Here are our instructors...

This page was last updated on 09/12/99.

Master Oren Gautreaux -

Mr. Gautreaux is a Master Instructor who has practiced martial arts for over 25 years. He has studied in the arts of Taekwondo, Hapkido, Judo, Jujitsu and Kobudo. Mr. Gautreaux is the Executive Director at Gautreaux's Martial Arts Center, Inc. located in Blue Springs and has overseen the martial arts program at Penn Valley Community College since 1978. In addition, Mr. Gautreaux has affiliated programs at Basehor Taekwondo, Basehor, Kansas and Wambua Martial Arts in Gardner, Kansas.

Mr. Gautreaux has conducted seminars through lecture and demonstration throughout the United States. He has promoted the art of Taekwondo through national and state championships and by hosting The Kansas City Classic Taekwondo Championship as well as the Intramural Family Tournaments.

Currently Mr. Gautreaux is a United States National Coach and a Certified National Referee for the United States Taekwondo Union. He also holds a position as Vice-President of the National Collegiate Taekwondo Association. Mr. Gautreaux has been involved with the DARE program in Blue Springs since 1992 and is currently President of DARE of Blue Springs, Inc. In 1984, he affiliated his martial arts program with Grandmaster Yong Chin Pak. Grandmaster Pak is one of the most highly recognized martial arts leaders in the United States.

Before Mr. Gautreaux decided to devote himself to helping others achieve excellence through martial arts training, he had achieved many awards himself. These include:

Four time National Taekwondo Champion in four separate weight categories

1976 National Collegiate Taekwondo Champion

1976 AAU Male Competitor of the Year

1977 Taekwondo Man of the Year

1978 Pan-American Taekwondo Champion

1979 North American Champion

1979 World Champion

Mr. Gautreaux and Gautreaux's Martial Arts Center is recognized as one of the leading martial arts schools in the United States by the United States Martial Arts Association.

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Mrs. Terry Gautreaux -

Mrs. Gautreaux has studied Taekwondo since 1980 and currently holds a 4th Degree Black Belt in Taekwondo. She is the Chief Instructor at Gautreaux's Martial Arts Center. Mrs. Gautreaux graduated from Blue Springs High School and went on to graduate from Rockhurst College with a B.A. in Communications and Psychology. Mrs. Gautreaux volunteers much of her time to the DARE program in Blue Springs, Independence and Lees Summit. She enjoys speaking to kids about her Olympic experience and the rewards of setting goals and achieving them. She also has been involved with several community organizations as well as the Special Olympics. Before Mrs. Gautreaux decided to retire from competition and devote her time to helping others achieve their goals in the Martial Arts, she had achieved many awards. These include: 1987-1991 Five time Collegiate National Taekwondo Championship 1989 Gold Medalist at the Olympic Sports Festival 1990 Silver Medalist in the World University Taekwondo Championships, Santander, Spain 1992 Gold Medalist at U.S. National Championships 1992 USTU Female Athlete of the Year 1992 Inducted into the Black Belt Hall of Fame 1992 Bronze Medalist at the 25th Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain 1992 Silver Medalist at the World University Taekwondo Championships, Guadalajara, Mexico 1992 Silver Medalist at the Pan-American Taekwondo Championships, Colorado Springs, Colorado Mrs. Gautreaux enjoys seeing her students excel in a sport that has done so much for her. She believes there is an Olympian in each of her students and that each student has the potential to become their very best, in martial arts and in life.

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Mr. Carl Norris -

Mr. Norris is a 3rd degree black belt.

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Mr. Sam Gilliland -

Mr. Sam is a 2nd degree black belt.

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Ms. Melanie Grove-

Ms. Melanie is a 1st degree black belt.

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Ms. Shannon Keith-

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Ms. Laura Little-

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Felix Figueroa-

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