Testimonials

...a great community of teen and adult instructors.  My daughter has been nurtured, encouraged, and challenged by all her ''elders'' including the many terrific teens.  She says Hoa Sen is like a family and that everyone is always willing to give extra help and encouragement to those that need it.  I highly recommend it!
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About Us....

Know for our Excellence in instruction & dedication to our students.

Voted Best in the Bay, 2014 for our children's program

Instructors

Head Instructor:
Master Terri Giamartino

TERRI GIAMARTINO, owner and 6th degree black belt has been training in the martial arts since 1978. In addition to Cuong Nhu, she has studied Shotokan Karate and Jujitsu. Her energetic and enthusiastic style is contagious to those who train with her. She believes that proper training can not only build stronger and more confident individuals, but provides a background for deeper self-realization. Her community service activities stretch back to 1980, becoming one of the founding mothers of the Pacific Association of Women Martial Artist (PAWMA), a non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of women and girls in the martial arts.  Starting as their first President, she continued to serve in various executive capacities from 1980 through 1989. She has served on the board of the Cuong Nhu Oriental Martial Arts Association (CNOMAA), is a member of the American Teachers Association of Martial Artists (ATAMA) and The Association of Women Martial Arts Instructors (AWMAI). She has coordinated and taught at a variety of regional and national martial arts camps. Master Terri currently sits on the Board on the AWMAI. Recognized as a leader in her field, she has worked for national corporations teaching self defense and safety programs and has been influential in both the public and private school sector teaching martial arts and bully prevention to children. In 1993, Master Terri began Skills for Safe Living, a company dedicated to teaching safety and self-defense skills and opened her school, Emeryville Martial Arts, located in Emeryville, California.

Instructor:
Pam Boyle

PAM BOYLE, a third-degree black belt, began training at Karate Women in Los Angeles as part of her work with the Los Angeles County Assaults Against Women rape crisis center in 1987. She moved to Oakland in 1988 and was referred to Berkeley Cuong Nhu Karate where she trained for two years and gained the rank of brown belt. In 1991 she was assigned with the

Peace Corps to work in Guinea-Bissau, West Africa. For five years she trained with teachers from a variety of styles and opened two karate schools. In May 1995 Pam returned to Berkeley Cuong Nhu and began training for her black belt test. After black belt she trained for one year in Aikido until formal education took precedence. In January 2005, Sensei Pam moved to Emeryville Martial Arts. Sensei Pam is a invaluable instructor with the children’s program teaching ages four and up. Currently she also trains in Seibukan Jujitsu and holds the rank of black belt. When not teaching and training, Sensei Pam works as an accountant.

Instructor:  
Annie Johnston

ANNIE JOHNSTON has been training in the martial arts for over 30 years and holds the rank of sandan or third-degree black belt. Although her primary style is Cuong Nhu, she achieved her first black belt in Shorin Ryu and has also studied Judo, Kung Fu and Kenpo. Her community work has included providing self-defense classes for low income women and the initiation of a self-defense program at Berkeley High School.

Sensei Annie supports the teen and adult program. Recently retired from a full-time social studies teacher and coordinator for small schools at Berkeley High, she went back to school to get her PhD and is now employed by the State of California, advising school districts on how to implement the small school model in their districts.  She is the mother of two with her partner Judy. Her daughter, JoHanna, is her best training buddy.