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 Reinaldo 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.

Anta is the Head of the Southern Shaolin, Hung Gar system in Florida.

Martial Arts and Fitness Certifications:

Hung Gar Master
Haganah F.I.G.H.T. (Fierce Israeli Guerrilla Hand to hand Tactics)
SABER Edge Weapons Combatives
Battling Ropes
Fitness Kickboxing
Kardio Karate
ISSA Fitness Instructor (Personal Trainer)
Kettlebell Concepts Kettlebell Instructor
IYCA (International Youth Conditioning Association) Youth Fitness Specialist
ISKA MMA Referee
National Security Agency certified Child Safety Agent
Dr. Terrence Webster-Doyle Martial Arts for Peace Bully Buster instructor
ACMA (American Council of Martial Arts) certified Martial Arts Instructor by the Copper Institute
Dr Ben Lerner’s Maximized Living Mentor
ICS Fitness and Nutrition Instructor
Pilates Physical Minds Institute
All American Pilates
Authorized Steal Proof Master (Anti Child Abduction and Safety) Presenter
Serrada Escrima Apprentice Instructor
He has also cross trained in Boxing, Kickboxing, Tai Chi and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. He trained under Boxing and Kickboxing World Champion James Warring and under Boxing and Kickboxing instructor Eufracio Gonzalez who is currently the trainer of numerous professional World Boxing champions.

Awards/Organizations:

-2008 ICSDA Florida State Representative
-2007 ICSDA (International Combat Self Defense Association) Advisory Board
-2006 United States Martial Arts Hall of Fame Kung Fu Master
-2006 World Martial Arts Union Hall of Fame Life Achievements
-2006 Miami Dade County Certificate of Appreciation
-2006 Captain of the runners up in the South Florida Dragon Boat Festival 250 Meter Kung Fu Cup
-2005 EFC Black Belt Schools “Outstanding Martial Arts School”
-2005 EFC Black Belt Schools “Hero Award”
-2005 Proclamation “Anta’s Fitness and Self Defense Day” City of Doral
-2004 Miami Dade County “Martial Arts Excellence Award”
-2003 Florida Martial Arts Hall of Fame “Instructor of the Year”
-2003-2004 Co-holders of the World Simultaneous Kicking Record
-1998 Florida PBA Certificate of Appreciation -1983 2nd runner up Jr. Florida Bodybuilding Championships
-1983 2nd runner up Miami Bodybuilding Championship

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

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.

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, City of Doral, 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, the cover of Fytness Fanatik magazine and numerous local, national and international newspapers and magazines. His instructional martial arts and fitness videos can be seen on www.expertvillage.com and www.stretchsport.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, CV Network, Telefutura, Galavision, Today in South Florida, Telemundo’s News, Buenos Dias, Al Rojo Vivo, TVC's Una Hora Contigo, Ch 41 America TeVe News, Quiereme Descalsi, Miami Contigo, Show de Fernando, 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 and Ciudad Doral. His articles have been published in Tae Kwon Do Times, Journal of Asian Martial Arts, Martial Arts Professional, Dragon Boat World, Fytness Fanatiks, NAPMA Now, Doral Planet, Trumpeter Magazines and at his blog http://www.martialartsandfitness.typepad.com. Also go to www.myspace.com/antakungfu and on Facebook search for Anta’s Fitness and Self Defense Group and Julio Anta.

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.

Professor Daniel "Montanha" Nycz De Lima

Professor Montanha started Jiu Jitsu as a child. He is a great example of the benefits Jiu Jitsu path can have for a young person. With over 20 years of Jiu-Jitsu experience, Montanha boasts an exceptional record as both fighter and teacher, able to teach a complete novice or an experienced competitor and help each achieve their personal goals. Whether you want to learn Gracie Jiu Jitsu, self defense or vale tudo MMA submission wrestling, learn from the very best instructor. In addition to teaching athletes, Montanha frequently gives seminars on Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to U.S. law enforcement and military personnel. At Gracie Barra Miami, you will receive the opportunity to spar hands-on with your instructor with or without gi. You'll learn genuine BJJ from a second-degree black belt under the legendary Master Carlos Gracie, Jr.

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