Our Instructors’ purpose is to empower students in becoming well rounded, versatile, open minded and excellent martial artists in the most efficient way possible. Our focus is to enhance our students' choice of developing personal power, discipline, and respect through training for health and happiness.
They are here to ensure that our Mission Statement is fulfilled. Each of our Instructors has been personally mentored and trained under Sensei Jason Cortez They are here to ensure that your child is taught in the way of Kosho-Ryu Kenpo as taught to Sensei Jason by Our Great Grandmaster SOKE Thomas Barro Mitose.
Our Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Instructors are to teach the Gracie Method, as taught to Sensei Jason by Master Charles Gracie.
Not only are the Instructors empowered to instruct your child with Martial Arts Training but also to be Life Skills Instructors. Developing Life Skills……that is the Cortez Martial Arts Way.
All our instructors are professionals who have been developed to offer the highest quality instruction.Every member of our instructor team is approachable, caring, and possesses a true love for teaching martial arts. After taking just a few lessons, you will see why CORTEZ MARTIAL ARTS is the BEST choice in Martial Arts Instruction.
We will start by Introducing you to our Head Instructor Sensei Jason Cortez. Sensei Jason and his wife Lillie have resided in Manteca with their three children Eric, Jason Jr and Aysia since 1992. He has been a student of Kosho-Ryu since the age of 10. He is a student directly under the instruction of Soke Thomas Barro Mitose whom he received his Black Belt from.
In 2001, Sensei Jason and Soke felt that Jason should open a Kosho-Ryu School in Manteca. With the help of Soke Mitose,Sensei’s parents, Sensei's wife and children, the Cortez Dojo of Mitose's Kosho-Ryu Karate Kenpo Academy was opened in September 2001 in the Raley’s Shopping Center. We have since changed our name to CORTEZ MARTIAL ARTS ACADEMY as we added Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in 2007. In the art of Kenpo- Sensei Jason is an International Champion in Forms and Self-Defense. He holds various belt titles for Local, State and National Events in Forms, Fighting and Self-Defense. Sensei Jason Cortez enjoys teaching students of all ages and passing down this art that his instructor taught him. He is available at all times for his students if they need to contact him or if they are in need of extra training. Sensei and his wife Lillie also enjoy planning annual events like the Christmas Banquet, Inter-School tournaments, an annual Open Tournament and Camping /Boating trips for the school.
Our Head Instructor, Sensei Jason Cortez, as a Kosho-Ryu practioner has always been interested in utilizing pressure points and small joint manipulations as a form of street self defense and pressure point fighting. By combining this with the concept of “fulcrum, lever, base” he has come up with his own unique style of teaching that he applies to both his Kenpo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Classes.
As a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu student of Charles Gracie, Sensei Jason Cortez, is currently working towards his Brown Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. In 2008, the Cortez Martial Arts Academy became an official Charles Gracie Affliate School. With the help of Master Charles Gracie, we hope to bring Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to a new level in Manteca.
Professor Bernard Cortez (Sensei Jason’s father) has been an Instructor in the Martial Arts since the early 60’s. He enjoys teaching the Adult Students practical, street self-defense. His training began in Hawaii, under the late Great Grandmaster Joe Halbuna. Sensei Bernard was Mr. Halbuna’s 1st Black Belt, he is now a 7th degree Black Belt in Kajukenbo, he also holds a Black Belt under Soke Mitose in Kosho-Ryu –2nd degree.
Sensei Eric Cortez (Sensei and Lillie’s eldest son) has been training in Kosho-Ryu Kenpo since the age of 10. He quickly took to the Martial Arts and became a role model for the younger students. Sensei Eric helped develop/teach the first After School Martial Arts Classes at Cortez Martial Arts, he later took over the Beginner/White Belt Class. Sensei Eric received his Black Belt just days after his 18th birthday and after graduating from East Union High School in Manteca from Soke Thomas Mitose under the teaching of Sensei Jason Cortez. Sensei Eric has just Graduated with a BA at UCLA, in June 2011. He continues to help out in classes during his Spring/Summer and Winter breaks. He also contributed to the Academy by helping organize our current method of instruction: Rotating Curriculum. He has also trained in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Master Charles Gracie and in a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Program at UCLA.
Sensei Larry Acaya, has been training in the Martial Arts for years. He first started in Kajukenbo under the Gaylord Method, then after seeing his two youngest children Jared and Kristen train at Cortez Martial Arts in 2002, he quickly joined them. He has been a student of Sensei Jason’s since that time. Mr. Larry is a true Traditional Martial Artist. Having been involved in Youth Athletic Programs in the past, he is a great instructor of children and adults. He believes that children and adults should learn all there is to know about the martial arts including the respect and discipline that the art instills. After extensive Black Belt Training – He has been awarded his Shodan Black Belt under Sensei Jason Cortez by Soke Mitose in 2008.
