About
Us.

Our story began a long time ago in South Korea — training in Taekwondo, which turned out to be a much better fit for me and my brother than the piano lessons we narrowly escaped. No matter how hard they tried to teach us, we both just kept slamming the keys. Eventually it became clear that redirecting that energy into a dojang made more sense than trying to harness it for a recital.

That initial spark stayed with us through high school, but it wasn't until 2012 that I stepped onto the mats for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. I quickly realized that despite my background, I had no real answer for defending myself once the fight hit the ground. That humbling shift in perspective changed everything.

I started my training at Gracie Barra Seattle under Rodrigo Lopes, with my brother joining me after the first year. After starting a family in Auburn, I moved south to train under Jeff Macatangay at Gracie Barra Federal Way.

I competed at every belt level along the way — and the biggest lesson I learned didn't come from a medal. It came from my own hesitation. In my early years I had a mentality of waiting until I got better before competing. Looking back, that was a mistake. Your competitors grow right along with you. Whether you're a white belt or a black belt, the challenge scales with your skill.

Ten years of showing up. Rodrigo awarded me my black belt.

I've been training under Jeff ever since.

That lesson shapes how I coach. As I went through the ranks and grew more mature in my jiu-jitsu, I realized I had a unique ability to break down complexity — to help people understand not just the techniques, but the reasoning behind them. Why we do certain moves, what each detail is for, and what trade-offs come with every choice.

That's what makes jiu-jitsu endlessly interesting:

For every attack, a defense. For every defense, an attack.

The art lives in that space between.

Whether you're a hobbyist, a competitor, a parent getting back in shape, or someone who has never stepped on a mat — that understanding is for everyone. I want every student to feel challenged, seen, and supported. Not waiting for the right moment, because the right moment is now.

I've been dreaming of opening my own academy for a long time. When my brother got back into it more obsessed than ever, the timing finally felt right. All it took to convince him to join me was showing him a very bad logo idea I came up with. The rest is history.