Daythan Taylor
Master Daythan Taylor is a Sixth Degree Black Belt, with over 40 years experience in the martial arts. This vast experience was key in the establishment of Taylor’s House of Karate. His skills in Tae Kwon Do and Karate afforded him the opportunity to train the teachers at the school, many of whom have won multiple championships and all are well respected in the community. His contributions to the training programs, fitness classes, testing formats and atmosphere of hard work, respect and discipline is felt on daily basis. Steve Willey, owner of Taylor’s House of Karate, says that Daythan Taylor’s contributions to the successful establishment of the school is immeasurable.
Derek Bentley
Derek is a Marin County native and has been practicing martial arts for over 25 years. He earned his first degree Black Belt at West America Tae Kwon Do in 1999. Since January 2000, Derek has taught at Taylor’s House of Karate, a school owned and operated by his family. Under the instruction of Daythan Taylor, a key instructor at the school, Derek earned his fourth degree black belt. As a teenager, Derek was ranked top four in the country in sparring. In 1998 he held the National Sparring Title. As part of Team Proper, he was ranked in Korean Traditional Forms and for Japanese Traditional Forms. Currently Derek teaches full time at Taylor’s House of Karate, teaching karate, cardio and self-defense classes. He also teaches CrossFit classes at Tamalpais CrossFit and karate for the kids at Redeemer Preschool.
Junior Salientes
Junior Salientes started training at the age of 4 with his father. He holds a fifth degree black belt in Shorinji Kenpo. He also holds a fourth degree black belt in American Tae Kwon Do under Daythan Taylor. In 2008, Junior, along with Sensiei Sean Arceo, founded Team Proper with the vision of having a martial arts team competing in sparring and forms. The team is comprised of adults and youth with diverse cultures and backgrounds. The team currently includes martial artists from Mexico, Italy, Guatamala, and Ireland. Team Proper continues to be a dominating force in sports karate, traveling throughout the US and internationally. Team members all hold National and World rankings.
Nicole Bentley
Nicole began martial arts in 1999, at the age of 19. She earned her 1st degree Black Belt in 2006 and received her 2nd degree three years later. Her First Place wins in 2009 include: 2009 National Black Belt League (NBL) Golden Gate Internationals – Korean and Japanese 18-29 Women’s Forms; 2009 NBL Pacific Jewel Nationals – Korean and Japanese 18-29 Women’s Forms; 2009 Bay Area Sport Karate Association (BASKA) Shark City Nationals – Korean and Japanese 18-29 Women’s Forms (Grand Champion); 2009 NBL Battle of the Champions – Korean and Japanese 18-29 Women’s Forms. Nicole is just returning to the karate school after a break to raise her two children.
Kyle Sheppard
Kyle is a Marin County native who started martial arts in 1996. He earned his first degree black belt in 2000 at West America Tae Kwon Do. He was an instructor at West America from 1999 until 2002. During that time he competed in Forms and Sparring. He is a two time AAU California State Champion in forms and sparring, 1999 and 2000. In 2000 became AAU National Champion in forms and Fighting. From 2001–2007 Kyle took a break from Martial Arts. In 2007 he joined Taylor’s House of Karate after many conversations with friend and Taylor’s House of Karate instructor, Derek Bentley, to get back into Karate. He has been teaching at Taylor’s ever since.
Taylor's House of Karate 