Austin Martial Arts Academy | Our Instructors
Ms. Julie Graf, South Austin Chief Instructor
6th Degree Black Belt/Master Nominee
Julie Graf is a sixth-degree black belt with over 20 years of martial arts experience and over 17 years of experience teaching Taekwondo. She moved to Austin, TX in 1993 and has been training under the instruction of Senior Master Niblock ever since. Ms. Graf is an internationally-certified Songahm Taekwondo and Protech Weapons Instructor. She has won the esteemed title of ATA World Champion 9 times and is also a National Weapons Champion. In 2008 Ms. Graf was accepted into the ATA Master Candidate program which involves several different challenges. While there always is a mental aspect to learning and practicing Taekwondo, the candidates also participate in intense activities geared toward their development before earning the title of ATA Master.
Ms. Graf has run Taekwondo schools and clubs in Austin, Texas since 1997. She received her Masters Degree in English Literature from the University of Texas in 1994.
You can visit Ms. Graf's Blog HERE.
Ms. Annette Palacios, North Austin Chief Instructor
5th Degree Black Belt
Ms. Annette Palacios is a 5th degree black belt and certified instructor within the ATA Martial Arts Training System.In 1997 Ms. Palacios opened her first school with Ms.Graf in South Austin, Texas. In 2002, after working as an engineer for 12 years in the semi-conductor industry, she left corporate America to pursue her dream of changing lives through the instruction and positive motivation of martial arts training by opening her own school in North Austin, Texas.
Ms. Palacios has trained for over 17 years. She has instructed classes within the ATA Martial Arts for over 12 years. She started her training in Taekwondo and Juijitsu at the University of Notre Dame while completing her undergraduate degree.
Ms. Palacios has also trained in Judo and Aikidio; however, she chose to focus her training within the ATA Martial Arts in 1994. “I searched for the best martial arts program available for many years. I decided on the ATA because it combines multiple Martial Arts systems insuring the development of a well rounded martial artist.”
You can visit Ms. Palacios' Blog here!
Ms. Chantell Barrett, North Austin School Manager
5th Degree Black Belt/Certified Instructor
Chantell Barrett is a 5th Degree Black Belt Certified Instructor. She began her training in Clearwater, Florida at the age of seven.
Since Ms. Barrett started as a Karate for Kid student, she has a unique perspective on teaching our Tigers and Juniors. She graduated from the University of South Florida with Honors and 2 degrees; a BS in Microbiology and a BA in Psychology. She recently worked for the Texas Health Department as a Microbiologist in the Neo natal Screening Lab and is now our full-time School Manager in our North Austin location.
Mr. Kim Clauson, South Austin School Manager
3rd Degree Black Belt/Certified Instructor
Kim Clauson is a native of Korea, and a third-degree black belt in Songahm Taekwondo. He is an internationally-certified ATA Taekwondo and Protech Instructor, as well as the 2002 Texas State Sparring Champion. As a long time friend and fellow Taekwondo enthusiast, Mr. Clauson moved to Austin in 1999 to manage the South Austin school for Ms. Graf. He earned his Bachelors Degree in Social Work in 1991 and is Ms. Graf's head instructor.
As the story goes Mr. Clauson was the one who first encouraged Ms. Graf to start taking Taekwondo classes with him back at Luther College in Decorah Iowa.
Mr. Jason "The Savage" Schaefer
South Austin MMA Instructor/3rd Degree Black Belt
Jason "The Savage" Schaefer is a third-degree black belt with over 15 years of martial arts experience. Mr.Schaefer started Martial Arts at age 4 in El Paso Texas where having a
humble good nature and the warrior spirit was first and foremost. He
relocated to Austin Texas at age 10 and has been training at Graf's ATA Martial Arts
ever since. Mr. Schaefer received his 1st degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do in 2001 under the instruction of Ms. Julie Graf.
Mr. Schaefer has years of experience in Wrestling, Boxing,and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, He has been training with some of the best fighters in Austin & at some of the best schools in central Texas. Mr. Richard Lord is currently Jason Schaefer's Boxing Coach. Mr. Lord trained under Boxing Greats such as Jesus "el Matador" Chavez and Oscar De La Hoya. He is a full time MMA fighter and Martial Artist.
You can follow Mr. Schaefer HERE.For more information or to find out where we are located call us at (512) 784-5425 or email us at info@grafsata.com.
For more information click the following links below:
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