NOEL A. CASTILLO : HEAD INSTRUCTOR  

Noel A. Castillo is the Head Instructor at Tiger & Dragon Martial Arts of Kendall in Miami, Florida. He brings a wealth of real world experience and training to the multiple programs that are offered at our location.

Mr. Castillo joined the U.S. Army in 1991 as a Cavalry Scout (Active Duty). He completed his Basic Training & Basic Armored Reconnaissance Training at Fort Knox, Kentucky.

While on active duty he also attended the Jungle Operations/Warfare Course at Fort Sherman, Panama and participated in a J.T.F.6(Counter-drug operations) mission in the southwest portion of the United States.

After being honorably discharged from the Army, he continued to serve in a variety of reserve/national guard units until 2002 to include:

 

• Florida National Guard 260th Military Intelligence Battalion (Spanish Translator/Interpreter
• Florida National Guard Charlie Company 1st 124 Infantry (Infantryman)
• U.S. Air Force Reserve 482nd Security Forces Homestead Air Reserve Base (Security Police)

 

It was during the J.T.F.6 mission the Mr. Castillo became interested in the law enforcement field. In 1995 he joined the Miami-Dade Corrections & Rehabilitation Department as a Correctional Officer.

He continued to serve in Miami Dade County until 2004. During that time he also served as a Corrections Background Investigator and as a Police Officer with the Miami-Dade Police Department (Cutler Ridge District).

In 2000 Officer Castillo along with his partner Officer Oro, were selected as the Police Benevolent Association’s Runner-Up Officer of the Year for their efforts in the apprehension of three felons who were in the middle of a home invasion robbery upon the officer’s arrival.

In 2004 Officer Castillo transferred to the Miami Beach Police Department and is currently assigned to the Training Unit where he is responsible for teaching Defensive Tactics and other police related topics to Miami Beach Police Officers.

In 1995 Mr. Castillo also began his formal martial arts training in the arts of Shootfighting® and Kenpo Karate under the direction of world-renowned martial artist Bart Vale from 1995 to 2005.

Mr. Castillo competed in several Shootfighting® events both in Florida and in several states to include:

• Shootfighting® Open – North Miami, FL – Barry University 1996
• Shootfighting® Combat Championships – Cape Coral, FL – 1998
• Team USA 2000 Shidokan Open – Fort Lauderdale, FL – 2000
• East Coast Shootfighting® – Meriden, Connecticut – 2001
• Great Lakes Shootfighting® Championship – Troy, Michigan – 2003
• Deep South Brawl II – Miami, FL – 2004
• Only The Strong – Miami, FL – 2005
• Truth or Dare – Miami, FL  - 2005

 

MORE IMPORTANTLY, HE HAS USED THESE TECHINIQUES IN DOCUMENTED VIOLENT ENCOUNTERS WITH A VARIETY OF SUBJECTS ON THE STREET THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF HIS LAW ENFORCEMENT CAREER.

 

Mr. Castillo’s certifications/education includes:

 

• International Shootfighting® Association Certified Instructor
• Certified Police Defensive Tactics Instructors
• Certified State of Florida ‘DI’ Instructor (Security Guard Trainer): D.I. #260006
• Certified ASP (Expendable Baton) Instructor
• Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Florida International University

 

In June of 2005 he opened Tiger & Dragon Martial Arts of Kendall where he teaches today.

 

In July of 2007 Castillo travelled to Japan with the I.S.F.A.’s regional coordinators and senior instructors to train and compete with their Japanese counterparts. In addition, plans were finalized to provide students from both countries the opportunity to travel between Japan and the United States to train and compete.

 

RICARDO ROSARIO : SECURITY/LAW ENFORCEMENT INSTRUCTOR

Experience is what exemplifies Mr. Rosario’s career in law enforcement and is why he is the perfect candidate for our Security/ Law Enforcement Instructor.

Ricardo is a 13 year law enforcement veteran with an extensive background in special operations work and counter-terrorism.

