23333 Cinema Drive • Valencia, CA 91355 • 661-255-1114
Jeet Kune Do - Self Defense - Muay Thai - Savate - Qi Gong - Pilates
Edward Monaghan - Head Instructor
JKD-MMA Jeet Kune Do Muay Thai Savate Qi Gong
Both an expert martial artist and a UCLA Professor, Sifu Ed Monaghan is uniquely suited to his role as Head Instructor of Ekata Martial Arts & Fitness, located in Valencia, California.
At UCLA, Professor Monaghan studies the effects of movement-based awareness training on children and adults to improve their ability to focus and learn more effectively. To learn how this research is applied in Ekata Martial Arts & Ftiness Kids Programs, click here. As a professor, he teaches mind/body connectivity through the study of movement in the Department of Theater, Film, and Television, as well as applied exercise science and Eastern philosophy. He is responsible for the physical conditioning of students on a department-wide basis.
As a martial artist, Sifu Ed is a full instructor of Jeet Kune Do, personally trained by Sifu Jerry Poteet, one of Bruce Lee’s original students. Sifu Poteet was designated by Inside Kung Fu magazine as “unquestionably the greatest Jeet Kune Do Instructor in the world.”
Ed has studied a variety of martial arts for over 30 years, holding a black belt or equivalent rank and instructor’s certification in Jeet Kune Do, Savate, Muay Thai, Jiu-Jutsu, Karate and Kung Fu. He has competed in numerous full-contact competitions, including full-contact karate, kickboxing, Savate, Muay Thai and “no rules” tournaments.
He has taught defensive tactics to various police divisions, including the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department and the DEA. He has privatley trained many celebrities, including Val Kilmer, John Malkovitch, Alicia Silverstone, and Julianne Moore, among others.
Certified by the National Academy of Sports Medicine as an Athletic Trainer, Ed was chosen one of America's Top 100 Trainers in 2005 by Men's Journal magazine, and one of the top 5 in Los Angeles.
One of the first women in the United States to receive the coveted rank of “Silver Glove” (Equivalent of Black Belt) in Boxe Francaise Savate and the first female president of the American Federation of Boxe Francaise Savate, JoAnn also possesses instructor’s certification in Muay Thai under Kru Surapuk Jamjuntr and Kru Saekson Janjira and in Jeet Kune Do under Sifu Jerry Poteet and Sifu Fran Joseph.
In 2003 she became the National Champion in Boxe Francaise Savate at the age of 45, and earned second place at the World Championships by winning four fights in one day. Also at this age, JoAnn won two regional championships in a figure competition, as well as the California State Championship Open Division, where she competed against women half her age.
Complementing her martial arts and fitness accomplishments, Sifu JoAnn is a massage therapist and personal fitness trainer.
JoAnn Wabisca - Instructor
Jennifer Dutilly - Instructor
Pilates
Instructors
Assistant Instructors
Red Belt in JKD-MMA
Jeet Kune Do Muay Thai Savate
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Diana Tran - Assistant Instructor
Kahlil Joseph - Assistant Instructor
Red Belt in JKD-MMA
A highly educated and extremely skilled instructor, Jennifer is a Body Arts Science International (BASI) Certified Instructor of Pilates and also a licensed massage therapist.
For the past seven years, Jennifer has performed injury rehabilitation alongside an orthopedic surgeon and physical therapist.
Kahlil moved from India in 2004 to pursue a career as an actor in America. He graduated from UCLA's top-ranked MFA program in 2006. A prolific performer and teacher, Kahlil specializes in teaching children acting and voice. He also holds an academic appointment at UCLA, having been invited back to UCLA as a professor of voice and speech in 2007.
As a martial artist, Kahlil studied karate in India, participating in full contact competitions before coming to the United States. He began to study under Sifu Ed Monaghan in 2004 and holds the rank of brown belt in JKD MMA. He is also a certified Jeet Kune Do instructor and has participated in Muay Thai full-contact bouts.
Diana Tran came to the study of Jeet Kune Do after earning her black belt in Vietnamese martial arts and competing in numerous full contact kickboxing matches. She is currently working on her PhD at UCLA and loves teaching children. Diana also played high school football (that's right, against the boys and she wasn't a kicker) and was captain of UCLA's women's rugby team.