About Hiruko:
 Our Team

  • Our staff’s diverse experiences have been thoughtfully integrated into the Hiruko system. Hiruko draws out the creative application of staff expertise in developing curriculum and educational programs, pedagogical practices, teaching styles, assessment methods, and community building.

    Angela Booker, Curriculum and Integration Specialist, Instructor, Co-founder
    Evan Gridley, Instructor
    Jonathan Larsen, Head Instructor
    Danielle Peshkin, Instructor
    Noam Steinhart, Instructor
    Jorge Gabrea Tejada, Master of Instruction and Discovery, Co-founder
    Natalia Gabrea Tejada, Executive Director, Instructor, Co-founder
    Gilbert Tinoco, Instructor

    Angela Booker

    holds a 3rd degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do. Angela spent three years working as a research assistant and community outreach coordinator for the Institute for Research on Learning (IRL), where she gained valuable experience in educational design, evaluation and community development. Following her time at IRL, she served as the Children’s Program Manager at Plugged In, a community-technology center in East Palo Alto, CA. She was responsible for program development, curriculum design and implementation. Angela holds a doctorate degree from the Stanford University’s School of Education, where she is currently a lecturer. She is also studying Qigong and Jin Shin Jyutsu, a hands-on healing art that combines a healing philosophy with techniques similar to those used in acupressure. Angela holds a B.A. in Sociology Stanford University.

    Evan Gridley

    began training in the martial arts in 1983. He is a formal disciple of Grandmaster Wing Lam, with whom he has studied since 1999. He also holds a 1st degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do from Hiruko, and previously competed with the Cornell University Tae Kwon Do team. His passions include exploring and discovering the principles of the body and mind, and sharing them with others. He was a founding member of a successful Internet startup, is a 10+ year veteran of Microsoft, and now runs his own Web and Mobile design and development company. He is also an experienced photographer, a trained personal coach, a vegan, and not least a very happy husband and father of two.

    Jonathan Larsen

    holds both 2nd and 3rd degree Black Belts in Tae Kwon Do, from the Ernie Reyes’ West Coast Association and Hiruko respectively. He has been training since 1997, and is currently a senior at Los Altos High School. Jonathan enjoys teaching martial arts because it not only allows him to pass the art on to new students, but it also allows him to perfect his own technique.

    Danielle Peshkin

    was introduced to martial arts at age 6 by her step father, Wai-Kwong, and immediately fell in love with Japanese karate. Growing up, she and her family spent most evenings at Thousand Waves Martial Arts and Self Defense Center in Chicago. At Thousand Waves, Danielle learned to see martial arts as a way to illuminate the roots of violence and to cross borders; she later spent two years in Israel/Palestine, where she taught karate to girls in Dheishe Refugee Camp and in Abu Dis, East Jerusalem. After graduating from New York University in 2010, Danielle moved to California to continue her education at Mills College, and is excited to be a part of the Hiruko community.

    Noam Steinhart

    holds a 1st degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do from Hiruko. She has been training since 2005, and is currently starting her third year at Sonoma State University. Noam enjoys cooking, art, and loves helping people be the best they can be. She loves seeing how every Hiruko student is the change we wish to see in the world.

    Jorge Gabrea Tejada

    started his training in 1989 and has been teaching since 1991. He holds a 4th degree Black Belt from the Ernie Reyes’ West Coast Martial Arts Association. As a top West Coast form competitor, Jorge has dominated the men’s black belt division and has won the Grand Champion title at the 15th Annual Open Tae Kwon Do Championships in 1996. He is an alumnus of the world renowned Next Generation Demonstration Team. Jorge is passionate about alternative methods of healing and loves to focus his attention on teaching the physical, emotional, and mental healing aspects of martial arts. Jorge complements his teaching experience with Asian healing arts courses, most recently at the Acupressure Institute in Berkeley, CA.

