Active Black Belt Instructors

Master John Seay - 7th Dan

Master John Seay is a 7th Dan black belt who has studied and taught Tae Kwon Do for more than 35 years. He is also a certified Level 1 Mike Swain Judo Instructor & certified by American Top Team as Level 1 MMA instructor. Master Seay is a native of Texas. He first became interested in martial arts as an activity he could do with his children. His deep love of teaching led to him opening his own school in 1996. He is also a personal trainer and has a background in both nursing and music.

Master Leon McCowan - 6th Dan

Leon was introduced to martial arts as a kid. He has been a practitioner, off and on, for a number of years. In addition to his black belt in American Tae Kwon Do, he has also studied judo and WTF Tae Kwon Do. Leon is the RCRA Waste Manager for the Texas Military Department and Executive Pastor at St. James Missionary Baptist Church. Dr. McCowan earned his 1st degree in 2008, his 2nd degree in 2010, his 3rd degree in 2013, 4th degree in 2017, 5th degree in May 2019 and 6th degree in April 2023. He enjoys serving on the TCMA Inc. Board of Directors and is a AFAA Group Fitness Instructor.

Jami Hatch - 5th Dan

Jami earned her first-degree black belt in 2003 and also trained in Tai Chi. Both of her children earned their black belts at TCMA. She has been at Third Coast since 1997. Jami is the TCMA Business Manager and Director of Operations. In addition to teaching regular classes, she also teaches classes at St Andrews, Doss & The Jewish Community Center. Jami earned her 2nd degree in April 2015 & her 3rd degree May 2019 and 5th Dan in 2024.

Susan Kidwell - 4th Dan

Dr. Kidwell joined Third Coast in March 2008. She is a partner at Locke Lord LLP, where she is specializes in civil appellate law. Susan earned her Black Belt in October 2013 & her 2nd degree in May 2017 & her 3rd dan in October 2020.

Charlie Tusa - 4th Dan

Charlie started in the after school program at St. Andrews in 1st grade. He came over to Third Coast in June 2007. Charlie received his 1st degree black belt in March 2011 and his 2nd Degree in 2016. Charlie graduated with a Masters degree from UT Austin in aerospace engineering and works at Siemens doing computational engineering.

Owen Williams - 4th Dan

Owen started at Third Coast as a Lil' Dragon when he was 5 years old. . He also loves playing the drums. His favorite subjects are math and science and hopes to one day become a biologist. He attends Anderson HS and earned his Black Belt in June 2018 & 2nd dan in October 2020. Owen was Third Coast student of the year in 2016.

Tom Weymouth - 1st Dan

Mr. Weymouth started at Third Coast in 2015 with his 2 daughters. He teaches on Mondays at Third Coast and teaches a class at Brykerwoods elementary school. Mr. Weymouth is currently studying social work at Texas State University and volunteers at the Trinity center on 7th street.

Duke Harper - 1st Dan

Duke started in our Hyde Park after school program and started attending classes at Third Coast in April 2019. Duke attends Murchison middle school. He has been Third Coast student of the month twice and Third Coast 2022 student of the year.

Logan Fuller - 1st Dan

Logan started classes at Third Coast in April 2018. He attends Anderson HS. He has been Third Coast student of the month twice and Third Coast 2023 student of the year.

Third Coast Black Belts Abroad:

Sophie Newmark - 1st Dan

Sophie joined Third Coast in 2014 and earned her black belt in October 2020. She graduated from LASA High School in 2021. She also plays the cello, loves reading and writing and is passionate about environmental sustainability. Sophie attends Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota and is majoring in Environmental Studies. Sophie was Third Coast student of the year in 2016.

Robert Seiler - 2nd Dan

Robert joined Third Coast in 2010. He earned his Black Belt in May 2017 & his 2nd dan in October 2020. He graduated from Anderson HS 2021 and enjoys tennis and piano. Robert earned his Eagle Scout in May 2019. He is attending Univ of Texas to study Economics.

Seth O'Hora - 2nd Dan

Seth started in our after school program at Hill elementary. He earned his black belt in November 2021. He is currently studying Aerospace engineering at Penn State. Seth was named Third Coast student of the year for 2021.

Jordan Hatch-Newberry - 2nd Dan

Jordan started at TCMA when she was 6 years old and earned her black belt in 2003 at the age of 11. She graduated from Texas Christian University and works at General Motors as a Project Manager. Jordan also trained in Kung Fu and is the recording secretary to the board of TCMAF, Inc. She earned her 2nd degree in June 2018.

Dakota Spellman - 1st Dan

Dakota started in the Hill after school program. In 2013, he joined Third Coast. Dakota attends Saint Dominic Savio Catholic High School and was the Third Coast Student of the Year in 2019. Dakota helps with Third Coast summers camps and volunteers with Peace, Love, and Happiness Charity. He is a musician who sings, plays guitar, and writes music. Dakota earned his 1st black belt in April 2023.

Third Coast Black Belt Alumni:

Kendall Seay - 1st Degree 2000

Anthony Marchioni - 1st Degree 2000

Casey Frank - 1st Degree 2002

Patrick Germain - 3rd Degree 2003

Zach Lefenfeld - 1st Degree 2003

Blaise Cole - 3rd Degree 2003

Cameron Hatch - 1st Degree 2005

Lisa Kelly - 1st Degree 2005

Maureen Farelli - 1st Degree 2005

Sara Phelps - 2nd Degree 2005

Paul Barnes - 2nd Degree 2006

Leo Levy - 1st Degree 2006

Peter Malof - 1st Degree 2007

Michael Portillo - 1st Degree 2007

Alex Valdez - 1st Degree 2007

Nick Virden - 2nd Degree 2007

Andrea Adams - 1st Degree 2007

Ryan Ramirez - 1st Degree 2007

Mark Huff - 2nd Degree 2007

Tori Dusse' - 2nd Degree 2007

Susan Seay - 1st Degree 2008

Logan Seay - 2nd Degree 2008

Scott Smith - 1st Degree 2008

David Seay - 1st Degree 2008

Tim Graumann - 1st Degree 2008

Beth Van Pelt - 1st Degree 2009

Karen Bogart - 1st Degree 2009

Cameron Adams - 2nd Degree 2010

Mike Wilson - 2nd Degree 2010

Laura Meitz - 1st Degree 2010

Nathaniel Van Pelt - 1st Degree 2010

Bob Nunis - 2nd Degree 2011

Jimmy Deal - 1st Degree 2011

Josh Swan - 1st Degree 2012

Mariah Hamamcy - 1st Degree 2012

Alex Gretta - 1st Degree 2012

Luke Gretta - 1st Degree 2012

Lizzie Deal - 1st Degree 2012

George Kruft - 1st Degree 2013

Richard Culleton - 1st Degree 2013

Rick Culleton - 1st Degree 2013

Guillermo Gonzalez - 1st Degree 2015

Ethan Swan - 2nd Degree 2016

Mercedes Gonzalez - 1st Degree (50th Black Belt 2017)

Ben Cassar - 1st Degree 2017

Zoey Meyer - 1st Degree 2018

Louie Dunning - 1st Degree 2018

Chloe Meyer - 2nd Degree 2019

Kiana Saghafi - 1st Degree 2020

Hannah English - 2nd Degree 2020

Cerys Freer - 1st Degree 2020

Max Lund - 2nd Degree 2020

Anwen Salisbury - 1st Degree 2023

Forever in our hearts, Grand Master Stewart September 14, 1956 - September 9, 2019

Since the year 2000, Master Seay has 66 students who earned their Black Belts through Third Coast Martial Arts