Anta's Fitness & Self Defense

Julio Anta was born in Cuba in 1957. He arrived in the USA with his parents in 1962. At the tender age of 7 years old he told his father a former Boxer in Cuba that he was going to be a martial artist and a bodybuilder when he grew up. His father supported the idea 100%. As a boy he loved to see Steve Reeves Hercules Movies and later Bruce Lee in the Green Hornet inspired him. Anta has been a practitioner of the martial arts since 1972 and began serious bodybuilding in 1975. Julio's first martial art training began with Judo at the Florida Judo Kai in Hialeah under the tutelage of Cuban Olympic great Montpellier. He later studied Karate under different instructors. In 1974 he witnessed his first Kung Fu class and began training under Hung Gar's first non-Chinese Master Mario Perez. Perez returned to NY and Anta trained in numerous styles of Karate Japanese, Okinawa and Tae Kwon Do. Yet, his true love was the reality based style of Hung Gar Kung Fu. In the early nineties Anta found Master Perez and began training in Kung Fu until he earned his Black Sash and began teaching. Today he owns one of South Florida's most successful martial arts and fitness centers fulfilling his childhood dreams.

Anta is a certified Southern Shaolin and Hung Gar Red Sash Kung Fu Instructor (Red is higher than Black as per Hung Gar tradition.) He is certified and directly under Mario Perez, Head of the Southern Shaolin, Hung Gar system in Florida. Julio is also fully certified in the Israeli Special Forces discipline of Haganah F.I.G.H.T. (Fierce Israeli Guerrilla Hand to hand Tactics.) He has cross trained in Boxing, Tai Chi, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Arnis. Anta is currently NAPMA's (National Association of Professional Martial Artist) NSSN (National School Support Network) representative for the state of Florida. NAPMA is the world's largest professional martial arts association. Mr. Anta was inducted in the Florida Martial Arts Hall of Fame in Orlando in 2003 as the Instructor of the Year. He was also awarded the County Commissioner Jose “Pepe” Diaz, Miami Dade County Award for Martial Arts Excellence in 2004. Julio has been certified in Kardio Kickboxing and by NAPMA in Fitness Kickboxing. He is also the only instructor in South Florida fully certified by Dr. Terrence Webster-Doyle as a Martial Arts for Peace Bully Buster instructor. Mr. Anta is a National Security Agency certified Child Safety Agent and a Steal Proof Master (Anti Child Abduction and Safety) instructor. He is an ACMA (American Council of Martial Arts) certified Martial Arts Instructor by the Copper Institute. Anta served as a Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps Reserves. He served ten years as a Florida State Department of Corrections Officer and was a certified FDLE (Florida Department of Law Enforcement) Instructor. Anta a competitive bodybuilder in the eighties who was a runner up in the Jr. Mr. Florida and Mr. Miami is also a certified ISSA Fitness Instructor, Kettlebell Instructor by Kettlebell Concepts, ICS Fitness and Nutrition Instructor and certified in Pilates by the Physical Minds Institute and All American Pilates.

Elena Anta

Mrs. Anta is a Fitness Kickboxing, Pilates and Self Defense Instructor. She is a certified Aerobics Instructor and a former school teacher. She holds certifications from the Copper Institute and NAPMA in Fitness Kickboxing. Elena is a fully certified Pilates mat and equipment instructor from All American Pilates. She is the head Pilates Instructor and teaches group and private Pilates classes at Anta’s Fitness and Self Defense. Elena is also a certified state of Florida after care director. She has been featured in numerous news papers and magazines. Elena has appeared on Univision’s Despierta America, Primer Impacto, Telemundo’s News, TVC's Una Hora Contigo, The Today Show, WPLG TV 10 News and on Channel 7 Fox News.

Guro Tony Torre

Mr. Torre has been a practitioner of the martial arts since 1978. He has crosstrained in Karate, Judo, Boxing, JKD, Kali-Silat and Muay Thai. His current rankings include, lakan dalawa (2nd degree black belt) in Combat Arnis under Bram Frank, who is the founder and director of CSSD/SC (Common Sense Self Defense/ Street Combat). He also possesses the rank of lakan Isa (1st Degree Black Belt) in Modern Arnis (Remy Presas Style). Additionally, Mr Torre is a chief instructor for Options For Personal Security (OPS), one of the nation's premier tactical training schools. And he is also a licensed bail bondsman in the State Of Florida.