    Natalia Gabrea Tejada

    holds a 3rd degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do. Natalia’s life has always been infused with competitive sports and movement including basketball, tennis, and classical ballet. She spent time at the YMCA in Palo Alto as a Healthy Lifestyles Counselor and girls and boys basketball coach. Natalia, a Stanford University graduate, is a passionate social-entrepreneur with a strong love for children. She holds a MBA from the Haas School of Management at U.C. Berkeley with a focus on social-entrepreneurship. Natalia is a Certified Qigong and Tai Chi Instructor from the Institute of Integral Qigong and Tai Chi in Santa Barbara, CA.

    Gilbert Tinoco

    holds a 3rd degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do from Hiruko. He started Martial Arts in 1996 and in 2002 started Teaching. He later achieved the level of Blackbelt in 2003 at the age of 13. In 2005 he started competing in sport karate tournaments all over the U.S for a national karate team. He also began training Tae Kwon Do during that year. In 2006 he won the World championship for the 16-17 year old sparring division. He has worked for some non- profit organizations teaching martial arts and as a mentor for young children. He has trained in many different martial arts, all over the Bay area including Shotokan Karate, Boxing, and Brazilian Jiu jitsu. His passion is teaching martial arts, it is what he loves doing. It makes him want to become better at whatever it is he's doing. He loves helping people, trying to accomplish goals. Coming to Hiruko has made his Martial arts experience so much more special. He also feels this is a great fit with his passion.

     

    Photo Credits:


    Philippe Cailloux
    Chi Huang
    Nicole Scarborough
    Darren Dorrell
    Gretchen Wyatt
    Natalia Gabrea

  • Our dedicated team of advisors contributes a wide range of expertise on an ongoing basis including:

    • Oriental medicine including acupuncture, herbal therapy, Qi Gong and Tai Chi
    • Alternative medicine, holistic health, and healing publications
    • Nutrition expertise
    • Immunology and conventional medicine
    • Extensive athletic coaching experience
    • Comprehensive school teaching experience, grades K-12
    • After school programming for children

    Roger Jahnke

    , OMD, has 25 years clinical practice in acupuncture, Tui Na, herbal pharmacology and Qigong, and eight research trips to the hospitals, temples and sacred sites in China. He is the founder and director of the Institute of Integral Qigong and Tai Chi (IIQTC), which has over 100 certified instructors throughout the US, Canada and Central America. He is the author of several books: The Healer Within, used in hospitals, clinics, spas and retreat centers; and his most recent, The Healing Promise of Qi, which has become an instant classic in the emerging literature of Qigong and Tai Chi in Western cultures. The IIQTC recently completed a ground breaking study of Qigong practice with elders in collaboration with the National Council on Aging and is engaged in numerous projects for bringing Qi (Chi) cultivation to schools, prisons, corporations as well as hospitals and clinics.

    Bruce Yamamoto

    has worked with entrepreneurs and small companies throughout his career and has strategic experience in operations, project management, and technology. At North Lawn Ventures, Bruce has focused on operational and sales projects, including fulfillment logistics and sales team management. Bruce launched and managed Petstore.com's Affiliate Program and implemented online marketing campaigns, and also worked as a project manager for Pacific Bay Homes, where he managed a $350MM fund and developed over 1,000 single-family homes in Northern California. He also created business plans for new home communities in Newport Beach, Sacramento and Benicia with aggregate budgets exceeding $500 million. In addition, Bruce designed and implemented ERP systems for a successful entrepreneurial venture in Berkeley. He is an avid mountain biker, snowboarder, and basketball player. Bruce has a Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources Economics from University of California at Berkeley and an MBA from The Anderson School at UCLA.

    Ana Gabrea

    is a former research scientist with the National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health, in Bethesda, Maryland. Her research has focuses on genetic abnormalities of plasma cells in Multiple Myeloma cancer patients. She is the author of four scientific articles and has presented her findings at national and international meetings. Dr. Gabrea's interests extend beyond the study of disease at the cellular and molecular level to the effects the environment has on the individual's state of wellbeing. In her spare time, she enjoys doing basic immunology workshops for parents, so they can make informed decisions about their children's immunization. She is the proud mother of an energetic boy.

