SENSEI ROGER CARLON
Owner and Master

7th Dan WTF Kukkiwon Black Belt
4th Dan Okinawan Karate Black Belt
2nd Dan Hapkido Black Belt
1st Dan Okinawan Kobudo Black Belt
1987 World Wako Open Forms Champion
1985 Midwest Point Sparring Champion
Kukkiwon Certified Instructor

Master Carlon is the owner and operator of West America Tae Kwon Do. He has been running the dojo in Mill Valley since 1983.

He was crowned World Champion in 1987, and was also honored twice by the Pacific Sun as “Teacher of the Year.”

Master Carlon has over 45 years of extensive experience in working with students of all ages. His teaching style is unbeatable - he has keen eyes in bringing out the best potential from his students, and expects no less than 100% of them.

He is the proud father of Chantal and Roger Jr., both multiple-time national champions, and martial artists in their own right.

CHANTAL CARLON
Head Instructor

4th Dan WTF Kukkiwon Black Belt
12-time AAU National Champion
1-time International Hanmadang Champion (1999)
Kukkiwon Certified Instructor

Chantal Carlon began her training at the age of three under her father's guidance. Tae Kwon Do is her passion in life and she continues to train.

She says, "Tae Kwon Do has allowed me to experience so many special experiences like traveling to South Korea and training at the Tae Kwon Do headquarters. I've met so many wonderful people through the dojo and it's really like having an extended family. Tae Kwon Do has truly shaped me to the person I am today."

Chantal is a UC Berkeley f]graduate and is a head instructor at West America Tae Kwon Do.

Chantal takes great pride and joy in teaching her students. Through her nurturing yet strict coaching style, she encourages each student to strive for their personal best.

Outside of running the family business, Chantal loves going on local adventures with her two daughters, husband and two dogs.

ROGER CARLON JR.
Head instructor

4th Dan WTF Kukkiwon Black Belt
9-time AAU National Champion
1-time International Hanmadang Champion (1999)
Kukkiwon Certified Instructor

Roger began his martial arts training at the age of four. 
He had lots of excess energy like most children, and learned at a young age how to channel his enthusiasm into practical training methods. He was initially inspired by Bruce Lee, Ninja Turtles cartoons and Street Fighter video games. And though he still loves those things, he continues to take inspiration from these different formats and try to see the bigger picture, extracting what lessons he can from all sources.

He loves all forms of martial arts, and practices all over the Bay Area. His passion for learning and humor make a dynamic teaching style. He takes a big interest in MMA, Judo, Boxing, and Jiu-Jitsu, as well as all forms of fighting and learning on how to apply all their strengths and techniques to his own style.

He is a head-instructor at West America Tae Kwon Do and says, “Martial arts has been an intricate part of my life. It's allowed me to meet extraordinary people I wouldn't normally have the chance to get to know and take me around the world. To me it's more than an art, or just a way to defend myself, it's a way of life. It’s an honor to be able to pass my knowledge and experience to the students of West America Tae Kwon Do!” 

Patrick Siu
head instructor

4th Dan WTF Kukkiwon Black Belt
6-time AAU National Champion
Kukkiwon Certified Instructor

Patrick started his Tae Kwon Do journey in the most unexpected way. His two sons were young at the time, and they relied on him to take them to their Tae Kwon Do classes. Patrick ended up sitting in the dojo 2 hours everyday. He had lower back pain and exercise was one of the doctor’s prescribed remedy to alleviate the problem. Tae Kwon Do seemed to be the perfect solution. He walked into his first lesson as a white belt, and was immediately hooked by the holistic experience. He had not stopped learning ever since.

Patrick believes learning and teaching is always in tandem, always reciprocal. He believes learning will not be complete until one can impart what he or she has learned to the future generations. It is an assumed mandate as a martial artist to help another fellow martial artist in his or her path to finding the do, the way. That is his mandate, his passion.

Outside of Tae Kwon Do, Patrick enjoys movies and cooking. He has a wicked serve in table tennis that welcomes anyone for a friendly match.