Staff
Mr. Pepper | Mrs. Pepper | Mr. Spivey | Mr. Bentley | Mr. Chan | Mrs. Gilbertson | Mr. Golden | Ms. Wheeler

Mr. Cody Pepper
Third Degree Black Belt

Mr. Pepper has been training in martial arts over half his life and in seven different styles of martial arts. He has earned many titles from state level through world champion. Along with his many martial arts accomplishments he has served as instructor for many years and as Chief instructor for three years in Lawrence Kansas.

Mr. Pepper’s dedication to martial arts has taken him from Kansas, Colorado, Florida, and as far away as New Zealand. He has trained in Go Kan Ryu, Shotokan, Judo/Jui jitsu, Kung Fu/Tai Chi, Krav Maga, Traditional Taekwondo, and most impressively Songahm Taekwondo.

Mr. Pepper has won state champion of Kansas titles six times. Also he holds two national weapons titles, and is the 2004 world champion in forms. Since then he has led 9 Students to be ranked in the top 10 in the world. As much as he loves training he focuses on his teaching.

Mr. Pepper believes children must be taught the skills necessary for success in life. It is so important understand multiple sets of skills. School teaches student academic skills. ATA teaches students Life Skills. Teaching Life and Leadership Skills is Mr. Pepper’s passion.

Mrs. Erica Pepper
Second Degree Black Belt

Mrs. Erica Pepper has been training in Martial Arts for over ten years.  She began her training in the United States Taekwondo Federation where she received a first degree Black Belt.  She is now a second degree Black Belt with the American Taekwondo Association. 

Since joining the Songahm style of the ATA in 2004, Mrs. Pepper has received eight state champion titles and is also the 2006 World Champion in forms.  She is a certified chief instructor and is also certified in teaching the Ssahng Nats (Kamas).  Her specialty is forms.

Mrs. Pepper has been touched by many people in her martial arts career.  Her beginning enthusiasm started with Mr. Buddy Hudson and Mr. Mark Turley.  As she continued, her enthusiasm became a love and that love was fostered by Senior Master Steve Westbrook and Mr. Cody Pepper.  Because of the great influences in her life, Mrs. Pepper has flourished in martial arts and will continue this passion of hers forever.

Due to her life experiences, Mrs. Pepper has made it her goal to positively change the lives of women and children the same way ATA has influenced her.  Her vision in martial arts includes creating confidence in women to achieve their goals.  After training with Mr. Cody Pepper for over three years, she decided to continue her life with him in Oklahoma where they maintain the vision they started so long ago.

Mr. Brandt Spivey
First Degree Black Belt

Mr. Brandt Spivey came into ATA for the first time when the Edmond school was opened. He started the same way many of our adult students get started, enrolling his daughter first.  After a little bit of prodding he jumped out on the floor with the other parents.  Soon, he was attending private classes with Mr. Pepper and spending a lot of his free time at the school helping out in classes.  In November of 2006 he became an employee of the school and continuing with the private classes every morning and helping in classes every night he moved through his belts.  Now as a member of our selected C.I.T. (Certified Instructor Training) program he and a few other students are gaining certification levels to become ATA Certified Instructors.  Currently he is a Level 1 Certified instructor, a 1st degree black belt and 2006 State Champion is Sparring. He enjoys the challenge of perfection in forms, endurance and artistic mastery of weapons, but most of all it’s the people connection and the idea of waking up every morning and knowing he is helping to make a difference in someone’s life in a positive way he enjoys the most.  His responsibilities at ATA are assisting Mr. Pepper in the Life Skills Office and Staff /Instructor support.  

