Ava Santiago

Ava is a powerhouse of inspiration and a natural mentor for teens navigating some of the most important years of personal development. With a black belt in Karate and a background in youth leadership coaching, Ava leads the Next Generation Teens program with purpose, passion, and empathy. She combines technical instruction with mentorship — helping teens not only improve their martial arts skills but also step into confidence, responsibility, and resilience.

Ava is especially passionate about empowering young women and marginalized youth through martial arts. Her classes emphasize emotional intelligence, goal setting, and healthy self-expression alongside advanced techniques and sparring drills. She also spearheads the dojo’s mentorship program, pairing older teens with younger students as role models. In her free time, Ava hosts empowerment workshops, writes poetry, and trains in Muay Thai.