Our Instructors & Staff Members

Our Instructors have spent many years devoted to training in the martial arts and have attained a certain level of expertise to qualify them as teachers and also mentors.

Through extensive testing, certification and tournament level competition, our staff has attained mastery in this martial art and now enjoy sharing their skill and passing it on to their students. Here are a few of Sioux Falls Martial Arts Academy's instructors and other staff members, starting with Master KC Estes:

Master KC Estes  (Master/5th Dan)  Master Estes believes the martial arts should be available to everyone. Since opening her first school in Sioux Falls over 16 years ago, Master KC Estes is proud to have promoted more than 100 deserving students to the rank of 1st Dan and more than 25% of those have promoted to 2nd Dan and higher. Master Estes holds a 5th Degree Black Belt in TaeKwonDo, a 4th Degree Black Belt in Chun Tu Kwon Hapkido, making her the highest ranking woman in the country in this style, a Shodan in Juijitsu, and she is trained to teach Police Defensive Tactics by the IPDTI. An A-Class Certified Referee, Master Estes has officiated at many USATaeKwonDo and AAU National and Regional tournaments. "If one of my students succeeds, it's because he or she worked hard and deserves it. If he fails, I let him down in my instruction. Consequently, I spend a lot of time and money to increase my knowledge of technique, teaching methods, and effectiveness. There's no reason that one of my students in Sioux Falls, South Dakota has any lower quality of instruction than a student in New York, Los Angeles, or Tampa. And every once in awhile, that gets noticed." -- Master KC Estes, on receiving the Budo International Hall of Fame Award for Woman of the Year in Hapkido.

Ms. Cassandra Nelson  (Assistant Instructor) Ms. Nelson is only 17 years old, but has obtained the honorary rank of 4th degree black belt in recognition of her outstanding contributions and abilities. She assists in classes, is a nationally ranked competitor, and is an outstanding example of what martial arts can accomplish during the difficult teenage years. When Ms. Nelson reaches 18 years of age and opens her own school, she will receive the title of "Master Instructor."

Mr. Joe Willis  (Instructor) Mr. Willis holds a 2nd degree black belt in TaeKwonDo and a 3rd degree in Hapkido. He teaches Defensive Tactics for the state, runs and supervises the Kickboxing classes, and teaches bo staff and escrima training. His experience in street fighting and knowledge of integration of several martial arts styles makes him a welcome component to our staff.

Mr. Brad Johnson  (Instructor, Personal Trainer) Mr. Johnson is a 1st degree black belt in TaeKwonDo and Hapkido with over a dozen years of training in various styles. A past Nationals gold medalist in sparring, Mr. Johnson has now brought his expertise in strength training and body building to the Academy. Whether you are interested in single one-hour sessions, a discounted package, or even a combination of martial arts, kickboxing, or self-defense classes with the weight lifting, Mr. Johnson offers a service that no other martial arts school in the area can -- a totally fit martial artist without the need for an external gym membership.