We're On Your Team
Our facility features a team of coaches whose experience is matched only by their dedication to our members. They take the time to get to know you personally, gaining a deep understanding of your goals and any unique challenges you might face. With the guidance from one of our professional coaches, a new level of YOU is within your reach.
Paul Yoon
Owner | Founder | Coach
Master Paul Yoon (He prefers coach Paul) started his martial arts journey at age 5, earning:
*4th degree black belt in the World Taekwondo Federation
*3rd degree black belt in American Taekwondo Association
*1st degree black belt in American Taekwondo Federation
*two 1st degree black belts in two different styles of American Karate.
He started competing in Taekwondo at an early age and has earned numerous local, state, regional, and international competitions which culminated in being a two time silver medalist in the Jr. Olympics for Taekwondo.
Coach Paul was in a horrific motorcycle accident in 2012 that left him in a month long coma. His doctors attributed his survival to the shape he was in thanks to martial arts. He no longer competes but has been teaching Taekwondo since 1998 and has dedicated himself to creating a better world, one community at a time, one black belt at a time.
Favorite Quotes:
“Life is pain, Highness. Anyone who says differently is selling something.”
-Man in Black, The Princess Bride
“Do or do not. There is not try.”
-Master Yoda, Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
“Your progress is up to you. If you want to stay in a wheelchair, ok. If you want to stay on a cane, ok. If you want to stay on crutches, ok. Just like in life, you dictate your own progress.”
-Dr. McGann, MD & Dr. Benedict, MD
When coach Paul asked if he would be able to walk again.
Jo-el Fitz
Head Taekwondo Instructor
Extreme TKD Instructor
Coach Jo-El started martial arts at the age of 9. His parents wanted to give him an outlet to control his anger, he eventually grew into a much kinder person while falling in love with Taekwondo. Some of his biggest inspirations were movie stars: Jet Li and Donnie Yen. He also sought a lot of inspiration from From Taekwondo fighter Dae Hoon Lee.
In Coach Jo-El’s teenage years, he joined the Boy Scouts of America where he learned valuable life skill and climbed to the rank of eagle scout. Around the same time, he earned his first degree black belt and began competing. He went on to be a 3x Hae San TKD champion in both sparring and forms, and an Atlanta Open sparring champion.
Coach Jo-El has been practicing martial arts for 18+ years and is now a 3rd degree black belt. He also has 7 years of experience in Martial Arts Tricking, an art that combines gymnastics, breakdancing, martial arts techniques, and other abstract movements. In 2014, Jo-El qualified for the top 8 in the Red Bull Throwdown tricking world championship.
Favorite quote:
“Talent doesn’t mean anything if you’re lacking focus”
-Vinnie Paz
Sara Kim
Taekwondo Coach
Master Sara Kim started taekwondo as soon as she could walk.
She is currently a Kukkiwon certified 4th degree black belt and competed in Taekwondo for a short time, qualifying for USAT sanctioned state and national championships.
The values of taekwondo have shaped her to be the person she is today.
-Georgia state Champion
-USAT National Certified Referee
-2018 USAT National named Best Female Referee
Graduated Georgia State with a B.S. in Biology, summa cum laude
Favorite Quote:
“Be happy with nothing and you’ll be happy with everything”
Roy Harrison
Muay Thai and Kickboxing Coach
Coach Roy began training in martial arts at 10 years old. He was a freestyle and collegiate wrestler between the ages of 14-19. Roy started his Muay Thai journey at 19 years old under the instruction of Kru Joe Powers and received his certificates from the National United States Muay Thai Association and began teach the Art of Eight Limbs. Coach Roy has competed in many smokers as well as the NFC for Muay Thai.
He is on his next journey of becoming a professional boxer under the guidance of Terri “The Boss” Moss.
-Atlanta Corporate Fight Night 14 (2021) Gold Medal, 130lbs
-South Carolina Hurricane Tournament (2021) Gold Medal, 126lbs
-Buckhead Fight Club Fight Night (2021) Silver Medal, 140lbs
-FTP Fight Night (2021) Gold Medal, 130lbs
Favorite Quote:
“Learning defense improves the attack. If the lion knows how the prey can escape, it’ll capture it in a much more precise way”
-Rillion Gracie
JB Hopkins
Muay Thai and Kickboxing Coach
Coach JB started his martial arts journey in 2012. He had no idea that this path came with so many opportunities – being that he felt there were no opportunities left for him prior to him training.
JB trained under Kickboxing and Muay Thai legends HaWoods and Gary Brown, where they took him under their wings and learned many disciplines.
Jb has traveled, competed and won in many organizations in all disciplines and was ranked number 1 in the southeast.
Titles won
-IKF CHAMPION (MUAY THAI)
-WKA CHAMPION (MUAY THAI)
-PAUL MURPHY CHAMPION (BOXING)
– GEORGIA GAMES (BOXING)
-Was also ranked number one in the NFC in his division
Favorite quote:
“….but did you die?”
Devin Topping
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Coach
Coach Devin stumbled across a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu gym seven years ago while looking for a fun environment to work out and lose weight. Fast forward to present day, she has lost over 65lbs, is a Brown Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, competes regularly, and trains 5-6 times a week at Traven Headquarters in Midtown under Professor Roberto Traven. Apart from training, which is her most favorite hobby, she enjoys conversing and reading in Spanish and Geocaching.
