Our Unparalleled Standards Make Us YOUR Best Choice

At the Vernal Martial Arts Center our instructors go through a very extensive selection process to insure we have only the best and most talented instructors in the world. First and most important, THEY MUST KNOW THE ART! Weekend seminars or summer camp certifications hardly qualify someone to teach, and yet this sad practice is so very common in the martial arts community today. Our Instructors spend decades pursuing their art, then once selected, they are put through an intense and rigorous series of training colleges to guarantee the quality of instruction that our students will receive. Once a VMAC instructor is certified to teach our unique and time honored systems, they are then required to receive continuing martial arts training and instructor education yearly. This on going training allows our instructors to stay up to date on the latest and most effective self defense techniques, teaching methods, nutrition and exercise science. This re-certification process is our assurance that every VMAC student will continue to receive only the very best in martial arts training. VMAC instructors are professionals; we are experts in what we do. We expect our instructors to be the best, so you can expect the best from our instructors.

Master Steven Wallenda

Master Steven Wallenda, the owner and chief instructor at VMAC, began training in the art of Tang Soo Do while living in Alaska during the 1980's. During this time, many of the Alaska schools began the migration from the Moo Duk Kwan to follow Grandmaster Jae Chul Shin into the newly formed political body of the World Tang Soo Do association. After many years of diligent training, he earned his Cho Dan, 1st degree black belt, in 1991. This period was followed by apprenticeship training for his instructor's certification under the direction of then Master Darryl Khalid in Phoenix Arizona. After settling in Utah he earned his E Dan, 2nd degree black belt, in 1994, and his Sam Dan, 3rd degree black belt, in 1998. In the summer of 2008 Master Wallenda tested for his 4th dan, under Grandmaster Khalid of the Universal Tang Soo Do Alliance and attended his first masters clinic the following November. Having a love for the sword arts, Master Wallenda also studies and trains in the Korean art of Hai Dong Gum Do. Additionally, he holds a B.S. in History and an M.A. in Political Science.

Remember, No One Sits on the Bench at the Vernal Martial Arts Center!

Martial Arts is not a team sport, the only person that you are competing with is "Yourself." Students come to us from age five to sixty five. Some students are in shape, while others are over weight. Some come for self defense, fitness, and others for fun. Each person is treated as an equal, and is trained to the best of their own ability and potential. A student is never compared to anyone else. At VMAC our instructors are there to guide, instruct, and motivate you to be the best that you can be.