Between them, Richard and Robert Alonzo have over 30 years experience in various martial arts and over 15 years of stunt experience in the film industry.  Since originally earning their black belts with Grandmaster Jun Chong in 1985, they have taught thousands of students in the JCTKD System.  They are life-long students of this system and have competed & won many tournaments in sparring and forms.  Their childhood teachers include Masters Phillip Rhee, Simon Rhee, & Ken Nagayama from the Best of the Best movie franchise, Bill “Superfoot” Wallace, and Peter Malota, among many others.  In the mid-1990s, they toured, trained & performed stunts for the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Live Action Tour, both domestically & in Europe. Following their journey around the world and into the entertainment industry, they continued in different paths through martial arts.  Richard returned to the business of inspiring children through martial arts, while Robert’s exposure to the stunt world set him on a path to success in the movie industry.

Early Childhood Education experience was key in preparing Richard for his role as the most popular teacher and Co-Chief Instructor at a popular kids-only karate school chain in Santa Monica, CA.  In 2007, he furthered his martial arts training and earned his 4thDan Black Belt in both Tae Kwon Do and HapKiDo respectively with Grandmaster Jun Chong and the World United Martial Arts Organization, shortly after earning his 1st Dan Black Belt in Shotokan Karate.  His latest challenge is to learn more about his cultural roots with his pursuit of training in Filipino Martial Arts.

After getting bitten by the stunt performing bug, Robert decided to pursue more work in the entertainment industry.  After 15 years of hard work and dedication, he has become one of Hollywood’s more sought after fight coordinators, having achieved the 2008 SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a TV Series for his work on Heroes.  A year later, he won the 2009 SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture for his work as Assistant Stunt Coordinator/Fight Choreographer on Star Trek.  His more recent work includes Fight Choreographer/Stunt Performer in 2010’s Knight and Day.  Robert Alonzo has worked with such industry elites as Tom Cruise, Will Smith, Sean Connery, Arnold Schwarzennegar, Robert Downey, Jr., Josh Brolin, John Malkovich, Mel Gibson, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Eric Bana, Michael Fassbender, Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, John Cho, Jett Li, Milla Jovovich, Megan Fox, Keri Russell, Jennifer Garner, Maggie Q, Vic Armstrong, Steven Spielberg, james Mangold, M. Night Shyamalan and J.J. Abrams to name a few.  For more information, please visit WWW.DYNAMICACTION.NET.  His very busy schedule permitting, you may occasionally find him at the school sharing his talents with Alonzo Martial Arts students.

Guro Victor Gendrano brings his H2OFMA Program and 30 years of experience to Alonzo Martial Arts.  He became a certified instructor for Guro Dan Inosanto in 1994 and has trained with GM Leo Geron, GM Dionisio Canete, and Master Topher Ricketts, to name a few FMA luminaries.  He has taught and led seminars around the world including the US, Canada, Europe and the Carribean.

What separates FMA training from other weapons-based martial arts is that FMA teaches weapons use that is practicaly today:  how to use and deal with weapons that one may actually encounter in the streets:  Attackers don’t typically carry around weapons like samurai swords, sais or spears. However, knives, machetes and sticks are still among the commonly encountered weapons on the street, making FMA very practical. 

The H2OFMA Program includes training in Escrima, Arnis and Kali and will focus on work with weapons in hand as well as empty hand applications.  Weapons training will feature single and double stick, single and double long-bladed weapons, and short weapon applications.  Sparring with foam bladed weapons and shields is not only fun, but can be a challenging workout but can drastically improve one’s hand-speed and footwork.

           or Filipino Martial Arts, refers to fighting methods created in the Philippines, mainly Escrima, Arnis & Kali.  FMA builds one’s ability to fight with weapons or empty hands interchangeably, and evolves into an ability to turn ordinary objects into weapons. Weapons-based training takes precedence because it gears students psychologically to face armed opponents, and gives an edge in real fights.  Empty hands training is then taught as the stick is merely an extension of the hand.  FMA is considered the most advanced practical modern blade system in the world and is now a core component of the U.S. Army’s Modern Army Combatives program and is used by the Russian Spetsnaz.

FMA

is the art of Harmonizing Energy. It is a self-defense that features takedowns via joint locks and manipulation, pressure point strikes and throws, HapKiDo emphasizes circular motion & non-resisting movements to gain control of an opponent.  Proper footwork & body positioning help students gain leverage over an attacker, minimizing the use of strength against strength.

is the art of smashing with hands & feet.  Tae Kwon Do is a Korean Martial Art with a vast array of kicks, both grounded and aerial.  It is a great Cardio workout with benefits that include better flexibility, agility, balance, and improved foot/eye coordination.  Sparring and breaking become a necessary part of training at the intermediate and advance level.

Tae Kwon Do

Alonzo        is  one of the first Eco-Friendly Yoga Studios on the Westside.