Coach Devin’s biggest goal in Jiu Jitsu is to accomplish the rank of black belt and be able to pass on her knowledge to all practitioners of the sport, but especially women. Under Professor Traven’s tutelage, she has competed since white belt, with some of her accomplishments being:
-3x IBJJF Atlanta Open Gold Medalist, Adult Division
-5x IBJJF Atlanta Open Silver Medalist, Adult Division
-3x Atlanta Open Bronze Medalist, Adult Division
-2x New Breed Gold Medalist, Adult Division
-1x Copa Gold Medalist, Adult Division
-IBJJF Pan Ams 2017 Gold Medalist, Adult Division, White Belt
-IBJJF Pan Ams 2021 Bronze Medalist, Adult Division, Purple Belt
Favorite Quote:
A real loser is someone who’s so afraid of not winning he doesn’t even try
John Mai
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Coach
Bio Coming Soon
Anushka Bendigiri
Assistant Taekwondo Coach
Coach Anushka’s first time ever stepping foot on a taekwondo mat was back in the summer of 2018. After the first class itself, she fell in love with the sport that she would’ve never imagined trying out in the first place.
Starting her training in traditional taekwondo under the able guidance of the late Grandmaster Chambliss, she later joined Tsunami to continue training and expand the sole focus from traditional taekwondo to conditioning and sparring.
She earned her first dan in December 2021 under Coach Paul and Coach Jo’s guidance at Tsunami.
Anushka says that the tenets of taekwondo taught in class have helped her instill those teachings in her daily lifestyle as well. All the teachings she has learned in taekwondo have also been helpful to her in achieving her goals, both academic and personal, and she is extremely thankful for that.
Anushka has always loved children and she couldn’t be happier sharing all that she has learned in Taekwondo with all the kids. Watching the kids get excited over the simplest things, like figuring out the technique behind a certain move or memorizing a form is more than enough to bring a smile to her face.
Anushka is currently a sophomore at Georgia State University and is studying Biology and French there. Her ultimate goal is to become a researcher in microbiology at the World Health Organization so she can employ her skills in both Biology and French to someday give back to society and to make a positive impact in people’s lives.
Favorite Quotes:
“It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all – in which case, you fail by default.” – J.K. Rowling
“Learning is the only thing the mind never exhausts, never fears, and never regrets.” – Leonardo da Vinci
Michael Pangilinan
Assistant Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Kids Coach
Michael has been a member of the Tsunami family since 2017, when a friend persuaded him to come to the gym’s open house.
He fell in love with Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and despite some setbacks that required him to take time off, has never looked back.
Jiu Jitsu has been a transformative part of his life; he credits the discipline and body movement involved in the sport as key contributors to his mental and physical health.
Michael now enjoys helping to teach with kids’ class, where he is proud to pass his love for BJJ on to the next generation.
-IBJJF Atlanta winter open 2nd place 2018
-IBJJF Atlanta spring open 1st place 2018
-IBJJF Atlanta summer open 2019
-IBJJF Atlanta spring open 2022
-AGF Double gold gi/nogi Blue belt 2022
Favorite Quote:
“That’s what”
-she said
Emily Moore
Assistant Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Kids Coach
Coach Emily began her martial arts journey when she was 11 years old. She was a Taekwondo practitioner for nine years, eventually earning her 2nd degree black belt.
She later began training Muay Thai in Miami, FL, and competed in amateur Muay Thai and Kickboxing tournaments for six years.
After moving to Atlanta, Emily initially joined the Tsunami family as a cardio kickboxing and Muay Thai coach, but it wasn’t long until she fell head over heels in love with Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
She’s now been dedicated to BJJ for three years and has had the opportunity to compete several times. Emily loves helping to coach the kids class; her goal is to broaden her knowledge of jiu jitsu and continue sharing her love of the sport with others.
When she’s not at the gym, she can be found reading, playing piano, or hiking.
Favorite quote:
“In this life we cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love.”
Ahren Cassinari-Foster
Assistant Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Kids Coach
Coach Ahren started training Jiu jitsu right after Tsunami opened! He was looking for a new hobby and Jiu jitsu fit the bill perfectly as a way to learn self-defense and exercise with great people. He loves both training Jiu jitsu and passing on the knowledge that he has gained from his fantastic coaches and training partners.
Coach Ahren has come to see Jiu jitsu as more than a hobby but as a way to improve ourselves and our communities mentally, emotionally, and physically.
When he is not training, he is spending time with his wife and two young boys, both of whom he hopes will start training at Tsunami very soon.
Favorite Quote:
“Success is not final; failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts.”
-Winston Churchill
Alia Conner
Assistant Taekwondo Coach
Coach Alia started her Taekwondo journey in 2011, earning her first degree black belt at age 11 and second dan in 2021.
Alia’s greatest takeaway from taekwondo is the discipline that is learned while training because it has allowed her instill the self governing practice in her day-to-day life.
She says that watching the kids progress in taekwondo is one of the greatest pleasures in life, especially knowing that she was a part of the process.
Alia will attend the Georgia Institute of Technology to study industrial design and psychology. She hopes to make a career designing products that will help people live more sustainably.
Favorite Quote:
The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion.
-Albert Camus
