Instructors

Julio Anta (Master Instructor)

Julio Anta was born in Cuba in 1957. He arrived in the USA with his parents in 1962. At the tender age of 7 years old he told his father who had Boxed in Cuba that he was going to be a martial artist and a bodybuilder when he grew up. His father supported the idea 100%. As a boy he loved to see Steve Reeves Hercules Movies and later Bruce Lee in the Green Hornet inspired him. Yet, in the 70's after seeing the Kung Fu TV series and the Bruce Lee movies he knew that he had to do Kung Fu. Anta has been a practitioner of the martial arts since 1972 and began serious bodybuilding in 1975. Julio's first martial art training began with Judo at the Florida Judo Kai in Hialeah under the tutelage of Cuban Judo great Montpellier.

He later studied Karate under different instructors. In 1974 he witnessed his first Kung Fu class and began training in Hung Gar.His teacher returned to NY and Anta trained in numerous styles of Karate Japanese, American, Okinawan and Korean (Tae Kwon Do). Yet, his true love was the reality based style of Southern Shaolin, Hung Gar Kung Fu. In the early nineties Anta found his instructor again and began training in Kung Fu until he earned his Black Sash and began teaching. Today he holds the rank of Hung Gar Kung Fu Master under Grand Master William J. Chung of New York, and the National Hip Sing Association. He is Grand Master Chung’s personal representative in the South East United States. Grand Master Chung is a Personal Disciple of Southern Shaolin Abbot Chang Ding Fujian Province Quanzhou Southern Shaolin Temple. Anta owns one of South Florida's most successful martial arts and fitness centers fulfilling his childhood dreams.

With Shik Kin of Enter the Dragon 1975	United States Marine Corps 1980
Body Building 1983	Officer Department of Corrections Early 1990's

Anta is the Head of the Southern Shaolin, Hung Gar system in Florida. Julio is also fully certified in the Israeli Special Forces discipline of Haganah F.I.G.H.T. (Fierce Israeli Guerrilla Hand to hand Tactics) and SABER Edge Weapons Combatives. He has cross trained in Boxing, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Kickboxing. Anta is currently NAPMA's (National Association of Professional Martial Artist) NSSN (National School Support Network) representative for the state of Florida. NAPMA is the world's largest professional martial arts association. He is also on the Executive Board of the World Martial Arts Union. He is a the Florida state representative of the ICSDA (International Combatives Self Defense Association) an organization for realty based street defense. Mr. Anta was inducted in the Florida Martial Arts Hall of Fame in Orlando in 2003 as the Instructor of the Year. He was also awarded the County Commissioner Jose “Pepe” Diaz, Miami Dade County Award for Martial Arts Excellence in 2004. In 2005 he was awarded the EFC Black Belt Schools “Hero Award” and “Outstanding Martial Arts School Award.” In 2006 he was awarded the United States Martial Arts Hall of Fame Instructor Kung Fu Master and was inducted into the World Martial Arts Union’s Hall of Fame for his lifetime achievements. In 2006 he was awarded the Miami Dade County Certificate of Appreciation by Commissioner Jose “Pepe” Diaz and in 2007 he was also awarded the Miami Dade County’s Certificate of Appreciation by Commissioner Rebeca Sosa.

Julio has been certified in Kardio Kickboxing and by NAPMA in Fitness Kickboxing. He is also the only instructor in South Florida fully certified by Dr. Terrence Webster-Doyle as a Martial Arts for Peace Bully Buster instructor. Master Anta is a National Security Agency certified Child Safety Agent and a Steal Proof Master (Anti Child Abduction and Safety) instructor. He is an ACMA (American Council of Martial Arts) certified Martial Arts Instructor by the Copper Institute. Anta served as a Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps Reserves. He served ten years as a Florida State Department of Corrections Officer and was a certified FDLE (Florida Department of Law Enforcement) Instructor. Anta a competitive bodybuilder in the eighties who was a runner up in the Jr. Mr. Florida and Mr. Miami is also a certified ISSA Fitness Instructor, Kettlebell Instructor by Kettlebell Concepts, Maximized Living Mentor, ICS Fitness and Nutrition Instructor and certified in Pilates by the Physical Minds Institute and All American Pilates.

In 2007 he was the weekly fitness expert on America TeVe’s Quiereme Descalsi TV Show. In 2004 Julio Anta hosted Aleph TeVe's Self Defense Tip on Pax TV. He has conducted demonstrations and seminars at numerous schools, churches, festivals, Boy Scouts of America, Corrections USA, Parrot Jungle, Southern Command, movie theaters, America TeVe's Festival Navideno and Pro-Player Stadium, in South Florida, North Carolina and in Detroit Michigan. Anta was a speaker at the annual NAPMA World Martial Arts Conference. Mr. Anta was also a speaker at the 2003 ECA World Fitness Conference in Miami assisting in EZ Defense. He has been featured on the cover of Martial Arts Professionals magazine and numerous local, national and international newspapers and magazines. His instructional martial arts and fitness videos can be seen on www.expertvillage.com. He is also the video author of "Anta's Shaolin Physical Conditioning."

