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Life Ki-do Martial Arts proudly serving Austin since 1993
Experience, Leadership, Guidance
Who we Are And why You Should Train Here
Since we’ve opened our door, over 30 years ago, we’ve been dedicated to transforming Austin families’ lives, through our award-winning martial arts and personal development programs. Our elite instructors create a safe, comfortable, and welcoming atmosphere, ensuring that every student and family member feels personally supported. We take pride in fostering a nurturing and empowering environment that helps individuals achieve and excel in their personal goals at the dojo and beyond.
Get To Know Our World Class Instructors
Sensei Jonathan Hewitt
Founder & Lead Instructor
Founder of Life Ki-do® Martial Arts & Personal Development, Jonathan began his martial arts training and competitive athletics as a young boy. In addition to being a skilled martial artist, Sensei Jonathan was also a high school state wrestling champion and a very proficient soccer player.
His childhood quest to find the ancient inner life skill teachings of the martial arts led to his training and teaching in a wide variety of systems including Tang Soo Do, Tae Kwon Do, Kickboxing, JKD, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Street Self-Defense, Wrestling, and Systema. He is a certified Systema instructor under world-renowned Systema master Vladimir Vasiliev.
Jonathan has a degree in psychology from Emory University in addition to over 35 years of practice in meditation, mindfulness, and the brain-body connection. His great joy comes from sharing ancient, universal personal development skills to inspire students to discover and live from their inner calm and strength.
Sensei Doug Diamond
Youth Program Director & Lead Instructor
A black belt in Nisei Goju Ryu Karate, Doug is a Lead Instructor and Director of the Youth Program at Life Ki-do.
Since 2006, Doug has been privileged to serve families in our community through the dojo. Doug’s passion is empowering youth through cooperative practice. Reverence for the innate goodness of humanity is his most important guiding principle. Doug also loves his family, his dog, and his vegetable garden very much.
Sensei Deven Penn
Lead Instructor
Deven comes to Life Ki-do after working at Parkside Community Montessori School as an assistant teacher in the classroom and as an assistant in Sensei Doug’s Life Ki-do classes at the school. In addition to training in Life Ki-do Martial Arts, Deven has trained in Aikido, boxing, and kickboxing.
He also has extensive physical fitness experience in gymnastics, baseball, and track and field. Exercise and healthy living have always been a big part of Deven’s life. He achieved his black belt and the title of Sensei in May 2017.
Sempai Ed Paray
Lead Instructor
Ed comes to Life Ki-do from My Gym in the Los Angeles area where he lead martial arts classes for multiple locations over 15 years. He has over 30 years experience in martial arts including being a certified instructor in Wing Chun kung fu and Tang Soo Do Korean karate.
Ed has a wealth of experience in teaching children and he has incredible patience with everyone he works with.
Sensei Sarah Hayes
Dojo Director & Instructor
Sensei Sarah started training with Life Ki-do when she was just 4 years old after her mom enrolled her at the dojo hoping to focus her abundance of energy. She continued her Life Ki-do training throughout her entire childhood and teen years achieving the incredible rank of 2nd degree black belt before graduating high school. From the time she was a little girl through all of her years training with Life Ki-do, Sarah has always exemplified inner confidence, strength, resilience, dedication, and most of all joy in her training. She has been an extraordinary student and role model to many over the years.
After graduating from Trinity University with a Bachelor’s of Science in Marketing magna cum laude, Sarah joined us full-time at Life Ki-do. In addition to being an instructor in our Life Ki-do Classes, Sensei Sarah runs our Karate Camp, co-runs our Leadership Team, and is our Dojo Director helping our daily operations run smoothly and supporting our dojo community.
She brings incredible joy, care, and skill to everything she does, and we are very thankful to have her on our team.
Martial Arts Styles
Martial arts training includes punching, kicking, blocking, take-downs, and wrestling. Some styles focus on one of these elements and at some martial arts schools, you’ll see that focus. So you may only do stand-up striking work or you may only do groundwork. At Life Ki-do, however, we blend all of these elements into our own unique curriculum so that students become well-rounded martial artists.
Ground Training
Systema / Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu / Wrestling
Ground training is a crucial component in a comprehensive martial arts program. Our students learn and practice how to fall and roll safely, effective takedowns, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and wrestling techniques, as well as Systema strikes and breaks from the ground. Aside from the practical self-defense benefits, the Systema style ground skills can also greatly enhance a student’s self-confidence and ability “to go with the flow.”
Stand-up Training
Karate / Sparring / Systema
We incorporate moves, drills, and freestyle sparring from a variety of martial arts styles so our can students develop powerful stand-up blocking, punching, and kicking skills.
Our emphasis in stand-up training is on the Systema principles of fluidity and partnering that involves mutual care and respect.
Flow Forms
Tai Chi / Qigong / Karate
Students learn the series of individual movements that make up a Traditional Karate Kata as well as the Yang Style Short form of Tai Chi.
The Tai Chi Form & Karate Katas build tremendous body awareness, coordination, strength, and stamina as well mental focus, confidence, and determination.