ABOUT US
The School: I would like to welcome you to the website of the All Star Hapkido Academy. We are a martial arts school in Palo Alto, CA. area that teaches Hapkido - the Complete Art of Self Defense. Our school’s program combines a realistic approach to self defense with a dynamic fitness program in a non-ego driven environment.
We believe that the overall development of the student’s mind, body and spirit is of the utmost importance and focus our teaching efforts on helping students excel through learning valuable life skills from their training like, respect, humility, confidence, goal setting and self-esteem.
The Staff: Dave Scanlon has studied martial arts for almost 30 years and is a 4th degree black belt in Hapkido. For more than 10 years, he has taught many self defense and fitness classes to children, teens and adults.
He started his martial arts training at age 6 in Karate, graded to brown belt in Judo at 11, and received his first black belt in Yang Tai-Chi Chuan Kung Fu at 15. Around the same time, he became passionate about grappling styles like Aikido and Jujitsu and began taking Hapkido classes at his high school. He earned his 1st degree black belt in Hapkido under the Australian Hapkido Group at 17.
Sir Dave left Hapkido and shifted his focus to becoming a more well-rounded martial artist. During this time, he studied in depth, Aikido (1st Dan) and Lin Wan Kune Do Kung Fu, which includes Thai boxing, Kali, Escrima, Jujitsu and Jeet Kune Do.
Later, he returned to Australia for 3 years to continue his Hapkido training and teaching, and received his 2nd and 3rd degree black belts, and now a 4th degree under Grandmaster Booth of the International Hapkido Alliance.
Over the years, Sir Dave has trained volunteers, security companies and law enforcement personnel in defensive tactics. He was also a member of the Guardian Angels organization, a deputy sheriff for the San Francisco Sheriff’s Department, and a bouncer and security guard for some of the most dangerous pubs and clubs in Australia.
Sir Dave is the owner of All Star Hapkido Academy, and teaches martial arts classes in Palo Alto at Reach Fitness, 707 High ST, Palo Alto, CA 94301
