Head Instructor

Sensei Tim Urrutia started training in martial arts when Gerald Ford was president, Margaret Thatcher was prime minister, and disco was king. He’s that guy who has forgotten more about martial arts than many of us will learn in a lifetime, though he would say the same thing about the people who trained him.

You’ll hear Tim speak often of his teacher “Mr. Leu,” who was himself a student of Grand Master Presas, the founder of Modern Arnis; and Mr. Don Euler, who was as much a father to Tim as he was a teacher of the arts of Kempo, Wing Chun, Hap Ki Do and Taekwondo/Tang Su Do.

Tim also trained with Richard Wyatt Gregory III in the art of Chinese Kempo, and worked extensively with Mike Sherman and Thomas Nehring, the original founders of the Kempo Martial Arts school in Toledo. His expertise covers an impressive array of martial arts styles: Wing Chun, Tai Chi, Kung Fu, Jiu Jitsu, and Karate, which are the major components of Kempo, as well as Tang Su Do, Taijutsu, Modern Arnis, Hap Ki Do, Isshin Ryu,… you get the picture. His Shaolin training alone covered a 10-year period, though you can never really learn all there is to know. (Tim keeps trying, however.)

Sensei Tim is also a master of bad puns. Fortunately, where martial art is concerned, a little levity never hurt anyone. His classes are energetic and fun. Rather than the punitive “old school” approach, Tim teaches through positive reinforcement, handing down generations of knowledge to his many students. Put simply, Tim Urrutia builds better people.

Owner / Instructor

Yes, you can teach an old dog new tricks. No, it’s never too late to learn something new. Heidi stepped onto the path of martial arts in the early 80s. (Back then, personal computers still used floppy disks.) Her first Sensei, Dan Piche, taught her Goju Ryu Karate in Small-Town Northern Ontario. The school encouraged regular competition at various tournaments, including the Crunchie Canadian Nationals event in Ontario, where she placed 3rd in Kumite and 5th in Kata. Her training led to membership in the Yamanaka Kempo Karate-do Federation—a more Kempo-leaning style of Karate. Heidi attended university in Big-City Toronto, home of the YKKF, where she had the opportunity to train with Yamanaka in person.

Alas, sometimes the path takes unexpected turns. After a 30-year hiatus that involved a 9-to-5 career and a lot of yoga, the path led to Toledo in 2019 when Heidi joined Kempo Martial Arts & Fitness. Heidi will tell you that her training offers further evidence that it’s never too late to earn a black belt. She credits her achievements in Kempo to the skill and endless patience of her teachers, Sensei Tim Urrutia and Sensei “Call-Me-Don” Euler.

These days, Heidi is determined to teach Kempo to tiny humans. We call them “Little Dragons.” She says it’s the most fun you can have at the dojo!

Instructor

Dylan Dixon’s training began years ago under the watchful eye of Sensei Amanda Kaufman, a 3rd degree black belt in Shuri Ryu Karate and Okinawan Kobodo. After joining Kempo Martial Arts, Dylan’s training continued in earnest with Gunner Tabb, Tom Nehring, and Sensei Tim Urrutia.

Dylan focuses on boxing, grappling and defensive techniques. In addition to Kempo training at KMA, Dylan studies Jiu Jitsu and has trained with Olympian, Todd Williams. Having a well-rounded education in a variety of martial arts styles is one of the tenets of Ed Parker’s system of Kempo, and Dylan sets that example.

Dylan is a fantastic instructor and an exemplary martial artist who we are all certain won’t stop training until they have become a bona fide force of nature!

Instructor

Sensei Charlee has a refreshing, enthusiastic style of teaching that comes from a love of Kempo and martial arts. Her own instructor training began more than six years ago under the guidance and influence of multiple instructors, including our head instructor Sensei Tim— all of whom have noticed her rare natural talent and knack for being a teacher. Charlee is eager to demonstrate self-defense techniques and unique applications for basic moves— thankfully, given the speed and power of which she is capable, she hasn’t had a reason to use her abilities on anyone outside the dojo… yet. Trust us, we don’t advise testing her.

Sensei Charlee is devoted to a lifetime of studying Kempo, among other arts. But aside from the impressive skills she demonstrates in the dojo, Charlee has quite an impressive personal life as well. She is working hard in her academic career and she’s too humble to brag, so we’ll do it for her. Charlee has involved herself in many extra-curricular activities including Cross-Country, competing in Track & Field events, Theater, and the Writing Club. She is an inspiration at KMA Fitness Center to students and staff alike— not only to push yourself physically, but to always grow in knowledge as well.