Jose A. Gomez

Jose A. Gomez is the head Judo instructor of Anta's Fitness and Self Defense in Doral. Gomez was awarded the rank of Black Belt Sixth Dan in Havana, Cuba in June 18, 1998. A Sixth Degree in Judo is a rare accomplishment. Jose is an certified National Judo Judge. He is certified by the United States Judo Incorporation as a Master Teacher. Mr. Gomez holds a degree in Physical Education and Professor of Sports and Recreation from the famed Instituto Superior de Cultura Fisia in Havana Cuba. Jose was a National and International Champion. He was the National Cuban champion Judo in 1970, 1972, 1973 and 1975. He was a silver medalist in 1974 and a bronze medalist in 1977. In 1971 Mr. Gomez was the gold medal winner of the Cuban/Russian International Championships and a bronze medalist in the East Germany International Judo Championships. In 1972 he won the gold medal in the North Korean International Judo Championships. In 1973 he was a gold medalist in the Panamanian International Judo Championships. In 1975 he won the silver medal in Mexico's International Judo Championships. As an instructor and coach Gomez has been even more successful he has trained numerous medalist in National, International, Junior National, Pan American and World Judo Championships.

Mr. Gomez was awarded a trophy in 2005 by the Florida Yudanshakai at the Judo state championships for “Best Referee of the Tournament.” Jose A. Gomez is not just a champion. He is also a trainer of champions.

Mario Agnese

Mario Agnese is the head instructor of the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu program at Anta's Fitness and Self Defense. Mario is an expierence Black Belt and has been training in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu since he was a small boy growing up in Brazil. A Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is very rare and very few are found in South Florida. Mario a multi tournament winner in Brazil teaches this agressive art that was popularized by the Ultimate Challenge Mix Martial Arts Championships in a safe inviorement.He also promtes a non-agressive approuch in teaching this effective art and reality based street defense.

Sisi Torre

Sisi Torre is a Fitness Kickboxing and functional training instructor. Sisi is a true life success story. She once weighted over 200 pounds. With sound nutrition and training, at Anta's Fitness and Self Defense in Fitness Kickboxing and Pilates, she was able to lose over 60 pounds of fat. After seeing the incredible change in her physique, the Anta's awarded her by giving her the responsibility and the position of Kickboxing instructor. Sisi is a great and energetic motivator and is a prime example of what determination and will power can do.

Oliver Elie

Oliver Elie a premedical student at FIU and an assistant Kung Fu Instructor at Anta's Fitness and Self Defense. He runs Anta's Martial Arts Child Development Program at Eugenia B. Thomas Elementary School. He is a Black Belt in Shotokan Karate and is a certified instructor in Haganah F.I.G.H.T. Israeli Hand to Hand Combat. Mr. Elie teaches Japanese and Okinawan weapons: Katana (Samurai sword), Sai, Nunchacks, Kama, Bo (Japanese staff) and Tonfa. He has won numerous National and International Karate Championships. He was the 1987 Junior Pan American Games forms and sparring champion, 1998 Kyodai Karate Do Gold Medal in Sparring and Silver in Forms, 2000 Kyodai Karate Do Gold Medal Forms and Silver in Sparring and 1988 Haitian Karate Open Silver medal winner in Forms. He has crossed trained in Judo, Combat Hapkido, Chen Tai Chi, Kyokushinkai-Kan (full contact Karate) and Kung Fu. Mr. Elie has appeared in numerous Haitian newspapers and has done numerous commercials.

Sergio Betancourt

Mr. Betancourt has been a student of the martial arts since the age of 9. Along the way, he studied Judo, Karate, Tae Kwon Do, and Aikido. Since 1993 he has studied numerous Kung Fu styles including Hung Gar, Southern Praying Mantis, Chen Style Tai Chi Chuan, I Chuan, Hsing I Chuan, and Bagua Zhang. Since 1995 his studies have focussed primarily on the arts of Chen Tai Chi Chuan and Hsing I Chuan, and since 2000, he has been a student of Yan Gaofei, honing his focus on the internal Chinese martial arts of Chen Style Tai Chi Chuan, Hebei and Shanxi Hsing I Chuan, and Hsin I Liu He Chuan. Additionally, he enjoys spending his time sharing and cross training with students of other styles including Karate, Aikido, Aiki Jujutsu, Jujutsu, Philipino Martial Arts, Wing Chun Kung Fu, Western Boxing, Hung Gar Kung Fu, and Southern Praying Mantis Kung Fu.

Julio D. Anta (Junior Instructor)

Julio D. Anta a third generation martial artist. He has been training since he was 4 years old. His grandfather Julio C. Anta boxed in Cuba, His father Julio G. Anta is the head Kung Fu instructor and Julio D. is a Junior Black Belt. Julio teaches the traditional Lion Dance Instruments, the drum, gong and cymbals. He also assists in the children's class. Julio has won numerous open martial arts tournaments in sparring, forms and weapons. In his first year wrestling for the Doral Middle School he placed third in the district and was awarded the Most Improved Wrestler.

Mention this website to schedule a free introductory lesson with any of our success coaches at Anta's Fitness and Self Defense, 10721 NW 58 St. Miami, FL 305 599-3649 or email us at FitDef@aol.com