the murphy martial arts & self defense team
About Us
Dr. Julie Royal, Lead Instructor
Dr. Julie Royal is passionate about teaching women and children how to protect themselves and feels that all children should be required to learn self defense. Dr. Royal began American Nam Seo Kwan Tae Kwon Do in 2011 and earned her black belt in 2015, under Mr. Cesar Johnson (5th degree), Mrs. Caroline Goodspeed (9th degree) and Grandmaster Keith Yates (10th degree). She began assistant teaching with her eldest daughter, Kela Grotefend, for Mr. Cesar Johnson and Grandmaster Keith Yates during her blue belt and brown belt years and thereafter in Dallas, Texas. In 2016 she was awarded the Akato Student of the Year by Mrs. Caroline Goodspeed and Mr. Cesar Johnson. Dr. Royal earned her 2nd Dan (Degree) Black belt in 2023, with a specialty demonstration of women’s self defense.
Sensei Maya, Assistant Instructor
Miss Maya Grotefend began American Nam Seo Kwan Tae Kwon Do under Mr. Cesar Johnson & Mrs. Caroline Goodspeed at the age of six; she started instruction under Grandmaster Keith Yates as well a year later. She received an excellent plus for outstanding achievement on her second Gup brown belt test and earned her first gup brown belt at the age of 11 in 2017. After a few years break, she returned to practice and earned her 1st Degree Black Belt in 2023 at 17 yo and was also awarded Student of the Year. Maya enjoys passing on the knowledge gained from our organizations black belts and teaching others how to protect themselves.
"Dr. Royal is an exceptional martial artist whose teaching skills and patient manner make her an outstanding instructor."
Keith D. Yates
President, American Karate and Tae Kwon Do Organization
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See Akato.org (American Karate and Tae Kwon Do Organization) to learn more about the Akato organization, philosophy, history and the many exceptional Akato schools.
2015
From left to right: Dr. Julie Royal, Unnamed Student, Mr. Keith Yates, Unnamed Student
2017
From left to right: Mrs. Caroline Goodspeed, Maya Grotefend, Dr. Julie Royal, Kela Grotefend, Mr. Keith Yates
2016
From left to right: Dr. Julie Royal, Mrs. Caroline Goodspeed, Maya Grotefend, Mr. Cesar Johnson
2025
From left to right: Assistant instructor Sensai Maya and lead instructor Dr. Julie Royal teaching Unnamed Students in a Murphy Martial Arts & Self Defense class together