About the People
Master Javier Andres Duque
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Master Javier Andres Duque began practicing martial arts in 1980 and hapkido and taekwondo in 1982, and has been teaching both since he earned master level rank in 1995. Back in his home country of Chile, he ran his first martial arts school as part of a city athletic program for the community. There, he taught martial arts skills to at-risk kids in order to help them build better lives and make positive changes for their futures. Master Duque also worked in the pharmaceutical industry in Chile for 10 years, specializing in marketing and scientific descriptions of cardiology, rheumatology, and sports medicine products. He organized technical presentations at hospitals and clinics for directors and surgeons.
Master Duque moved to Ottawa in 2003 and opened DIMA in 2005. As the head master of DIMA, he has dedicated himself to continuing to help people improve their lives through martial arts. Not only does Master Duque work with each of his students to improve their physical fitness and mental discipline, but he has also hosted fundraisers, volunteered at a homeless shelter, and recruited students to work for nonprofit organizations, among many other events that help students become well-rounded, caring, and compassionate individuals. Most recently, he is working to teach taekwondo to underserved children in Uganda through the Fight For Your Dreams project. He is dedicated to inspiring students to become true humanitarians as well as professional black belts in martial arts. |
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Our Instructors
All of our instructors are internationally licensed and have passed rigorous background checks. Each has multiple years of martial arts instruction experience and are dedicated to helping you and/or your children learn taekwondo and hapkido.
Taekwondo Staff Instructors
Rebecca Hess
3nd Dan, Taekwondo |
Nicholas Underhill
2nd Dan, Taekwondo
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Jennifer Bauer
2nd Dan, Taekwondo
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Emilie Gibbs
2nd Dan, Taekwondo |
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Rebecca joined DIMA in 2008 and began teaching in 2016. She is currently training for her 4th dan to become a taekwondo master.
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Hapkido Staff Instructors
Master Steven Gonzalo
5th Dan, Hapkido Master Steven has been doing hapkido since the school opened in 2005 - in fact, he was the first student to throw a kick at DIMA!
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Benjamin Frey
1st Dan, Hapkido |
Sarah Tracy
1st Dan, Hapkido |
Our Current Black Belts
Our black belts are professional martial artists who are dedicated to the spirit of martial arts. Every black belt who has earned the rank of 1st dan or higher are also considered "kyosanims," or instructors. Many of them assist in classes, and all of them are willing to help students and parents with questions.
Hope Fabris
2nd Dan, Taekwondo
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Erika Sparby
2nd Dan, Taekwondo |
Bailey Legare
2nd Dan, Taekwondo
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Savanna
2nd Dan, Taekwondo |
Charlee Frazer
2nd Dan, Taekwondo
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Rob Fabris
1st Dan, Taekwondo |
Susanne Gibbs
1st Dan, Taekwondo |
Alaina Gibbs
1st Dan, Taekwondo |
Nate Hansen
1st Dan, Taekwondo
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Noah
1st Dan, Taekwondo
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Danny
1st Dan, Taekwondo
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Jack
1st Dan, Taekwondo |
Levi
Black Belt, Taekwondo |
Valentina
Black Belt, Taekwondo |
Lindsey
Black Belt, Taekwondo
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Keagan
Black Belt, Taekwondo |
Certified Former DIMA Black Belts
Over the last 15 years, DIMA has promoted many students to black belt rank. Although these students are no longer active, they are licensed black belts and we want to recognize their accomplishment.
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Jimmy Broyles, 5th dan
Noah Fabris, 4th dan Summer Hoagland-Abernathy, 4th dan Kelly Pandolfi, 4th dan Kathryn Duque, 4th dan Patty Wagner, 3rd dan Nolan, Salaz, 3rd dan Kenny Gray, 2nd dan Kiley Carrigan, 2nd dan Julia Frick, 2nd dan Nick Wiedman, 2nd dan Francesca Dumitrescu, 1st dan Corinne Lindig, 1st dan |
Ron Pohar, 1st dan
Matt Pohar, 1st dan Thomas Reinhardt, 1st dan Ali Bosnich, 1st dan R.J. Cherry, 1st dan Adam Abdur-Rahman, 1st dan Idris Abdur-Rahman, 1st dan Najiyah Abdur-Rahman, 1st dan Riley Maguire, 1st dan Hunter Silver, 1st dan Jacob Silver, 1st dan Kevin Kowalczyk, 1st dan Elsa Clausen, 1st dan |
AJ, 1st dan
Jacob Kennedy, 1st dan Presley Dresen, 1st dan Austin Findley, 1st dan Patrick Sullivan, 1st dan Jenny Sullivan, 1st dan Gabby Lundy, 1st dan Sam Churchill, 1st dan Josh Churchill, 1st dan Brent Sanken, 1st dan Cyndi Snyder, 1st dan Devon Snyder, 1st dan |
Allie Snyder, 1st dan
Trevor Snyder, 1st dan Logan Goetsch, 1st dan Natalie Bursztynsky, 1st dan Amanda Bursztynsky, 1st dan Kara Dudek, 1st dan Kearra Kargle, 1st dan Mykaela Kargle, 1st dan Ryan Nelson, 1st dan Ava, 1st dan Sebastian, Black Belt Tyler, Black Belt |
If you earned a black belt at DIMA but your name is not on the list, please contact Master Duque to have your name added and be recognized for your achievement. In addition, you also have the opportunity to apply for your next black belt rank if you attend promotion test training.
