Margaret is the Founder of Maitera, a third-degree Shotokan black belt, a blue-belt in jiu jitsu under Richie Martinez. She just finished her Master’s in Child and Family Development, where the tools she learned help her coaches have more meaningful interactions with their students and help students live up to their potential. Fun Fact: She loves to go salsa and bachata dancing!

Natalie, current Director of Maitera, has been training in martial arts for the past 3 ½ years, and has worked with students of all abilities for the past 7 years. Previously a SPED teacher in the Grossmont Union School District, her love of martial arts, working with students, and connecting others to the sport of jiu jitsu has been her main focus and passion. Fun Fact: She runs a podcast called Hang Loose MMA.

Chris has been training in both jiu jitsu and kickboxing for the past 6 years. He is currently a brown belt under Richie Martinez. He currently teaches striking classes for kids and adults from ages 4 and above. He loves martial arts because because it gives him goals to work towards and accomplish while learning self defense and getting regular exercise. Fun Fact: He is a certified dog trainer!

Leo started martial arts when I was 14. He started with taekwondo and after 5 years he got his second degree black belt. He then transitioned over to kickboxing, and have been doing that since. Martial arts gave him a huge outlet when he was a teen, and created a lot of healthy habits for him. Martial arts has always been something that he can turn to, and now he loves the privilege of sharing it with others. Fun fact: He has been snowboarding for 17 years, and at one point was number 40 in the world for subway surfers.