Instructors & Teaching Philosophy
Chief Instructor Will Yturriaga
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Will Yturriaga began his martial arts training with Sensei Richard Kim's Butoku Kai International Organization in 1987. There, he trained intensively in full contact Shorinji-Ryu Karate, Bagua Zhang and meditation. His studies eventually led him to Sifu John Kang's East West Wing Chun Kung Fu school in San Francisco's China Town, where he later became the main instructor. He taught the class for over 6 years, focusing on training a core group of instructors. He then left the San Francisco class in charge of his senior student Henry Lyne to found The Martial Arts Academy in Marin County. At The Martial Arts Academy, he currently teaches Wing Chun Kung Fu, Shorinji-Ryu Karate, and Qi Gong. He continues to train under his lifetime teacher, Sensei Samarrai, disciple of Sensei Richard Kim.
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Senior Instructor Derek Douville
Derek Douville began martial arts in Canada in 1984 under Sensei Gerardo Lavallee, 4th Dan in the style of Can-ryu Jujitsu. During his tenure under Sensei Lavalee, whom received his Dan Rank from Sensei Richard Kim, Derek became his assistant, winning numerous combat and demonstration competitions. After moving from Canada to the SF Bay Area, Derek started to train Wing Chun Kung Fu with Will Yturriaga in 2004. His experience and love for Wing Chun combined with his Jujitsu combat skills formed a unique approach of overwhelming an opponent with a flurry of strikes, often ending with a joint lock, take down with a choke, or a throw. Much of his program involves training ones mindset when confronted, and women's self defense. He continues his training with Will Yturriaga, and is a Senior Instructor at The Martial Arts Academy of Marin.
Jujitsu Instructor Eddie Robertson
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Eddie Robertson is The Martial Arts Academy's Jujitsu Instructor. Eddie began his study of martial arts in 1991 and continues training to the present day under the tutelage of Prof. L L Cary in Reno, Nevada. His style, Danzan-Ryu Jujitsu is a complete fighting system, with a full array of strikes, locks, pins, throws, and chokes. He firmly believes in the study of martial arts as a path to personal growth and an essential part of “knowing thyself” in addition to the very practical benefit of being able to better protect oneself and others. |
Instructor PJ Pereira
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PJ Pereira is a Second Degree Black Belt in Shao Shin Hao Kung fu under Sifu Nilson Leão (in Rio de Janeiro), and a First Degree Brown Belt in Shorinji-Ryu Karate. He is also a Wing Chun Instructor under Will Yturriaga, with whom he still trains. PJ teaches corporate classes in the Bay Area and sometimes assists in the classes at the main dojo in San Rafael. His passion for tradition, forms and technique, combined with his experience with multiple styles make him a great one-on-one support for the students, which earned him the nickname "The Doctor."
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Teaching and Dojo Philosophy
At The Martial Arts Academy, the martial arts are taught as an all-encompassing life skill. You will learn all aspects of the martial arts as a complete study, from tradition to health, fitness, realistic self defense, meditation, and competition. The idea emphasized is not just a 2-year quick study, but and in-depth immersion, where the idea is to develop over many years while maintaining your health, vibrancy and person growth.
Personalized Instruction
There are many reasons for learning martial arts, and each person that takes up training is different from one another. After an overview of the general training program of their chosen art, the student is then given a training routine based on their individual mindset, body type, personality and goals. With expert Instruction from each teacher that both have over 20 years experience, this open approach combined with traditional martial etiquette and discipline, allows each person to thrive and express themselves in their chosen fighting art.
Authentic Lineage
An often overlooked factor, Lineage Systems are a very important element to consider when selecting which martial arts school you are looking to learn from. Much like looking for a reputable college like Harvard for example, many of the same aspects also apply when researching a martial arts school. At The Martial Arts Academy of Marin, we have verifiable lineages that have been refined over centuries, of Master to Disciple instruction. Not only will you be getting expert instruction, you will be joining the instructors side-by-side in their lineage as well. All of our lineages are authentic, whether it be the Wing Chun Kung Fu of Historical Grandmaster Ip Man, or the Shorinji-Ryu Karate of Legendary O'Sensei Richard Kim, they are complete methods, cultivated over millennium.
An often overlooked factor, Lineage Systems are a very important element to consider when selecting which martial arts school you are looking to learn from. Much like looking for a reputable college like Harvard for example, many of the same aspects also apply when researching a martial arts school. At The Martial Arts Academy of Marin, we have verifiable lineages that have been refined over centuries, of Master to Disciple instruction. Not only will you be getting expert instruction, you will be joining the instructors side-by-side in their lineage as well. All of our lineages are authentic, whether it be the Wing Chun Kung Fu of Historical Grandmaster Ip Man, or the Shorinji-Ryu Karate of Legendary O'Sensei Richard Kim, they are complete methods, cultivated over millennium.
