Our Staff
Our Instructors & Staff Members
Our Instructors have spent many years devoted to training in the art of Taekwondo, Karate, Judo, Hapkido and other martial arts and have attained a certain level of expertise to qualify them as teachers and also mentors.
Through extensive testing, certification and tournament level competition, our staff has attained mastery in this martial art and now enjoy sharing their skill and passing it on to their students.
Cheryl Baumann (7th Dan / Kukkiwon)
Master Baumann has been involved in Taekwondo for over 40 years, and is one of the highest ranked female martial artists in the St. Louis area. Master Baumann is the founder and head instructor of Lifeforce Fitness, and the founder of New World Taekwondo Association.
Master Baumann is a certified National level referee with USA Taekwondo, and holds numerous certifications in group exercise instruction, yoga, water aerobics, and physical fitness.
We are very proud, and honored to have Master Baumann as our Chief Technical Advisor.
Norman Leeker (7th Dan)
Master Leeker is the head instructor and has been studying Taekwondo since 1985. A certified national level referee with USA Taekwondo, Master Leeker is a certified American Council on Martial Arts (ACMA) Instructor, and a member of the Martial Arts Teachers Association (MATA). Master Leeker is also a certified Level 4 Aerobic Kickboxing instructor, and often combines boxing, grappling, and weapons into his lessons. Master Leeker is a Third Degree Black Belt in the Japanese Samurai Sword Art of Kage Iaijutsu Ryu and a 1st Dan in Judo.
Rich Copenhagen (7th Dan / Judo)
Master Copenhagen has been training in Judo for over 50 years, and is a member of USJF, and USAJudo. Master Copenhagen is a 7 time National Masters Champion, and holds the rank of 7th Dan. In December of 2016, and again in 2017 Sensei Copenhagen was Ranked #1 National Master Athlete in the United States by USAJudo. We are very happy to have Sensei Copenhagen as our Family Martial Arts Judo instructor.
Master Copenhagen is also a 5th Degree Black Belt in Jujitsu, and a student in our Hapkido program.
Andy Virgen (5th Dan / Kukkiwon)
Master Virgen is a 5th Degree Black Belt and has been studying Taekwondo for over 20 years, and works hard at developing the performance skills of our students. Master Virgen's classes are always exciting and entertaining as he works on perfecting the skills of all of our students. Master Virgen also trains in Judo.
Scott Secor (4th Dan Kukkiwon)
Scott is a 4th Degree Black Belt in Taekwondo, and 1st Degree Black Belt in our Kage Iaijutsu Ryu sword program.
Mr. Secor is a dedicated martial artist who works very hard at perfecting the skills of all our students. Mr. Secor is also active in our Fitness Kickboxing, and Hapkido programs.
Matt Spaunhorst (4th Dan Kukkiwon)
Matt is a 4th Degree Black Belt instructor in our Taekwondo program, and one of our Competition Team Coaches. Mr. Spaunhorst is also active in our Judo Program.
Mr. Spaunhorst is an excellent sparring and fitness coach.
Virginia Grotewiel (Fitness Kickboxing Instructor)
Jenny is a certified Level 4
Fitness Kickboxing instructor, and leads high-energy kickboxing and bodyshaping workouts. Jenny has also earned a Brown belt in Judo. Mrs. Grotewiel has been leading Fitness Kickboxing for over fourteen years. Jenny is continuously finding ways to enhance our kickboxing workouts.
Alysha Petry (Fitness Kickboxing Level 3)
Alysha is one of our Fitness Kickboxing instructors. Alysha is also a 3rd degree Black Belt in Taekwondo, a 2nd degree Black Belt in Hapkido, and a Brown Belt student leader in our Judo program.
Mrs. Petry is energetic and always looking for new ways to enhance her classes.
Alysha Petry (3rd Dan Kukkiwon)
Alysha is a third degree black belt in Taekwondo and one of our Taekwondo, Kickin' Kids, and Little Ninja instructors. Alysha is a 1st Brown in Judo and assistant Judo Instructor.
Mrs. Petry is a second degree Black Belt in Hapkido and one of the instructors.
Jeff Petry (3rd Dan Kukkiwon)
Jeff is a third Degree Black Belt and one of our Taekwondo Instructors. Mr. Petry is also a Brown belt active in our Judo Program.
Mr. Petry is a Second Degree Black Belt in Hapkido and heads our Hapkido program at Family Martial Arts.
Andrew Harp (3rd Dan Kukkiwon)
Drew is a Third Degree Black Belt in Taekwondo and one of our staff instructors.
Mr. Harp teaches high energy, exciting classes in our Kickin' Kids, Youth Taekwondo, and Black Belt Club classes.
Mr. Harp is also a student in our Hapkido program.
Mark Savage (3rd Dan Kukkiwon)
Mr. Savage is a 3rd Degree Black Belt in Taekwondo, a 1st Dan in Judo, and a Level 1 Fitness Kickboxing Instructor.
Mr. Savage is always pushing for higher levels of fitness in himself and our students, and leads high energy classes.
Mr. Savage is also a student in our Hapkido program.
Emily Strassner (3rd Dan Kukkiwon)
Mrs. Strassner is a 3rd Degree Black belt in Kukkiwon Taekwondo, a 1st Degree Black Belt in Kage Iaijutsu Ryu, and a 2nd Degree Black Belt in CTF style Taekwondo. Ms. Strassner is also a 1st Dan Black Belt in Judo.
As one of our Little Ninja and Kickin' Kids instructors Mrs. Strassner keeps her classes going at a high level of excitement and energy.
Kay Politte (PiYo, Core & More Instructor)
Kay Politte joined our staff in April 2018 and teaches PiYo and Core & More Eccentric Stretching classes Monday through Thursday mornings. Kay is a health and wellness professional and has been in the fitness industry for over 30 years. She is an ACE certified personal trainer, Beach Body certified PiYo Instructor, and certified group exercise instructor. Her classes are always educational and high energy, calorie-burning experiences. We welcome Kay to our staff of professional instructors.
For more information about the Family Martial Arts Fitness Academy, LLC staff or training programs, please contact us at 636-239-4871 or by clicking here.
