Mr. Edward Stumm started his training in the martial arts when he was 12 years old. He started training at Shin Karate Institute in Philadelphia. PA. He became a member of the SWAT team when he was a blue belt and helped to assist in teaching classes. In 1997 he came to teach for Master DiPietro when he opened East Coast Karate Institute that year. From that point on Mr. Stumm has been a full time instructor, devoting his time and energy to the school. He enjoys being a positive influence in the lives of the students who come here, as his instructors were for him.

     He feels that he owes a great deal to karate as it helped to keep him out of trouble and off the streets when he was younger.

He tested for his 1st degree Black Belt in 1996, when he was 15 years old. After accomplishing that, he set his sights on 2nd degree Black Belt, which he obtained at the age of 17 in 1998. He then went on to receive his 3rd degree black belt in 2001. He now has his sights set on his Master’s Belt.
 

     Ms. Westraad has been training in the martial arts since 1993. She joined East Coast Karate Institute when it opened in 1997, right after moving to the USA from South Africa, and has been with the school since then.

     She started assisting instructing as a SWAT member 1998 and joined ECKI’s full time staff in 1999.

     Ms. Westraad earned her Black Belt in April 2001, her 2nd Degree Black Belt in April 2003 and her 3rd Degree Black Belt in April 2006. She now has her goal set on achieving her Master's Belt.

     She loves teaching all ages and levels of students and finds it very rewarding when a student realizes that no matter how hard something might seem, as long as one puts forth ones best effort, nothing is impossible - in karate, as well as in everyday life.
 

     Mr. Hopson started training in martial arts at the age of 4 and joined East Coast Karate at the age of 9.   He became a member of the SWAT team in 1999.
     He started instructing in 2004.  Mr. Hopson has also been an active member of ECKI's Demo Team.
     He enjoys seeing the development of children physically and mentally because of his own personal changes both physically and mentally due to karate. Mr. Hopson also competes regularly and places quite often.
     He received his Black Belt In September 2001, 2^nd Degree Black Belt in September 2003, his 3^rd Degree in April of 2007.  He has grown to love and is dedicated to Tang Soo Do and the East Coast Karate family.