Our Instructors & Staff Members
Our Instructors have spent many years devoted to training in the art
of PMA 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.
Here are a few of Premier Martial Arts - Lubbock instructors and
other staff members, starting with John Liles:
John Liles (7th Degree)
As the Head Instructor and
President Premier Martial Arts - Lubbock , Master Liles
inherently believes that each student who walks through his
door is someone whom he is meant to impact in a positive way.
He also has the unique ability to personally connect with each
individual (parent and student alike) while maintaining the
Instructor/Student relationship. His sense of humor and smile
create a fun, family atmosphere for learning.
He currently holds a 7th Dan in
Okinawan Dai Ni Gojuryu Karate, 7th Dan Tae Kwon Do Chung Do
Kwan, 5th Dan Tae Kwon Do Moo Duk Kwan, 2nd Dan Kobudo, and
1st Dan Batto Jutsu (sword). He is also the President of the
American Ni-Goju Karate Association, Board of Directors of the
American Karate Black Belt Association, Certified
International Instructor and Examiner. |
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Angelique Liles (3rd Degree Black Belt)
Angelique has been training for 13 years in the martial arts.
She specializes in women's self-defense classes, rape
prevention and abduction awareness seminars. Her smile is
infectious and her effervescent personality make her an
instant winner with students and parents. Angelique's eye for
detail and demand for consistency bring out the best in each
student as they strive for perfection. Outside of the martial
arts, she enjoys her work, Pilates, dance and reading. As a leader in
our community, she enjoys doing volunteer work through various
charitable organizations. She is a 3rd Dan in
Okinawan Dai Ni Gojuryu, 3rd Dan Tae Kwon Do Chung Do Kwan,
2nd Dan Tae Kwon Do Moo Duk Kwan, 1st Dan Kobudo.
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Judy Butcher (2nd Degree Black Belt)
Judy has been training at Premier Martial Arts – Lubbock for
six years. Judy teaches computer technology courses for a
local middle-school. Her easy-going personality keeps her from
being intimidating; yet her attention to detail shows in her
students. Her interests and hobbies include college sports,
spending time with family and friends, reading, traveling
and recreational athletics (including karate). Judy loves the
traditional values and techniques involved in the martial arts
like integrity, self-discipline and respect. Her passion is to
pass those values on to those she teaches.
She is a 2nd Dan in Okinawan Dai
Ni Gojuryu, 2nd Dan Tae Kwon Do Chung Do Kwan. |
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Victoria Ibe (2nd Degree Black Belt)
Victoria is an instant favorite with our students. Her big
smile and fun personality draw people to her. She has been
training in the martial arts since she was 11 years old and
credits the martial arts to molding her into the person she is
today. Her first year competing in the women’s adult division
she blew the competition away and took first place in all
divisions at local and national tournaments. She is currently
enrolled at South Plains College and plans to obtain a Masters
in Accounting. With the confidence she has gained from the
martial arts she believes in her ability to achieve her goals
and desires to pass that same attitude on to others.
She is a 2nd Dan in Okinawan Dai
Ni Gojuryu, 2nd Dan Tae Kwon Do Chung Do Kwan. |
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Kiefer Waight (Junior 2nd Degree Black Belt)
If you had to describe Kiefer in two words it would be:
Energetic and Enthusiastic!! He has been training for 7
years and teaching for the last 3 years. Kiefer’s
accomplishments include being ranked 4th in the World in Extreme
Open Hand forms at the US Open 2007. He has differentiated
himself in that he excels in Extreme Forms and teaches not
only our regular adult and children’s classes; but also our
XMA (Extreme Martial Arts) classes that incorporate aerials
and showmanship. Outside of the martial arts, Kiefer spent a
week as an intern with NASA this summer and his future goals
are to earn a degree in computer engineering. He is a
2nd Dan in Okinawan
Dai Ni Gojuryu, 2nd Dan Tae Kwon Do Chung Do Kwan. |
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Jacob Ibe (Junior 2nd Degree Black Belt)
Jacob has been training at Premier Martial Arts – Lubbock for
the last 7 years. Parents remark that his consistency is an
asset to our teaching staff. Other
interests include music, and spending time with friends. He
plays both the guitar and the piano. He is also very involved
in his church. His future goals include traveling to England
and other parts of Europe. When asked what his teaching goals
are, his response was, “To constantly build confidence in his
students.” He is a 2nd Dan in Okinawan Dai Ni
Gojuryu, 2nd Dan Tae Kwon Do Chung Do Kwan. |
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AJ Ochoa (Junior 2nd Degree Black Belt)
Ajejandro Ochoa Jr., known to
us as simply “AJ” has been training with Premier Martial Arts
– Lubbock for the past six years. He is currently a Junior in
High School and enjoys reading, hanging out with friends and
music. AJ is also a singer! He sings in his school’s choir.
AJ won 3 Sweepstakes at the Dallas Music Festival and 5
Sweepstakes at the Lubbock UIL. In his martial arts career,
AJ has placed first at the Best of the West 2006 Tournament in
both sparring and katas. He has a great sense of humor and an
amazing personality!
He is a 2nd Dan in Okinawan Dai Ni
Gojuryu, 2nd Dan Tae Kwon Do Chung Do Kwan. |
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Justin Spiegel (Junior 1st Degree Black Belt)
Justin has
been training since he was 8 years old. He has placed first
in several tournaments both in Texas and New Mexico. In
addition to karate, Justin also plays basketball for
Trinity Christian
Schools. He is a straight A student and is not only holds the
position of Secretary for the Trinity Student Council; but
also stands as Secretary for the National Junior Honor
Society. His ultimate goal is to attend
Duke University to
become a surgeon. Justin loves teaching adults and children
alike. He feels like he has become a better martial artist
himself from the experience of teaching others.He is a
1st Dan in Okinawan Dai Ni Gojuryu,
1st Dan Tae Kwon Do Chung Do Kwan. |
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Sebastian Strickland (Junior 1st Degree Black Belt)
Sebastian
has been involved in the martial arts for seven years. He
simply states that he will always be involved in the martial
arts – it is that important to him. In addition to being a
“lifer” in the martial arts, Sebastian also enjoys soccer,
video games, science, watching the History Channel and the
Ultimate Fighting Championships. With his dad in the
military, Sebastian has incorporated that lifestyle of a
positive attitude and respect into not only his martial arts
career; but also with the kids he teaches. He is a
1st Dan in Okinawan Dai Ni
Gojuryu, 1st Dan Tae Kwon Do Chung Do Kwan. |
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For more information about the Premier Martial Arts - Lubbock
staff or training programs, please contact us at 806-792-2192.
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