Each Instructor Brings Their Best to YOU
Master Greg Garves
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Meet Master Greg Garves - Our Head Master Chief Instructor
“It’s my greatest joy to help students grow stronger in confidence, character, and self-discipline. Whether it’s a child who was bullied learning to stand tall, or a once-defiant student showing self-control, these transformations inspire me every day.” I’ve trained in:
I believe martial arts should be a family experience — a space for belonging, focus, perseverance, and personal growth. All of this is possible because of God and my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. |
Mrs. Diane Garves
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Meet Mrs. Diane Garves - Our Academy Administrator
2nd Degree Black Belt | Leadership Martial Arts Team Member for 26+ Years My excitement for martial arts isn’t just about the training — it’s about the people. I love getting to know each of our students and their families. While my current role keeps me mostly behind the scenes, nothing energizes me like being back on the mat! We are a Kyuki-Do family, where everyone’s individuality and spark is valued. I’m passionate about our mission to build strong leaders — because our communities, schools, and homes need people of character and confidence who have found their voice. For me, martial arts is the best workout — it doesn’t even feel like a workout! It challenges my body and my mind. Over 26 years, I’ve grown stronger, more confident, more decisive, and more self-aware. I’m not the same person I was when I started — and I’m grateful. When I’m not “working” (which often looks like more working — because I love what I do), you’ll find me:
I’m also deeply passionate about my Christian faith and love connecting with others on that journey. “You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.” — C.S. Lewis |
Mrs. Julie Hillman
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Meet Julie Hillman - Instructor & Communications Lead
2nd Degree Black Belt At Leadership Martial Arts, I am blessed to be part of a strong leadership team that strives for excellence. I love my role at the academy because I get to meet new people, make meaningful connections, and help to build a sense of community and belonging for others. I value our academy members, I'm super excited to celebrate their growth and achievements right along with them! My daughter Hannah and I were invited to the academy by a friend during Buddy Week in August 2020 and we haven’t left the mat since! I love sharing this experience with my daughter and growing together in our relationship and in our martial arts skills. But it’s so much more than that – we’ve not only grown physically but also in character and confidence, and the Pil Sung! mindset is pervading and transforming our lives at home, at school, and at work. I am wife to Pete, mom to Hannah, and step-mom to Justin. When I’m not on the mat, I love gardening, hiking, camping with my family, having meaningful conversations with friends, finding new restaurants with great outdoor spaces, reading books I can’t put down, and putting together 1,000-piece puzzles. "God's gift to me is to give me more talents and abilities than I could ever use. My gift to God is to develop as many as I can and use them to bless others." |
Miss Eden Lausted
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Meet Miss Eden Lausted - Assistant Instructor & Media Assistant
1st Degree Black Belt I love how Leadership Martial Arts strives to give families not only martial art skills, but leadership life skills for their lives outside of martial arts. I enjoy my role at the academy because I get to build relationships with students and their families, meet new people, and foster existing relationships. I love watching our students grow and meet their goals on and off the mat. I started on the mat in December of 2021. Since then, I’ve learned to appreciate physical fitness. I have grown to love falling, grappling, and sparring. I also enjoy learning new forms. When I’m not at the academy you can find me in the gym, outside with my dog, reading a good book, or hiking, swimming, kayaking, and paddle boarding with my family. I enjoy art and physical activities! “Remember: if you avoid failure, you also avoid success.” |
Mrs. Karen Lausted
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Meet Mrs. Karen Lausted - Assistant Instructor & Academy Operations
1st Degree Black Belt At Leadership Martial Arts, I’m excited to be part of a community that fosters leadership, builds confidence, and sharpens minds. Training here is as much a mental workout as it is physical, and there’s something empowering about working up a sweat, challenging your brain, and feeling like a warrior in the process. My journey began in December 2021 when I enrolled my two sons in martial arts to help them build discipline, confidence, and community as a homeschooling family. I stepped onto the mat with them just to try it and quickly discovered something I truly connected with myself. With a background working with preschool and school-aged children, I enjoy instructing and being a positive example for our academy members. I love helping others get excited about their martial arts journey and celebrating their growth along the way. I especially enjoy practicing forms and training with weapons, particularly the bo staff — it makes me feel a little like a ninja! Each new skill brings a boost of confidence and accomplishment. Outside the academy, I enjoy spending time with my husband and our two sons, Jacob and Sam. As a family, we love camping, biking, hiking, swimming, and relaxing on our porch in the summer. Martial arts has strengthened me physically and helped shape me into a stronger leader. I believe Jesus Christ exemplified servant leadership, and I’m grateful to pursue something that aligns with my values while allowing me to grow and serve others. "You don’t grow unless it challenges you" |
Ms. Lynnette Barrineau
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Meet Ms. Lynnette Barrineau - Assistant Instructor
1st Degree Black Belt Few things excite me as much as seeing the joy and excitement when someone has that "Aha!" moment after conquering a mountain that seemed too high. As an instructor at Leadership Martial Arts, I love finding new ways to approach the same concept to help others reach that moment. Along the way, I get to build relationships and see confidence and courage develop. I truly learn as much from those I am teaching as they learn from me. I started martial arts in 2021 to help my niece on the mat. What started as a simple desire to help quickly became a passion. I have never considered myself to be athletic, but with martial arts the focus on character development has helped me realize that I can excel at things that are both physically and mentally hard. Martial arts used to seem out of reach, but like everything in life a journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step. When I am not on the mat I work as a physician in hospital medicine. I love to garden, play piano, read, and spend time with my many critters. I used to think I was a dog person, but God has shown me that I'm really an animal person and I will just say that I will always be one cat short of crazy. Isaiah 40:30-31 Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall stumble and fall; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be wear; they shall walk and not faint. |
