Freestyle Martial Arts Academy ~ at the DOJO
our team
Steve Von Hargett, "Mr. V", Head Instructor
Rank: 1st Degree Black Belt Instructor in American Karate, 3rd Degree Black Belt Instructor in Freestyle Martial Arts.
Other Training: Mr. V has studied and trained in various arts including Kickboxing, Western Boxing, Hwarang Do, Grappling, Inosanto Academy of Filipino Martial Arts (Kali), Giron Arnis/Escrima (Kali), Bahala Na, Del Mar Escrima y Daga, Pa Kua Chang Gung Fu, Chi Kung, Shaolin Staff, full-contact mixed martial arts, Krav Maga gun and knife defense, and real-life self-defense, including certification and license to teach FAST Defense.
Additional Qualifications: Mr. V is an Internationally Certified and Licensed Movement Educator as well as a State Licensed and Board Certified Manual Therapist. Mr. V believes that to be a well-rounded martial artist one must also study the healing arts, the biomechanics and anatomy of movement, as well as effective communication skills.
Competition: Mr. V had a short stint competing in full-contact kickboxing here in Hawaii and remains undefeated to this day.
Continuing Education: Mr. V participates in and host various trainings and seminars yearlong with the leaders in the field of Martial Arts, Sports Medicine, Performance Enhancement in Sports, and Injury Prevention. Mr. V and his wife Ms. Laura completed the training and certification process in January 2007 for FAST Defense (Black Belt Magazine's "Self Defense Program of the Year" for 2006). Mr. V is currently in the process of certification as an Anger Management Coach and plans to teach anger management skills in his classes. Mr. V is an ongoing student in Jiu-Jitsu.
Instruction Style: As an instructor, Mr. V believes in a patient and positive teaching style that helps create a safe and fun environment for everyone to enjoy and benefit from the martial arts while learning life skills along with self-defense. Mr. V has spent over 12 years teaching martial arts to students of all ages from young children to adults. In addition, Mr. V has worked with a number of Hawaii's top competitive athletes in kickboxing and full-contact fighting.
Personal: Mr. V, his wife Laura, and son Shaun have lived in Kailua-Kona for over 14 years. Their son, Shaun, attended Konawaena High School and is currently in California continuing his education. Mr. V is a graduate of Team 4 of the Ultimate Black Belt Test ("UBBT," www.UltimateBlack BeltTest.com), a year-long program and sees a black belt test and one's participation in the martial arts as a journey –and an evolution of our own consciousness. Among the UBBT’s test requirements (in addition to intense martial arts training) is a call for members to mend broken relationships, formally learn meditation, to organize an environmental clean-up project, to walk 1000 miles, to perform 1000 acts of kindness, to complete empathy training (a day blind, a day mute, a day in a wheelchair) and to get into the best physical shape of their lives. Mr. V's exposure to the world class martial arts masters involved in the UBBT has helped to shape the nature of the DOJO. One of his dreams has been to create "the DOJO," a martial arts school for Hawaii's children, equally teaching community service, compassion, meditation and peace-living philosophy (both community and environmental) along with the physical aspects such as punching, kicking and self-defense. the DOJO offers classes and programs taught by masters of other forms of martial arts and fitness, offering our students a much broader experience than a traditional martial arts school.
In response to the question of "What style martial arts do you teach?" Mr. V believes that loyalty to any one particular art form is "out" while blended, mixed martial art forms are "in" to help students grow in the martial arts to be well-rounded and to be their very best. He believes the path of martial arts to be a way of living life - leading, inspiring and helping others to excel and achieve greater goals in life.
Community Service: Mr. V has always believed in the power of giving back to one's community. Mr. V has been involved with volunteer programs for the last 20+ years. For the past 14 years, here in Kona, Mr. V has donated his time to work particularly with children. To learn about his current projects, check out the community service link on our website.
Rank: 1st Degree Black Belt Instructor in American Karate, 3rd Degree Black Belt Instructor in Freestyle Martial Arts.