Julio has been a guest on Univision’s Control, Despierta America, Noticias 23, Al Amanecer, Primer Impacto, mun2 Fuzion, CBS 4 News, WPLG TV 10 News on ABC. Channel 7 Fox News, Today in South Florida, Telemundo’s News, Buenos Dias, Al Rojo Vivo, TVC's Una Hora Contigo, Ch 41 America TeVe News,Quiereme Descalsi, Pax's Aleph TeVe, TBN Joy in our Town, UMTV News, Telemundo's Al Rojo Vivo, Titulares Y Mas, Deco Drive and numerous other TV shows. Anta a devoted Christian hosted the Fitness Tip of the Week for Metro Life Worship Center in Doral in 2005 where he is a member. Mr. Anta currently writes a column for the Doral Tribune. His articles have been published in Martial Arts Professional, Dragon Boat Times, Fytness Fanatik, NAPMA Now, Doral Planet, Trumpeter Magazines and at his blog http://www.martialartsandfitness.typepad.com.

Elena Anta

Mrs. Anta is a Fitness Kickboxing, Pilates and Self Defense Instructor. She is a certified Aerobics Instructor and a former school teacher. She holds certifications from the Copper Institute and NAPMA in Fitness Kickboxing. Elena is a fully certified Pilates mat and equipment instructor from All American Pilates. She is the head Pilates Instructor and teaches group and private Pilates classes at Anta’s Fitness and Self Defense. Elena is also a certified state of Florida after care director. She has been featured in numerous news papers and magazines. Elena has appeared on Univision’s Despierta America, Primer Impacto, Telemundo’s News, TVC's Una Hora Contigo, The Today Show, WPLG TV 10 News and on Channel 7 Fox News. In 2006 she was awarded EFC Black Belt School's Programs director of the Year.

Regis Lemus

He is a 3rd Degree Black Belt in Judo and a Brazilian National and International Champion. Regis has also crossed trained in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu holding the rank of Brown Belt and Sambo. Mr. Lemos started training at 4 and winning Judo competitions by age 5. Since turning professional he has won 5 Brazilian National Judo Championships and numerous state and regional championships. He has traveled the world competing and has won 8 International Judo tournaments. He ran one of the most successful and prosperous Judo schools in Brazil training numerous champions.

Isidro Alfonso

Isidro Alfonso is Anta's Fitness and Self Defense's Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) Instructor. Isidro is a former Cuban National Wrestling and Sambo Champion. He has trainer National and World Champion Wrestlers and MMA fighters

Sergio Betancourt

Mr. Betancourt has been a student of the martial arts since the age of 9. Along the way, he studied Judo, Karate, Tae Kwon Do, and Aikido. Since 1993 he has studied numerous Kung Fu styles including Hung Gar, Southern Praying Mantis, Chen Style Tai Chi Chuan, I Chuan, Hsing I Chuan, and Bagua Zhang. Since 1995 his studies have focussed primarily on the arts of Chen Tai Chi Chuan and Hsing I Chuan, and since 2000, he has been a student of Yan Gaofei, honing his focus on the internal Chinese martial arts of Chen Style Tai Chi Chuan, Hebei and Shanxi Hsing I Chuan, and Hsin I Liu He Chuan. Additionally, he enjoys spending his time sharing and cross training with students of other styles including Karate, Aikido, Aiki Jujutsu, Jujutsu, Philipino Martial Arts, Wing Chun Kung Fu, Western Boxing, Hung Gar Kung Fu, and Southern Praying Mantis Kung Fu.

Julio D. Anta

Julio D. Anta a third generation martial artist. He has been training since he was 4 years old. His grandfather Julio C. Anta boxed in Cuba, His father Julio G. Anta is a Kung Fu Master. Julio D. is a Black Sash instructor. He is a senior at Miami Christian High School. Julio teaches the traditional Lion Dance Instruments, the drum, gong and cymbals. He also assists in the children's class and teaches grappling and weapons. Julio has won numerous open martial arts tournaments in sparring, forms and weapons. In his first year wrestling for the Doral Middle School he placed third in the district and was awarded the Most Improved Wrestler. He plays soccer for Miami Christian School. Julio is a writer for Outloud magazine, forthesound.com and indievisionmusic.com. This summer he interned at ESPN En Espanol.

Mention this website to schedule a free introductory lesson with any of our success coaches at Anta's Fitness and Self Defense, 10721 NW 58 St. Miami, FL 305 599-3649 or email us at FitDef@aol.com