A Note from the Owner/Program Director

I never meant to run a karate school. I love martial arts and love being a martial arts student. However, when I moved to Greeneville, TN in August 2010, I discovered there was not a karate school that filled my needs. So I practiced on my own at the Y and in my driveway for about a year.

As a high school math teacher, I met students who wanted to take martial arts. Their problem was that they could not afford classes. Researching this, I discovered all schools cost more than an average family could afford.

Given the poverty rate in this area, I decided I wanted to create an affordable martial arts class. I thought on it for a while, but one math student, D.W. Robinette, kept pushing me to start.

So I finally did. We started out at Glendale Community Center, where we had to move all the tables and chairs and sweep the garbage off the floor before we could work out, and of course put all the tables and chairs back at the end of the night. (We didn’t replace the garbage. LOL)

Then we shared space with another business for a year or so, and now we are an independent business, in our own building, but still charging less than any other school. We try to keep martial arts within the range of most people. Read more about our rates on the Classes & Rates page.

So, although I never meant to run a karate school, I found that I love what I do. I love watching students progress, and seeing them turn into fine people, as well as martial artists. I hope I can continue to do this for many years. And when I can’t, I feel lucky to not only have three black belt children, two sons and a daughter who may carry on for me, as well as our home-grown black belts and up and coming students who will become black belts.

Thank you and Tang Soo!

Sa Bom Nim Victoria Rivas

Our Instructors

Victoria Rivas

Sa Bom Nim, 4th dan
Owner, Program Director

Sa Bom Nim Victoria Rivas has over three decades of Martial Arts training and holds black belts in three organizations, including a 4th degree black belt (Sa Dan Master) in the TSDMA organization. She has trained in Tang Soo Do, Tae Kwon Do and Kenpo. Her experience includes: Tang Soo Do Masters Alliance, under Grandmaster Garth Charland at the Charland Institute of Karate and Fitness in Watertown, CT and Grandmaster David Sgro of Fayetteville, NC of the San Kil Tang Soo Do.

Excel Martial Arts, under Master Andy D’Amato where she competed on the IPPONE tournament circuit and received 2nd place in forms and 2nd place in fighting in Senior Women Black Belt division in 2009.

World Tang Soo Do Association, under Grandmaster Robert Beaudoin at Beaudoin Academy of Karate, where she coached the demo team and taught children’s beginner and advanced classes.

Tae Kwon Do Mr. Tim Kirby, Mr. Billye “Jack” Jackson and Mr. Ray McCallum in Garland, Texas were she competed in the Dallas area on the AOK circuit.

Ian Turnage

Kyo Sa Nim, 3rd dan
Head Instructor

Mr. Ian Turnage started studying the martial art of Tae Kwon Do at age 10 in Garland, TX under Mr. Tim Kirby, Mr. Billye “Jack” Jackson and Mr. Ray McCallum where he reached the rank of 1st degree black belt. He also competed in the Dallas area on the AOK circuit for many years and accumulated hundreds of trophies.

He also studied kickboxing under Master Larry Wheeler in Dallas and Jeet Kune Do in England. Wherever he traveled, he found a karate school to continue his training even if it was not his primary style. He cross-tested as a 1st degree black belt from Tae Kwon Do into Tang Soo Do and tested for his 3rd degree black belt in October 2021.

Jennifer Grillo-Foster

Kyo Sa Nim, 2nd Dan
Senior Instructor

Ms. Jennifer Grillo-Foster started studying martial arts with East TN Tang Soo Do in 2013, when we were part of Starz Academy, under our head instructor, Master Victoria Rivas, and Mr. William Etter. She now also trains with Mr. Ian Turnage at our studio and has trained with Master Garth Charland in CT and Master David Sgro in Fayetteville, NC.

Jennifer was an active competitor for several years and has come home with medals and trophies in every tournament she has entered, including multiple first places at both Tang Soo Do and open tournaments. We were happy to welcome her to our teaching staff in April 2018.

Keith Foster

Kyo Sa Nim, 2nd dan
Instructor

Mr. Keith Foster started studying martial arts with East TN Tang Soo Do in early 2017, following his daughter Emilie and son Ryan into the martial arts. At one point, all four of his children have trained with us. He trains with Mr. Ian Turnage at our studio and has trained with Master Garth Charland of CT and Master David Sgro of Fayetteville, NC.

