Our Story

The Story Behind the dojo

Introduction

“This is a special place!” I hear it all the time. When you walk in and take a class, you will know what I mean. It’s a place where people train hard, have a great time, and leave feeling proud of themselves. It’s a place where everyone is treated like family, and encouraged to achieve their goals. It’s positive and genuine. It’s magic. 

“How did it get this way?” That is a great question, and I don’t know how else to answer that question other than to tell you our story.

First, let me introduce myself. I’m Wilfred Austin Curtis, or “Master Curtis” as the students call me. My family established this location in 2002, and I run the place. Before I talk about our current situation, let me take you back to 1995.

We Became a Martial Arts Family

My mom signed me up for Martial Arts lessons a few different times when I was young, but just like with all sports and activities, I always found a way of quitting or avoiding commitment. That is until I met Master Dave Wheaton in Honolulu, Hawaii. He was my mom’s boyfriend at the time and although I was hesitant to bow to him in the beginning, it wasn’t long before I shook his hand and promised him that I would get my Black Belt. My little brother did the same, and a few months later, my mom joined in as well. By the time the three of us got our Black Belts, my mom and Dave were married, and we were moving back to the mainland to open a new Dojo.

Santa Barbara Magic

In 2002, our dream was finally realized. We opened Martial Arts Family Fitness on Gutierrez Street in downtown Santa Barbara. I was inspired to watch my parents risk everything, work tirelessly, and make the Dojo a success. We all taught classes and worked the business as a family, earning us the #1 vote for years in the Independent Readers’ Poll. Eventually, my brother began his career as a camera operator in Hollywood, and I started a photography business with my wife. But we continued to train and be a part of the academy.

The Passing on of the Torch

In 2012, my Dad - now officially “Grandmaster Dave” - had a medical situation that shook our family to the core. We began talking about the future of the Dojo and what we should do to prepare for the future. I shut down my photography company to come back and began learning the ins and outs of the business with the plan of taking over. Dad taught me everything about working on the floor, and mom taught me everything about the business side of things. For years, I ran the school for them until 2020 when I became the official owner.

The Next Generation

My wife and I have 3 young daughters who are all training, and it’s awesome to see them involved in the family tradition. We are all striving toward preserving the family legacy and spreading the message that ALL families can benefit from training together to build strong bodies, disciplined minds, and resilient spirits.