Martial arts, encompassing a wide range of combat styles used by armed forces, police, and adapted for sports, offers numerous physical, mental, and social benefits. It's more than just violence; it's about self-defense, discipline, respect, and control. One notable example is the Twin Tigers Academy of Self-Defense, a karate and kung fu academy catering to individuals of all ages, from children as young as four to adults.
The styles of kung fu taught at Two Tigers Kung Fu Academy include Shaolin, Shuai Chiao (Chinese style wrestling), Sanshou (Chinese kickboxing), and Tai Chi. Each style incorporates kicking, punching, throwing, and joint-locking techniques.
The Journey of Heber Carrillo
Heber Carrillo's lifelong passion for martial arts began in his childhood, inspired by Bruce Lee. After serving in the United States Air Force during Desert Shield and Desert Storm, Heber pursued his passion and opened his first karate school in South San Francisco in 1992. His dedication led to rapid growth, expanding from 12 to 158 students in just two years. "I was training five days a week; I lived and breathed martial arts," said Heber.
However, a car accident forced Heber to take a break, and his studio was unfortunately closed. This led him to a career in sheet metal to support his family. From 1995 to 2008, Heber attended sheet metal school, worked for a sheet metal company, worked for United Airlines, and taught karate. “During that period, I worked seven days a week nonstop.” Sheet metal was never Heber’s passion; it was simply a necessary step to provide for his growing family.
In 2005, Heber seized the opportunity to take over a karate studio in Brentwood, driven by his desire to return to his true calling and teach his children. With the help of his son, Daniel, and his wife, Evelynn, he started small. Then in 2007 Twin Tigers expanded to two suites in the same center, increasing to 3,600 square feet. Now Heber’s studio is in an 8,700 square foot space at the opposite end of the same business center.
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Twin Tigers Academy of Self-Defense
Twin Tigers Academy of Self-Defense is a karate and kung fu academy that teaches children as young as four years old, all the way up to adults. “Karate is known for its hard style, where kung fu is more of deflection that requires less power,” said Heber. “Kung fu is much more effective for women, kids and smaller adult men.”
The academy offers a variety of classes tailored to different age groups:
- Tiny Tigers: For children aged four and five, focusing on basic drills, coordination, punching, blocking, movement, and focus.
- Children’s Class: For ages six to 12, focusing on self-defense, movement, and core development for balance.
- Teenage and Adult Class: For anyone 13 years and above, building discipline, respect, control, self-esteem, and confidence. For adults, it’s about developing your core and your balance, which are important skills for everyone to learn.
In addition to the variety of classes available for a wide range of ages, Twin Tigers also offers private self-defense courses for businesses or small groups, which can be anywhere from a one day to three-week course. “We’re very open to what the needs are and can accommodate/modify to anyone’s special medical conditions,” said Heber. “I highly recommend it for women especially.”
Family Affair
The studio has continued to be a family affair. Heber’s son Daniel is involved in the graphic design and photography, his daughter Jessica works at the front desk, and daughter Kristi is a Sensei. All three of Heber’s children have trained in karate, his son and daughter Jessica achieving brown belts. Sensei Kristi continues to train as well as instruct classes at Twin Tigers. “Kristi is highly skilled and better than I was at her age in many ways,” said Heber. “She’s a second-degree black belt and trains like I did in my early 20s. She has that drive and her technique is incredibly clean.”
Heber is a fourth-degree black belt in his style of karate but has seven black belts altogether. “Black belts go up to tenth-degree, which is Grand Master. There is only one per system, and we have ours in Twin Dragon Kun-Fu Academy in San Carlos, instructed by Sijo John Olivia.
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Imperial Tiger Kung Fu
Imperial Tiger Style Kung Fu is a combat level martial art taught at Imperial Combat Arts school in Denver Colorado. Tiger masters at Imperial Combat Arts train and master 5 distinct styles of Tiger Kung Fu, and several sub-styles, that come together seamlessly as one complete Mixed Martial Art. These styles allow any size of fighter to master Tiger, and give Tiger Masters the ability to fight any size or type of fighter they encounter, both armed an unarmed.
The five distinct styles are:
- Nothern Tiger Kung Fu: masters can power through the strongest defenses, killing with a single strike or grip, and can tear out the throat of an opponent.
- Shanghai Tiger Kung Fu: a more intelligent interpretation of Tiger with training and development put into each individual digit of the hand for single finger and thumb strikes to vital points as well as gripping and chin na not found in our other Tiger styles.
- Southern Tiger Kung Fu: the fastest a lightest Tiger Kung Fu style at Imperial Combat Arts.
- Black Tiger Kung Fu: trains to the highest levels all of the stealth, ambush, and guerrilla tactics of true combat level Tiger Kung Fu.
- Imperial White Tiger Kung Fu: is most noted for its extensive matching with one arm and in legend was incorporated into our arts as a sub style for combat amputees.
Animal Kung Fu Styles
There are numerous Animal Kung Fu Styles trained in Chinese Martial Arts, most people only know of the 5 or 8 most commonly practiced styles in mainstream Kung Fu, and even online research today will only produce minimal information on a handful more. Through our own unique martial history Imperial Combat Arts teaches numerous Animal Kung Fu styles as Sub-styles of the Eight Imperial Animals. The particular sub-styles attached to each Animal directly complement the main style, and share similar modes of movement, toughening, and weapons allowing masters to quickly learn additional martial arts styles that are similar in nature to their own.
Bear Kung Fu is a powerful grappling style that incorporates the toughening, strikes, claws, ripping, and throat crushing grips of Tiger into standing chin na, wrestling, and grappling.
Rhino Kung Fu and Bull Kung Fu both add some of the most powerful fist and knuckle strikes into Tigers already powerful style.
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To master Imperial Tiger Kung Fu our practitioners develop the highest levels of hand toughening, leg toughening, and body conditioning. There are numerous challenging exercises, forms, hundreds of sets for strikes, kicks, throws, and chin na, and of course matching.
Taekwondo at Twin Tigers
Tae Kwon Do is a traditional martial art from Korea dating back to ancient times. Tae Kwon Do is known for its amazing kicks, traditional forms, and is an official Olympic Sport. Its governing body is the World Taekwondo Federation in Seoul, South Korea. In addition to being a full-body workout, Tae kwon Do prides itself in developing character in its practitioners. Tae Kwon Do teachings are based on 5 tenets: Courtesy, Integrity, Perseverance, Self-Control, Indomitable Spirit.
The teen program ages 12 -17 at Twin Tigers is very popular. Benefits include those listed under the children's program as well as:
- Improved confidence & self-image
- Increased physical fitness level to enhance high school athletic performance
- Recreational & National team training
- Self-defense/life skills for pre-college students
- Leadership training & instructor opportunities.
Benefits of Martial Arts
Martial arts classes offer a multitude of benefits for individuals of all ages. For children, it builds discipline, respect, control, self-esteem, and confidence. For adults, it develops core strength and balance. Martial arts training also provides valuable social skills, coordination, physical fitness, and mental strength.
Here's a summary of the benefits of martial arts classes:
| Age Group | Benefits |
|---|---|
| Children | Improved self-esteem, focus, fitness, social skills, and self-defense techniques |
| Teens | Enhanced confidence, physical fitness, self-defense skills, and leadership opportunities |
| Adults | Development of core strength, balance, and overall fitness |
Twin Tigers Academy of Self-Defense represents a legacy of passion, dedication, and family involvement in the world of martial arts. From its humble beginnings to its current status, the academy continues to impact lives and promote the values of discipline, respect, and self-defense.