He has worked for agencies such as the Federal air marshal Service under the Department of Homeland Security, the US Border Patrol, and the Puerto Rico Police Department.

Ricardo has over 30 years of martial arts and combative experience and has served as a tactical firearms instructor and as a special operations unit team leader on assignments throughout the United States and overseas.

 

 

NORGE ARVESU: MARTIAL ARTS INSTRUCTOR

Since the age of five Norge has trained in the arts of Judo and Sambo; both in his native Cuba and later in Spain.

He has competed in both of the aforementioned countries and abroad.

Norge brings over 35 years of knowledge and experience to the mat and he is a welcomed addition to our staff.

 

 

 

 

PIERRE AKERS : KENPO/SHOOTFIGHITNG INSTRUCTOR

Pierre Akers began his martial arts career at the age of ten with Mr. Castillo. Since then Pierre has developed into a formidable competitor and great instructor.

He has competed in various tournaments throughout Florida to include:

• Shootfighting tournaments
• US open
• Pan American
• NAGA

Pierre holds instructor ranks in both Kenpo Karate and Shootfighting.

Besides his martial arts expertise, Pierre also has a welath of knowledge regarding the outdoors/wilderness survival as evidenced by his Eagle Scout rank, bestowed upon him by the Boy Scouts of America.

 

REBECCA CASTILLO : MARTIAL ARTS & TUMBA INSTRUCTOR

Rebecca Castillo has been involved in the martial arts since she was a small child.  She is the eldest daughter of Noel Castillo and is an accomplished martial artist in her own right.

Rebecca possesses instructor rank in Kenpo Karate and specializes in self-defense techiniques.  She is also the creator of Tùmba Physical Dance Fitness class where she introduces both intense cardio and amazing toning exercises, very popular now!

She has recently performed a Martial Arts Self Defense Demo for both the Florida Marlins and the City of Miami Beach.

She is set to appear on an upcoming epsisode of the Country Music Channel series “Made,” where she helps train a prospective MMA fighter.

 

SARAH CASTILLO : KENPO INSTRUCTOR

Sarah Castillo, like her older sister Rebecca, has also been involved in the martial arts since she was a small child. She is the second daughter of Noel Castillo and is an accomplished martial artist in her own right.

Sarah holds instructor rank in Kenpo Karate and specializes in Traditional, Musical & Extreme forms.

She has competed in various tournaments to include the Pan American, NAGA and US Open.

Sarah is also an accomplished performer in the dance genre as well. She was a Ferguson High School Cheerleader for one year and is on the Just Dance It! Competition Team.

She currently attends Archbishop Coleman Carrol High School. In addition, Sarah has performing Martial Arts Demonstration for the Florida Marlins as well.

 

ADAM MACK : LITERACY TEACHER

Adam is the literacy teacher at Tiger & Dragon. He is also a Science teacher at an inner city middle school.

He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Exceptional Student Education K-12 and certifications in Exceptional Student Education, Elementary Education, and Middle Grades Integrated Curriculum as well as an Endorsement in ESOL.

Adam worked over the summer of 2010 at University of Miami in the Research and Ecology program. He is the former president and current member of the Miami Dade College chapters of Kappa Delta Pi Honor Society for Educators and the Council for Exceptional Children.

He is also the very proud father  of three little girls who actively participate in the Tiger & Dragon  program.

 

ERIKA EELESPPE : JAPANESE CULTURE & LANGUAGE INSTRUCTOR

Currently a student at Florida International University, Erika is majoring in Asian Studies. Her specialization is the East Asian Languages.

Erika will be graduating in May of 2012 with a Japanese Language certification. She is also applying for the JET program, through which she travel to Japan to teach English for a year.

Erika is in charge of making lesson plans and teaching the students the basic grammar and vocabulary that they will need to communicate in Japanese.   Japanese culture is also an integral part of the lessons she teaches.