of Master Somnath Sikdar he achieved his 1st Degree Black Belt in 2004, and then achieved his Second Degree Black Belt in May of 2008.  Joe is Senior Manager of Corporate Employee Health and Safety for a Fortune 15 company servicing the pharmaceutical and medical technology/software industry.  In collaboration with Instructor Chris Taylor, Joe has been teaching the Saturday Morning Children’s All Belt and Black Belt classes since 2007.  Joe’s classes focus the Tenets of Tae Kwon Do; Courtesy, Integrity, Perseverance, Self Control, and Indomitable Spirit as core values. 

Three guidelines he wants his students to remember are to, “Be aware of your surroundings, Watch your Parents they like to wander, and to always remember to thank the person who brought you here to train.”

 
     
Linnie Smith
  1st Dan Black Belt CPR Certified, ISSA, video1

 

 

Linwood began his training at the age of 6 under Grandmaster Goh and is a 1st Dan Black belt. After taking a break from martial arts to pursue sports such as baseball, football and soccer. Linnie returned to martial arts training and has over 12 years of experience in Tae Kwon Do, Karate, Hapkido and Tang Soo Do, as well as weapons. He has recently added Muay Thai kick boxing under instructor Lonnie Beck and MMA Fighting under Brian Petty to his vocabulary of martial training and is a white belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Under the guidance of Alex Britto.

Linwood is an assistant instructor for the pee wee and children's classes as well as an adult conditioning Fitness coach/trainer. Oh yeah and also a great musician.