Founder and chief instructor Dennis Ichikawa has been training in the martial arts for over 50 years. He started training at the Chuck Norris Karate Studio in 1970 and was promoted to the rank of black belt in 1973. Dennis opened up his first martial arts school, Tarzana Karate, in 1974. Fast forward 42 years and he now has over 900 Black Belts, he was promoted to the rank of 9th Degree Black Belt by Pat Johnson on February 11, 2011, and is presently owner and operator of T.O. Westlake Karate Studio with his son Justin.

Justin Ichikawa started training in American Tang Soo Do at the age of 3 under the teachings of Great Grand Master Dennis Ichikawa. He promoted to black belt at age 7 in 1992 and has promoted to the rank of 7th Degree Black Belt. Currently, he is the co-owner and head instructor at the T.O. Westlake Karate  Studio.

Master Becky Clausen began training Tang Soo Do with her two children in 2007. They trained as a family until 2015 and she has continued pursuing the art testing for her master’s belt in 2021. A forms and combat enthusiast, Master Clausen relishes  training as much as sharing these passions with TO Westlake students. She enjoys instructing students of all ages and belt levels and finds great satisfaction in helping others.