Keith is also our studio handyman and has dealt with issues from broken windows, leaking toilets and water spraying all over the studio!

We were happy to welcome him to our teaching staff in June 2020 when he and his daughter Emilie were promoted to first degree black belt. They were promoted to 2nd degree in April 2022

Emilie Foster

Kyo Sa Nim, 2nd dan
Instructor

Ms. Emilie Foster started studying martial arts with East TN Tang Soo Do at our 2016 Martial Arts and Crafts Summer Camp, She came because of the Arts and Crafts, but continued to be an excellent martial artist. She is an avid competitor and managed to win first place in Weapons in her very first tournament.

She trains with Master Victoria Rivas and Mr. Ian Turnage at our studio and has trained with Master Garth Charland of CT and Master David Sgro of Fayetteville, NC.

We were happy to welcome her to our teaching staff in June 2020 when she and her father were promoted to first degree black belt. They were promoted to 2nd

Robert Hammett

Kyo Sa Nim, 2nd degree
Instructor

Mr. Robert Hammett started studying martial arts with East TN Tang Soo Do in March 2017, bringing three of his sons to our Saturday Free Family Class. They all eventually signed up for our regular classes. He has been one of the driving forces to keep our morning family class active, and is now teaching the Tuesday morning class.

He trains with Ms. Victoria Rivas and Mr. Ian Turnage at our studio and has trained with Master Garth Charland of CT and Master David Sgro of Fayetteville, NC.

We were happy to welcome him to our teaching staff in May 2021 after he and his son R.J. travelled to CT to test and be promoted to first degree black belt. He was promoted to 2nd degree in May 2023.

R.J. Hammett

Kyo Sa Nim, 2nd degree
Assistant Instructor

R.J. Hammett started studying martial arts with East TN Tang Soo Do in Mar 2018 along with two brothers and his father, attending our Saturday Free Family Class. They all eventually signed up for our regular classes but only R.J. and his father made it all the way to black belt.

He trains with Ms. Victoria Rivas and Mr. Ian Turnage at our studio and has trained with Master Garth Charland of CT and Master David Sgro of Fayetteville, NC.

We were happy to welcome him to our teaching staff in May 2021 after he and his father travelled to CT to test and be promoted to first degree black belt. He was promoted to 2nd degree in May 2023.

Caleb Crawford

Yo Dan Ja, 1st degree
Assistant Instructor

Mr. Caleb Crawford started studying martial arts with East TN Tang Soo Do as a Little Dragon at age four. He is our “oldest” student in the number of years he has been with us.

He trains with Ms. Victoria Rivas and Mr. Ian Turnage at our studio and has trained with Master Garth Charland of CT and Master David Sgro of Fayetteville, NC.

We were happy to welcome him to our teaching staff in April 2022 after he was promoted to first degree black belt.

 

Dakota Self

Yu Dan Ja, 1st degree – TSD, 4th Dan Jiu Jitsu
Instructor

Mr. Dakota Self has over 20 years of Martial Arts training and holds black belts in three styles, 4th degree in Jiu Jitsu, and 3rd degree black belts in Shorin Ryu and Kenpo. He is currently a 1st degree black belt in Tang Soo Do, after testing in CT in May 2023.

His experience includes Tang Soo Do Masters Alliance under Mr. Ian Turnage where he is currently training to test for black belt in 2023.

Charles Allen. Private student for two years before his passing in 2020. Where he received his current rank in Jiu Jitsu, Shorin Ryu, and Kenpo.

Sensei Pamela McAmis. Earned Shorin Ryu 1st degree black belt in 2011, while at the same time attaining Purple belt in Jiu Jitsu under Sensei Randy Spann. He began training in 2001 under Sensei Mark Cutshaw, earning  a Green belt..

Brayden Salend

Yu Dan Ja, 1st degree
Assistant Instructor

Mr. Brayden Salend started studying martial arts with East TN Tang Soo Do in 20xx and became one our most avid students, sometimes attending two classes per day, four days per week. He is also an avid competitor, winning many trophies.

He trains with Master Victoria Rivas and Mr. Ian Turnage at our studio and has trained with Master Garth Charland of CT and Master David Sgro of Fayetteville, NC.

We were happy to welcome him to our teaching staff in May 2023 when he was promoted to first degree black belt.

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