Other Training: Mr. V has studied and trained in various arts including Kickboxing, Western Boxing, Hwarang Do, Grappling, Inosanto Academy of Filipino Martial Arts (Kali), Giron Arnis/Escrima (Kali), Bahala Na, Del Mar Escrima y Daga, Pa Kua Chang Gung Fu, Chi Kung, Shaolin Staff, full-contact mixed martial arts, Krav Maga gun and knife defense, and real-life self-defense, including certification and license to teach FAST Defense.
Additional Qualifications: Mr. V is an Internationally Certified and Licensed Movement Educator as well as a State Licensed and Board Certified Manual Therapist. Mr. V believes that to be a well-rounded martial artist one must also study the healing arts, the biomechanics and anatomy of movement, as well as effective communication skills.
Competition: Mr. V had a short stint competing in full-contact kickboxing here in Hawaii and remains undefeated to this day.
Continuing Education: Mr. V participates in and host various trainings and seminars yearlong with the leaders in the field of Martial Arts, Sports Medicine, Performance Enhancement in Sports, and Injury Prevention. Mr. V and his wife Ms. Laura completed the training and certification process in January 2007 for FAST Defense (Black Belt Magazine's "Self Defense Program of the Year" for 2006). Mr. V is currently in the process of certification as an Anger Management Coach and plans to teach anger management skills in his classes. Mr. V is an ongoing student in Jiu-Jitsu.
Instruction Style: As an instructor, Mr. V believes in a patient and positive teaching style that helps create a safe and fun environment for everyone to enjoy and benefit from the martial arts while learning life skills along with self-defense. Mr. V has spent over 12 years teaching martial arts to students of all ages from young children to adults. In addition, Mr. V has worked with a number of Hawaii's top competitive athletes in kickboxing and full-contact fighting.
Personal: Mr. V, his wife Laura, and son Shaun have lived in Kailua-Kona for over 14 years. Their son, Shaun, attended Konawaena High School and is currently in California continuing his education. Mr. V is a graduate of Team 4 of the Ultimate Black Belt Test ("UBBT," www.UltimateBlack BeltTest.com), a year-long program and sees a black belt test and one's participation in the martial arts as a journey –and an evolution of our own consciousness. Among the UBBT’s test requirements (in addition to intense martial arts training) is a call for members to mend broken relationships, formally learn meditation, to organize an environmental clean-up project, to walk 1000 miles, to perform 1000 acts of kindness, to complete empathy training (a day blind, a day mute, a day in a wheelchair) and to get into the best physical shape of their lives. Mr. V's exposure to the world class martial arts masters involved in the UBBT has helped to shape the nature of the DOJO. One of his dreams has been to create "the DOJO," a martial arts school for Hawaii's children, equally teaching community service, compassion, meditation and peace-living philosophy (both community and environmental) along with the physical aspects such as punching, kicking and self-defense. the DOJO offers classes and programs taught by masters of other forms of martial arts and fitness, offering our students a much broader experience than a traditional martial arts school.
In response to the question of "What style martial arts do you teach?" Mr. V believes that loyalty to any one particular art form is "out" while blended, mixed martial art forms are "in" to help students grow in the martial arts to be well-rounded and to be their very best. He believes the path of martial arts to be a way of living life - leading, inspiring and helping others to excel and achieve greater goals in life.
Community Service: Mr. V has always believed in the power of giving back to one's community. Mr. V has been involved with volunteer programs for the last 20+ years. For the past 14 years, here in Kona, Mr. V has donated his time to work particularly with children. To learn about his current projects, check out the community service link on our website.
Dr. Scot Liepack
Clinical Child Psychologist and Advisor to Freestyle Martial Arts Academy ~ at the DOJO
bio coming soon
Clinical Child Psychologist and Advisor to Freestyle Martial Arts Academy ~ at the DOJO
bio coming soon