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Chief Instructor -
Mr. Anthony Barker- Sam Dan
Mr. Anthony Barker is the owner and Chief Instructor at Valley Tang Soo Do Academy and has been training in the martial arts for over 20 years. After receiving his Black Belt in ITF style Tae Kwon Do in 1987, Mr. Barker spent 10 years in the United States Air Force and studied various arts including WTF Tae Kwon Do and Hapkido while stationed at bases in the US and abroad.
After being Honorably discharged from the USAF, Mr. Barker joined the civilian workforce as a communications technician for a local communications company in Kenai, Alaska. While there, he joined Soldotna Martial Arts to learn Tang Soo Do from Master Bud Draper. Having found a 'home' in the World Tang Soo Do Association, Mr. Barker devoted his time and energy to becoming a Black Belt in the WTSDA, and is now a 3rd DAN Chief Instructor with the WTSDA.
With encouragement from his family and collegues, Mr. Barker moved from Kenai to Wasilla to open Valley Tang Soo Do Academy. The mission; to share his passion for the traditional art of Tang Soo Do with his students.
Having been in the 'non-traditional' or sport oriented martial arts, Mr. Barker has experienced the difference, and seen the profound and lasting effects the traditional art of Tang Soo Do can have on adults and children alike. Arrogance abounds in the sport oriented arts; conversely, humility and respect rule the day in the WTSDA...even in competition.
Realizing that there is always more to learn, Mr. Barker trains (whenever possible) with Mr. Bud Draper of Soldotna Martial Arts and Master Roy Uttech of Alaska Tang Soo Do in Anchorage. Mr. Barker is a Shodan in Seibukan Jujutsu and has been inducted into the United States Martial Arts Hall of Fame in 2007 as Tang Soo Do Instructor of the Year. |
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Sensei Logan Thornton
Logan began training in martial arts in 2000 and was awarded his first black belt in Seibukan Jujutsu in 2003 by Julio Toribio, Kancho (founder of Seibukan Jujutsu).
In 2004, Logan became the assistant instructor for Seibukan Jujutsu of Eagle
River, helping Jason Cabiness Sensei. In January 2008, Logan and Mr. Anthony Barker
of the Valley Tang Soo Do Academy joined together to create Seibukan Jujutsu of
Wasilla, taught out of Valley Tang Soo Do Academy. With Toribio Kancho's
blessing, they opened Seibukan Jujutsu of Wasilla for classes less than two
months later, in February of 2008. In May of 2008, after a hard decision, Logan
committed to come on as full-time staff in the studio, beginning in September,
leaving a job in the IT field with local company TerraSond Limited.
Before studying Seibukan Jujutsu, Logan practiced Italian-style rapier,
historical bastard sword, and Olympic-style fencing. He also studies Enshin
Itto-ryu Battojutsu, a school of Japanese swordsmanship, and was awarded the
rank of shodan, first degree black belt, in that art. He continues to seek
exposure to other arts through seminars and classes. He has been studying Tang
Soo Do at the Valley Tang Soo Do Academy since 2006.
Mr. Thornton has been a member of the Instructor Team at VTSDA since 2008. He is currently a ChoDan Bo (black belt candidate) in the World Tang Soo Do Association and a 5th Degree (Shihan Dai) in Seibukan Jujutsu.
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