Mr. Robert Bentley
Third Degree Black Belt

Mr. Bentley began his martial arts career in 1996 in under the instruction of Mr. Edwards in Hannibal, MO.  In 1998 he earned his 1st Degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do and began the ATA’s instructor training program.  In 2001 he earned his 2nd Degree, and he became the first Missouri State Champion in both forms and weapons.  In 2002, Mr. Bentley joined the United States Army and began teaching Hand-2-Hand combat to his unit in St. Louis, MO.  Through the military, he was able to cross-train in styles such as Muay Thai and Krav Maga.  In 2004, Mr. Bentley met Mr. Pepper through competitions in the ATA, and the two of them became great friends.  Later that year, he earned his 3rd degree black belt.  In 2005, Mr. Bentley began training in the Haganah system under the instruction of Mike Lee Kanarek.  He became certified in the F.I.G.H.T. system as well as Israeli Tactical Knife Fighting, and Ground Survival.    In 2006, Mr. Bentley also began teaching Fitness Kickboxing & Self-Defense classes at John Wood Community College in Quincy, IL.  In 2007, Mr. Bentley teamed up with Mr. Pepper to open a second location at 150th & Western in the Oklahoma City/Edmond area.  Here he plans to help the community of by teaching; children, teens, and adults of all ages—the Life Skills he has developed throughout his career. 

Mr. Noeu Chan
Fourth Degree Black Belt

Mr. Noeu Chan has been involved in the martial arts for over 15 years.  He started his training in San Diego, CA under Sr. Master Scott Cescolini in 1992 after several bouts with childhood bullies.  Because of this, his brother, Phina Chan, enrolled him in the martial arts in hopes that he would develop better confidence and self-esteem.

Not only did Mr. Chan develop confidence and self-esteem, but he's currently a 4th Degree Black Belt and a certified instructor of the American Taekwondo Association.  He's also certified in many weapons training including Single and Double Nunchukus, Single and Double Escrimas, Kamas, Cane and Tri-Sectional Staff.

Mr. Chan accumulated over 160 trophies and medals over the past 15 years of competition.  He's been in the Top Ten ranking in the world for the past 8 years in a row and has claimed 7 State Champion titles in Kansas and Missouri. In September 2007, Mr. Chan had the opportunity to work with Mr. Pepper and the one and only Team Lifeskills.  Mr. Chan will be managing the 3rd Team Lifeskills location in South Oklahoma City which is scheduled to open in November 2007.  His goal is to make this new school the top school in the nation and create tomorrow's leaders one black belt at a time!

Mrs. Sarah Gilbertson
First Degree Black Belt

Ms. Sarah Gilbertson has been training in The American Taekwondo Association since 2003.  She holds state champion titles in forms, weapons, and sparring for 2004, 2005, and 2007.  In 2007, Mrs. Gilbertson achieved her long-time goal by earning the title of World Champion in weapons.
Ms. Gilbertson loves training in all areas of Taekwondo but has a passion for weapons.  She has been training with Mr. Cody Pepper since 2006 and prior to that she trained with Mrs. Betty Scott in Tulsa, OK.
Ms. Gilbertson’s goals in martial arts are to help children gain the confidence to succeed in all aspects of life and to help young and old become leaders in their communities.

Mr. Jimmy Golden
Second Degree Black Belt

Mr. Jimmy Golden has trained in martial arts for over twelve years. His martial arts training has, in addition to Tae Kwon Do, included boxing, Brazilian jujitsu, and kickboxing. Mr. Golden has trained with Mr. Pepper for over five years and was Mr. Pepper’s first student to achieve the rank of black belt. Mr. Golden also trained with Senior Master Westbrook and Mr. Sean Hernandez in Lawrence, KS, as well as with Mr. Martin and Mr. Collins in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mr. Golden’s competition titles include nine time State Champion in Kansas, 2006 World Champion of Weapons, and 2007 World Champion of Sparring. While he enjoys competing, Mr. Golden’s real goal is to grow in his abilities as an instructor and continue to improve the skills of both himself and his students.

Ms. Ashley Wheeler
Third Degree Black Belt

Ms. Ashley Wheeler has been training in martial arts since 1994. She
started her martial arts training in Rolla, Missouri under Master Mark 
Prosser.
While in high school Ms. Wheeler traveled around Missouri to Cuba, 
Rolla, and Lake of the Ozarks to assist her instructor in classes.  
Because of her hard work and dedication as a teenager, Ms. Wheeler was 
nominated and won Jr.
Trainee of the Year for her region during that time. Ms. Wheeler is
now a third degree black belt and her passion is sparring.  She has
won the title of state champion in Missouri for sparring numerous
times and in addition has been ranked in the top ten in the world in 
sparring.  Ms. Wheeler recently moved to Oklahoma to join Team Life 
Skills. Her goals include being able to open her own schools and to 
change people's lives in a positive way through martial arts. Just as 
our programs have helped her.