    Audrey Yamamoto

    is currently Zeum?s Chief Executive Officer, a role she assumed after serving in various roles over the past five years, including Director of Marketing & Development and Director of Programs & Experience. Prior to joining Zeum, she served as the Chief Operating Officer and Director of Development at Plugged In, an innovative East Palo Alto community technology center. Audrey?s private sector experience includes working as the Senior Director of Business Development for RemitNet, where she developed strategic corporate partnerships and products for nonprofit organizations, as well as management positions of increasing responsibility at Pacific Bell (now SBC). Audrey holds an MBA with an emphasis in entrepreneurial studies and nonprofit management from the Anderson School, University of California, Los Angeles and a B.A. in economics from the University of California, San Diego. She is an interim board member of the Yerba Buena Community Benefit District, the Fifth & Mission Yerba Buena Garage and a member of the Arts Advisory Committee for the Yerba Buena Gardens Festival. She resides in Oakland with her husband and two young sons.

    Stacy Parson

    uses an approach of “grounded innovation” - the action-orientation of a consultant with the reflective, discovery-based methods of a coach - to support people in making the shift from being High Achievers to becoming Happy High Achievers. She encourages people to challenge their status quo in order to increase their impact, influence, and satisfaction. Ultimately, her clients experience more energy, more purpose, and more personal and professional success. They experience Knowetry - the art of knowing and being yourself. She wants people to leave every encounter with her knowing more about themselves and how they fit into the world. Stacy currently leads professional and career development at Yahoo Inc., and is also Principal of Knowetry Consulting - www.knowetryconsulting.com . She is a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC), has an MBA from the University of Washington, and a degree in Psychology from Stanford University, where she was also a member of the 1990 Women's Basketball National Championship Team. She and her partner live in San Ramon, CA, and have two children with whom they laugh every day.

  • Hiruko is proud to support, sponsor, and work in partnership with the following businesses and organizations.

    The Institute of Integral Qigong and Tai Chi (IIQTC) is dedicated to mobilizing citizens of all ages, professions, economic and social status to accept the responsibility for personal health maintenance and maximization. The primary methodology for this initiative is to help to bring the ancient and sometimes esoteric self-care methods that are associated with traditional Chinese medicine – Tai Chi and Qigong – within the reach of typical American citizens.
     

    Kidpower, Teenpower, Fullpower, International™ (shortened to Kidpower™) is a charitable nonprofit organization founded in Santa Cruz, California in 1989. Our vision is to work together to create cultures of caring, respect, and safety for all. Our mission is to empower people of all ages and abilities by helping them learn how to stay safe, act wisely and believe in themselves. Experts highly recommend the KIDPOWER approach for being positive, practical and relevant for children, teenagers and adults from many different cultures.
     

    stretch.play.yoga offers yoga classes to children of all abilities. Our philosophy is that yoga is a healthy and fun activity for mind and body development in kids.
     

    Meyers Learning Center (MLC) teaches students practical tools to empower and manage themselves while instilling self-confidence and a love of learning. MLC offers one-to-one academic tutoring, coaching, and workshops to youth of diverse ages and learning abilities. We believe in identifying and leveraging every child's natural gifts and capacities. With a holistic, tailored educational approach based on individual strengths, challenges, and goals, students achieve their tremendous potential.
     

    Eat 2 Perform was established to meet the growing and specialized nutritional needs of the Bay Area community. Nutrition impacts the way we perform in all activities of life. Competitive athletes, ballet dancers, executives and parents, are all in need of proper nutrition to maintain and perform in their unique lifestyle. At Eat 2 Perform our goal is to understand your needs, your personality and your body make-up in order to offer realistic and personal solutions to your nutrition and health concerns.