Sensei Jason Benjamin Cortez, aka Sensei JJ, has been training in the Martial Arts since the age of 8 years old. He is the center child of Sensei Jason G. and Lillie Cortez. He received his Shodan Black Belt on his 16th Birthday, which is the youngest age that any Kosho Ryu Practitioner may receive their Shodan Black. This was in 2008. Sensei JJ attended East Union High School in Manteca and was on the EU Lancers Wrestling Team as a Varsity Wrestler for 4 years. He is currently wrestling for Modesto Junior College. Sensei JJ also received his Blue Belt in Gracie Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu from Master Charles Gracie in July 2011. He has been training at the Cortez Martial Arts Gracie Affiliate Academy in BJJ under his father Sensei Jason G. Cortez. Sensei JJ teaches Kenpo classes and assists in the Kids and Youth Jiu-Jitsu Classes at the Academy.
Mr. Mike Lucero is the current Instructor's Assistant of the Team Tigers Program, he is under the supervision of Sensei Larry Acaya. He started his Kenpo training under Sensei Jason Cortez in 2008 and has shown himself to be quite an asset to the Academy. His desire to learn and help out make him a vital part of our Dojo. He currently holds a BROWN BELT in Kosho-Ryu, but he also does a lot of extra training with Sensei Jason and Mr. Lopez. Mr. Mike Lucero’s goal is to obtain his Shodan Black Belt under Sensei Jason Cortez in the art of Kosho-Ryu Kenpo. He is doing a great job with the Team Tigers Class-not an easy task, but he does make it look easy. We are proud of the progress the class is making under his direction.
Sensei Albert Medina started off in martial arts like every other kid. At the young age of seven he was introduced to West Coast Tae Kwon Do, under the instruction of, Ernie Reyes Sr. He continued the art until moving to Manteca, CA. In 2001, at the age of sixteen, Sensei Albert discovered Cortez Martial Arts Academy and became a student under Sensei Jason Cortez. There he learned the art of Kenpo under Soke Thomas Barro Mitose’s Kosho-Ryu System as taught by Sensei Jason. Sensei Albert received his Black belt in Kosho-Ryu Kenpo in July of 2008. Sensei Albert is now leading a sparring class on Saturdays at Cortez Martial Arts. Sensei Albert’s goal is to help his sparring students achieve their short and long term goals by keeping them focused, disciplined and motivated. He is also continuing to further his martial arts training under Master Charles Gracie in Gracie Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Keep up the Training Sensei Albert!!
Sensei Deanna Medek started training in Kosho-Ryu Kenpo at the young age of 8 years old. She has continued in her pursuit of her original goal, which was to obtain her “Shodan Black Belt”. Sensei Deanna achived that goal in June 2010 when she was presented with her Black Belt Certificate by Soke Thomas B. Mitose. Sensei Deanna comes from a very supportive family which consists of her parents Dean and Cheryl Medek along with her 2 siblings. She is a member of the Black Belt Club, she assists Sensei Albert with the Saturday Sparring Classes as needed and she is the current Cubs Instructor. We are very proud to have had Deanna as part of our Academy for so many years. She is the first female to achieve her Shodan Black Belt here at Cortez Martial Arts. Her loyalty and hard work have definitely paid off.
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Every member of our instructor team is approachable, caring, and possesses a true love for teaching martial arts. After taking just a few lessons, you will see why CORTEZ MARTIAL ARTS is the BEST choice in Martial Arts Instruction.
In 2001, Sensei Jason and Soke felt that Jason should open a Kosho-Ryu School in Manteca. With the help of Soke Mitose,Sensei’s parents, Sensei's wife and children, the Cortez Dojo of Mitose's Kosho-Ryu Karate Kenpo Academy was opened in September 2001 in the Raley’s Shopping Center. We have since changed our name to CORTEZ MARTIAL ARTS ACADEMY as we added Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in 2007. In the art of Kenpo- Sensei Jason is an International Champion in Forms and Self-Defense. He holds various belt titles for Local, State and National Events in Forms, Fighting and Self-Defense.
Professor Bernard Cortez (Sensei Jason’s father) has been an Instructor in the Martial Arts since the early 60’s. He enjoys teaching the Adult Students practical, street self-defense. His training began in Hawaii, under the late Great Grandmaster Joe Halbuna. Sensei Bernard was Mr. Halbuna’s 1st Black Belt, he is now a 7th degree Black Belt in Kajukenbo, he also holds a Black Belt under Soke Mitose in Kosho-Ryu –2nd degree.
