Austin Martial Arts Academy | Our Instructors
Master Julie Graf, South Austin Chief Instructor
6th Degree Black Belt
Master 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. Master Graf is an internationally-certified Songahm Taekwondo and Protech Weapons Instructor. She has won the esteemed title of ATA World Champion 10 times and is also a National Weapons Champion. In 2010 Julie Graf earned the title of ATA Master.
Master 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 Master 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 Master 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!
Mr. Kim Clauson, South Austin School
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 teach at the South Austin school for Master Graf. He earned his Bachelors Degree in Social Work in 1991 Mr. Clauson is Master Graf's lead instructor.
Mr. Clauson started taking Taekwondo classes back at Luther College in Decorah Iowa with Master Graf and was involved in the opening of the South Austin school.
