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| Master Gil is the director of the American T.K.A. Universal Martial Arts School since November of 1998.
He teaches Tae Kwon Do, Muay Thai and Kick Boxing Aerobics for children and adults alike.
Master Gil began his study of the martial arts in 1976 at the age of eight. He studied the art of judo in Cuba where he received his
green belt and had Olympic aspirations. As Master Gil progressed in the martial arts his drive and athletic ambition led him to become
the full contact champion of the W.K.A. in 1985, 86, and 87 with a record of 17-3-10 KO. He was ranked professional in November 1984. Master Gil has held other titles such as First Place - Fighting, Second Place - Forms in International Competition in the Caribbean. However he didn't stop there. Master Gil, received his Black Belt in Chinese Kempo in Puerto Rico in March 1990. He later obtained his Tae Kwon Do Black Belt, and currently holds a fifth degree. His love of the martial arts led him to creative and positive roles within the martial arts. |
 Head Instructor - Master Gil |
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Master Gil created the Kick Boxing Federation in Puerto Rico with national and international competition. With federal help he was able to develop a program for those economically challenged and made it a priority to help teenagers overcome drug problems. Master Gil invented new dimensions in kick boxing aerobics such as beginner, intermediate, advanced, as well as the use of multiple steps. He also created Circuit Kick Boxing Aerobics and Water Kick Boxing. He is also a Muay Thai instructor certified by the U.W.M.T.A under Vut Kamnark and is the representative of the W.K.L. in Florida and Puerto Rico. | Master Gil has studied martial arts with great legendary figures like Bill 'Super Foot' Wallace, Joe Lewis, Vut Kamnark, and Jhoon Rhee but his greatest satisfaction comes from bringing his love of this art to his students. He takes pride in the quality and progression of his students and makes it a personal commitment to see them succeed. One of the phrases he uses often in class is 'I want quality not quantity'. Master Gil loves his young students and has received much praise from proud parents. They have written to thank him for the positive change he has instilled in their children by the way of discipline in Tae Kwon Do classes. Master Gil projects and expects confidence in his students and has faith that these lessons will be utilized in their everyday life. |
| Sensei James E. Hageman. Sensei Hageman began Judo in 1963 while serving in the United States Army Security
Agency in Panama. Continued practicing in Puerto Rico a few years later, under the watchful eyes of Masayuki Takahama who had been
the national team coach for Cuba. My judo really began to take shape while practicing and competing in Brazil with the team from Judo
Ono. I was introduced to Ju Jitsu while visiting a Japanese only dojo in Sao Paolo. After returning to the United States in the early
1981, I continued my Judo training and competition under Shihan Frank Payne in South Florida I was able to attain my Shodan and Ni-dan
ranks during those years. At the same time, I started to study Ju Jitsu with Shihan Payne who was teaching the Yoshitsune Waza / Hakko
Ryu system of O-Sensei Michael De Pasquale Sr. I had the opportunity to train with both Michael Sr. as well as Michael Jr. over the
years. I received mi Shodan in Jujitsu in 1987 after five years of study. After receiving my Ni-Dan a couple of years later, I moved
with my family to California where I started my own Dojo and continued to study Judo and Ju Jitsu with Shihans Preston Rosser and Gregory
Fernandez. I was awarded my San Dan ranking in Wushu Ryu Jitsu in 1993. I tested for and received my San Dan and then later Yon-Dan
ranking in Yoshitsune Waza, after returning back to Florida in 1994. All of my testing and rank promotions have been done in the presence
of O-Sensei and Shihan De Pasquale Jr. I opened my present Dojo in 1994 where I have had the opportunity to train many fine Ju Jitsuans including my protégé Evangelos Garbis who is my designate to carry on the spirit of Sei Shin Do “The Way of the Spirit”. |
 Sensei - James E. Hageman |
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| Rebeca Santiago is an instructor at the American T.K.A. Universal Martial Arts School. She has been interested
in martial arts since she was very young. Born and raised in Caguas, Puerto Rico, she started training in the martial arts at the
age of 24. At that time she met Master Gil who was a kick boxing fighter and a martial arts instructor. Master Gil taught Rebeca
her first steps into the martial arts. Rebeca learned to kick and punch on a heavy bag hung in Master Gil's garage.
Two years later she and Master Gil opened a kick boxing studio. Initially, Rebeca managed the business while Master Gil taught classes. Later she started as a kick boxing student. Because of her physical abilities and the fact that she could master techniques quickly, she became a kick boxing instructor for beginners and later also a kick boxing aerobics instructor. |
 Instructor - Rebeca Santiago |
| In 1995 Rebeca moved to Florida where she became interested in Tae Kwon Do. Today Rebeca is a Black Belt 3rd Degree in Tae Kwon Do, a Tae Kwon Do instructor, a Muay Thai assistant instructor, and a kick boxing aerobics instructor. Prior to moving to Florida, Rebeca attended the University of Puerto Rico in Humacao where she earned a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration with a Major in Management. Her hobbies include: weight lifting, jogging, cycling and going to the beach. Her favorite sport is volleyball and enjoys Japanese and Thai food. Her goal in martial arts is to becoming certified as a Muay Thai Instructor, but her most important goal is helping others. Other personal goals include becoming a fitness professional in nutrition, weight loss, and personal training. She recognizes that Tae Kwon Do taught her discipline in life and it has been a great help in accomplishing other personal goals. Rebeca believes that martial arts and exercise should be fun and can enhance fitness level of anyone regardless of their age, gender, or ability. | |
| Mr. Caal started his martial arts training at the early age of 12. He was influenced by a family
member who started him in the art of Kempo Karate. He obtained a green belt after two years. That was not enough for him. He went
to a Tae Kwon Do exhibition. This created a new passion and made him enroll in a Tae Kwon Do school. He obtained his black belt
three years later, he also enjoyed participating in different tournaments.
In 1992 Mr. Caal moved to Hollywood, FL where he was unable to train martial arts for a year. In 1993 he began in a new school that taught Shorin Ryu Karate. After two years he obtained a brown belt. The school closed and Mr. Caal had to look for another place to train. He found the American Ninjutsu School, that teaches the art of the Ninja Warrior. He studied there for a year. After that he practiced Shotokan Karate. He obtained a red belt. One afternoon while jogging, he meets a Japanese Champion who invites him to train art of Muay Thai. He trained with him for a year. Later on in the year 2000 as he drives by, he sees a school that promotes Tae Kwon Do and Muay Thai, his two passions in life. He meets Master Gil and started training Muay Thai he now has fought a couple of amateur fights. He is an assistant instructor in the children Tae Kwon Do class. Mr. Caal has also enrolled in a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and submission wrestling School under Luis Gutierrez where he is currently training, and teaching a kickboxing class. |
 Instructor - Mr. Caal |
| Mr. Caal has practiced martial arts for the past 14 years in which he has learned many different styles. Mr. Caal is a person that truly believes in the art of mix martial arts to create a complete and successful fighter. He also believes that it takes lots of hard work and discipline to improve any martial art fighter. His goal is to help as many people as possible. His only satisfaction is to see the expression of admiration in the faces of his students every class. His biggest dream is to run his own martial arts school. | |
