Joey Haber is the lead senior instructor and owner of The Flying Tortoise Academy. First exposed to martial arts in 1988 he began teaching in 1999. In the years since he has taught at over a dozen sites including the world renowned Inosanto Academy in Marina Del Ray. His studies have taken him to China, Brazil, California, Japan and Hawaii. His enthusiasm for training opened the doors for both he and Fritz to gain entry to Beijing's Temple of Heaven in 2013 as well as multiple situations that good sense would dictate be avoided. Joey has focused his efforts in Beijing on Baguazhang, Taijiquan, Xingyiquan and Sanda. Joey maintains a close relationship with Oahu based Capoeira Mestre Kinha and holds the rank of Professor. Joey focuses his work at Flying Tortoise on maintaining an authentic Beijing curriculum that is inclusive and supportive of the studio's diverse student base.
Capoeira: Lao Shi Joey’s capoeira rank and name are Professor Santo. He hand his wife, Instrutora Pimenta treasure the relationship they have with their master, Mestre Kinha. They teach all ages 5-100. Good technique, safety and inclusion are central to their capoeira program.
Kate Haber L.Ac. (“Pimenta”). Has been a student of martial arts since 2006. Her favorites are Northern Chinese Kung Fu, which she studied in Beijing with Joey and Capoeira which she still teaches today. What she finds appealing about both these arts is their ability to positively transform the practitioner from the inside out. She has been a Capoeirista since 2009 when she began her studies under Mestre Batata in Los Angeles. In 2021 She and Joey began to work with Mestre Kinha of Capoeira Besouro Hawaii. She likes to refer to capoeira as her 'martial arts soul food': it offers expedient fun, health and community. She runs a rich kids' capoeira program at Flying Tortoise in addition to managing the studio. Please visit Capoeira Besouro Oregon for more info.
Hailing from Mobile, AL, Senna Diaz began her lifelong martial arts career in 1989 at the age of six. For decades she has trained in Seoul, New York, San Francisco, and Portland in a number of internal systems including BaGua, TaiJi, XingYi, BajiQuan, and PiGuaQuan. Sen holds a 4th degree black belt and master instructor rank in the Korean art of Soo Bahk Do and attended 2 weeks of training in Beijing fall of 2016.
Fritz Rice's martial art career started early and has spanned practice in art form mother countries from India to China. His friendship with Joey as well as his knowledge of Beijing language and culture have propelled Flying Tortoise forwards. In Seattle, Fritz studies Chen TaiJiChuan under Master Derryl Willis. He will be traveling from Seattle to Portland about once a month to teach Chen Tai Chi at Flying Tortoise and offer private lessons.
Holly Ng has been an instructor at River City Warrior since 2015, teaching Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Kali to kids and adults, expanding to online teaching in 2020. She’s been studying Inosanto Kali/JKD for over 12 years and Gracie Jiu-Jitsu for nearly 9 years, currently holding the rank of purple belt under the Pedro Sauer Association.
