Pat (Mr.
H) Hoffmann
I'm 58 years old and a life long Californian. I was born in
Arcadia (Southern California), but my parents moved to Santa Clara when I was 6. I've lived in the Northern California all
my life. My wife Barbie and I have lived in Sonoma, Ca. for the past 15 years. We have 6 kids and 10 grandchildren. If someone
were to ask me what my hobbies were I could list WWII Planes, Collecting Pez Dispensers, but really those are just distractions,
because my family is by far my favorite thing to do.
I got started in martial arts when I was
35. I took my oldest son, Justin to a Taekwondo class and hung around to watch. About fifteen minutes into the class I was
hooked. I signed up for class the next day with Master Chris Hauth (still has a school in Windsor, Ca.), and earned my 1st
degree Black Belt in Taekwondo in 1989 I then started working on my weapons training and in 1992 I earned my 1st degree(shodan) Black Belt in
Okinawan Kobudo with Shihan Nishiuchi through the International Okinawan Kobudo Association.
My 2nd thru 4th degree Black Belts were earned with Master Clint Robinson in Sacramento, Ca. and in
2005 I tested in Santa Clara at Grand Master Ernie Reyes School for my 5th degree with the UBBT (Ultimate Black
Belt Test) program through my coach Tom Callos. Our 1 year long test finished with a performance/testing in front of 1800
people at the Santa Clara University gym – by far the hardest, but most thrilling testing I have done to date.
In 1989 my instructor Mr. Sabatino allowed my wife and I to open
a Taekwondo club. Being a painting contractor for over 20 years at the time we had no experience in teaching martial arts,
but a tremendous desire to become more and more involved and a feeling that this was our calling.
So, My family and I came here to Sonoma and started a club in room
210 at the community center on Napa St, our first three students were Justin, Jason, & Kim my three kids that were still
living at home. At the end of class each night we would pass out flyers on the way home (still living in Santa Rosa at that
time) and on the weekends do demos at the different shopping centers. I stopped painting in 1993, and turned our club into
a full time school. It hasn't always been easy, but we have never looked back, and I feel as though we’ve been making
a difference here in the Sonoma Valley for over 18th year. And, in 1995 my parents and students nominated me for California
teacher of the year award, receiving this award from both the California State Legislature and the State Senate has helped
me to realize we are on the right track.
In the past 3 years I have helped my wife Barbie start an Exotic Animal Rescue program called Leaping Lizard Rescue. We never have less than 100+ lizards, birds, insects, bugs, turtles,
and tortoises around our home at any one time. It is a rescue / sanctuary type of facility, as many of the animals that Barbie
brings in are to sick or injured to ever leave once there.
Some
of my greatest thrills;
· Having one of my students Mikey Parks who was with me when he was 5 or 6 years old is in the Marines
and stationed in Afghanistan called and said “I just was thinking about you and needed to talk”.
·
I’ll never forget the first conversation with Coach Tom Callos
as I made the leap onto UBBT team 1, having the second half of my life changed forever and being given the opportunity to
be part of martial arts history.
· Having my grandson answer up nice and loud in class with "Yes "and than slip and say
Grandpa instead of Sir.
· Watching my wife Barbie work with some of her rescued animals, her touch and love is unbelievable
and inspiring.
· Shaking the hand of a student, that is leaving for college, after being with me since they were
5 years old.
· Having a child in the super market come running up to say “Hi Mr. H” and Birthday Push-up
still makes me smile.
Thank You
Patrick Hoffmann
