Meet the Team

Master Austin Curtis

Head Instructor, Goleta

Husband and father of three. Head Instructor at the Goleta dojo and Hall of Fame Instructor of the Year (2022). California President of the Global Hapkido Association. 7th Dan in Hapkido, with additional rank in Taekwondo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Master Garret Curtis

Head Instructor, Granada Hills

Husband and father of two. Head Instructor of the Granada Hills dojo. Has been teaching Hapkido since 1997. 7th Dan in Hapkido and 1st Dan in Taekwondo. Grew up in a family of martial artists and now calls Granada Hills home.

Sensei Litzy Diaz

Program Director

3rd Dan black belt. Started training at Santa Barbara Dojo at age eight and never left. Now serves as Program Director. Currently studying nursing.

Master Melodee Meyer

Founder

Founder of Santa Barbara Dojo. 7th Dan Grandmaster with the Global Hapkido Association. Author, speaker, and creator of the KUT Method.

Master Alex Rodriguez

Instructor

5th Dan black belt. Full Instructor in Jeet Kune Do. Leads the Black Belt Class. Over ten years on the mat. Lives in Santa Barbara with his wife and son.

Master Ray Janik

Head Instructor, Downtown

Head Instructor of Santa Barbara Dojo, downtown. 4th Dan Black Belt in Hapkido, certified through the Global Hapkido Association, 3rd Dan Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do, and US Army Veteran. He teaches youth and adult Hapkido as well as the Black Belts. Enjoys scuba diving and travel, and brings a patient, detail-oriented teaching style to every class.

Sensei Isabelle

Student Experience Lead

Sensei Isabelle is a 2nd Dan black belt who supports students on and off the mat. An enthusiastic instructor, she loves seeing parents get inspired by their kids and join in, unlocking new skills together. Outside the dojo, she enjoys reading, cooking, exploring the outdoors with her dog, and spending time with friends and family.

Sensei Jen Bellinger

Instructor

Sensei Jen Bellinger is a first-degree black belt who began Hapkido in 2023, following her son and husband. She teaches family classes at the Goleta and Downtown locations and supports other instructors on the mat. She loves helping students discover their abilities and grow in confidence. When she isn’t practically living at the dojo, she enjoys art, gardening, caring for her pets, and family time.

Amanda

Fitness Coach

Fitness coach at Santa Barbara Dojo Downtown.

Coach Amelia Neal

Fitness Coach

Amelia started training at Santa Barbara Dojo in 2016 and became a fitness instructor soon after. She has been a yoga instructor for over a decade and finds teaching kickboxing and power fit to be a fun and fiery way to switch things up. Outside the dojo she prefers to spend her time in nature- surfing, skateboarding, camping, and traveling.

Started training in 2019 and is a KUT success story. Background in engineering.

Rainy Dyer

Fitness Coach

Rainy has been training in Martial arts for five years and has attended our KUT program for six years. She has been teaching power fit resistance bands for the past three years. Rainy achieved her 1st Dan black belt in November 2025.