Miguel A. Soto
Oh Dan Master (5th Degree)
I started my Tang Soo Do training August 1993 at Tang Soo Do Karate Institute in Chula Vista, CA under Master Larry Dercole. My parents decided to make my birthday gift a one-month membership for classes because I would always play in the backyard as if I was the Ninja Turtles or Power Rangers. I loved training in Tang Soo Do so much that I didn’t want to train with the kids but instead train with the adults. The adult class was led by Sah Bum Nim Tony Valverde. In the adult class, I was able to push and be pushed to new limits I had no idea I had. After receiving the rank of brown belt, I continued my Tang Soo Do training at Allied Gardens Tang Soo Do Karate Academy under Master Kenny Purnell. I continued to train and improve throughout the years until I received my 3rd Degree Black Belt in 2004. Master Patrick Marsch asked me to be an assistant instructor at UC-Tech Tang Soo Do at the University of California San Diego in 2004. I continued to train under Master Purnell and teach alongside Master Marsch.
In 2010 Master Kelly Goodwin asked me to help her teach at her school at Mission Bay Montessori Academy. It was a complete change of pace for me since the majority of her students were in the Tiny Tiger and Little Dragon program but I was able to adapt quickly and fell in love teaching the kids. Master Goodwin gave me the opportunity to take over that location as she was opening a new location. So, in 2010 was the start of M.A.S. Tang Soo Do. I was excited to begin this new path and grow the school to new limits.
In 2014 Master Marsch gave me the huge honor to take over UC-Tech Tang Soo Do as the head instructor. This was an enormous honor because UC-Tech Tang Soo Do was at the university for over 30 years. In 2014 UC-Tech Tang Soo Do was renamed to M.A.S. Tang Soo Do – UCSD. Managing two studios is a lot of work but at the same time extremely rewarding. I continue to train and teach at both locations and I am excited to see my son Santiago A. Soto go through his Tang Soo Do training.
Tang Soo!
Laura M. Barrera
SaM Dan Instructor
My Tang Soo Do journey doesn’t start out like most. I danced ballet and my little brother did Tang Soo Do. My ballet school was next door to his karate school so I would often walk to his school to wait for our parents to pick us up. His instructor would constantly ask me if I wanted to do class and I would always say “No thank you. I am a dancer.” After 2 years of asking, the instructor offered me a month of free trial classes and if I didn’t like it I wouldn’t be bothered about it again. I took my first class at 9 years old and I fell in love. I began my training at the United States Karate Academy in 2009 and obtained my Cho Dan (1st degree black belt) rank at this school in 2012.
Shortly afterwards I transferred to M.A.S. Tang Soo Do for better learning opportunities and this is where I met Master Soto. My first interactions with him were hard as he was preparing me to test for my E Dan (2nd degree black belt) rank in October of 2014. There were many training sessions when my fellow classmates and I were absolutely exhausted but we still pushed to keep going. After earning my E Dan in 2014, I began to help Master Soto teach the kids at Mission Bay Montessori Academy and I fell in love with teaching. I had done some teaching before at my old studio but not as much as I did at MBMA. The kids were so sweet and welcoming and have taught me so much over the years that I have gotten to know them.
In 2017 I was eligible to test for my Sam Dan (3rd degree black belt) rank. I practiced hard and my kids helped me get through the test by helping me practice and sending videos and words of motivation before my test. After passing my test, I became an official instructor of M.A.S. Tang Soo Do and became the head instructor shortly afterwards. I work with Master Soto to do as much as possible to make our school as great as it can be.
I am currently finishing up a dual BA degree in Psychology and Child Development at the California State University - San Bernardino with plans to become a speech pathologist for children in my future. Being a part of M.A.S. Tang Soo Do has helped me in more ways than I can count in life. I absolutely love what I do and I look forward to many more years ahead of me.
Tang Soo!
