Meet Our Balance Martial Arts Team:
We are proud of the amazing team of leaders we have at Balance Martial Arts. Our instructors come from a variety of different styles, and backgrounds. We believe that our varied experiences make us stronger, and allow us to teach the powerful lessons learned through martial arts training with a greater understanding.
Sensei Chris – Chief Instructor
Sensei Chris Moulinier comes to us from The City of Brotherly Love: Philadelphia, PA. He has a 5th-degree Black Belt in Shorin-Ryu Karate, a 3rd-degree Black Belt in Aikido, and currently a Purple Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Sensei Chris has extensive training in Iaijutsu, Krav Maga, Muay Thai Kickboxing, and Wing Chun Kung Fu. He began his martial arts training in 1992 and has been instructing since 1995.
Sensei Chris began training when he was a teenager. His parents were looking for a positive outlet that would also help build both his confidence and focus. Prior, he was struggling in school, but with the skills he learned in Karate, he became a straight-A student. More importantly, he found his calling in life: sharing and teaching the valuable life lessons and principles he learned in Karate.
At age 18, he entered an intense instructor training program in which he lived at the dojo and was able to fully dedicate himself to learning, training, and teaching every aspect of martial arts for 6 years. He has traveled all over America, Canada, and Europe conducting Martial Arts seminars. Due to his extensive training, he had the honor of being part of two major projects: Aikido 3d, spending 3 months on set of Avatar & The Last Airbender as a martial arts professional and stunt actor.
“Personally, what I love the most about martial arts is that it is something you can do for the rest of your life. All of the positive benefits including, better grades at school, focus, confidence, self-protection, and fitness can be a part of your daily life with martial arts training. It will help you no matter what obstacles come up in your life, and I am happy to teach my students these skills and share with them what martial arts has done for my life. I hope that each one of them becomes better people because they walked in the door at our school.”
Sensei Stefan – Program Director
Sensei Stefan Moulinier is from Atlanta, GA, and has been involved in martial arts since 1997. Don’t let the gentle, calm nature of this southern belle fool you. She has a 4th Degree Black Belt in American Kenpo Karate and has been a highly acclaimed instructor since 2002. Her natural ability to communicate and bring out the best in young children, teenagers, and adults is why she is very popular with both students and parents.
Originally involved in East West Karate near Atlanta, she helped build from one small studio to three thriving dojos in less than 5 years. Sensei Stefan participated as an international team member of Martial Arts Professionals. On this team, she traveled all over the US, England and Australia. She consulted and instructed Martial Arts School proprietors, helping them learn the best teaching methods and managing their dojos.
“I believe that everyone has something to learn from martial arts. Karate training can provide so many beneficial opportunities; from protecting yourself and loved ones, or developing a stronger sense of confidence, to learning to strive to be your best every day. The thing that impacts me the most as a teacher is working with students who struggle with confidence. I was a very shy child, and martial arts gave me the skills I needed to believe in myself. I wouldn’t be where I am, or have the family I have, if it wasn’t for the wonderful, positive experiences I have had in Karate.”
Sensei Alex Wall – Wing Chun Kung Fu / Judo / Summer Camp Head Instructor
Shifu Alex Wall has been training in Wing Chun Kung Fu since 1995. He learned from Sifu Ron Bey. Shifu Bey’s instructor was Dr. Fred Ming An Wu. Dr. Wu was an expert in many styles of Kung Fu and came from a family of martial artists. Shifu Alex was an assistant instructor at Bey’s Martial Arts Academy from 1998-2007. He earned his black sash in Wing Chun in 2002. Sifu Alex also was an assistant instructor for Tai Chi at Bey’s Martial Arts Academy. In 2011 he began learning Judo to become a more well-rounded martial artist. He taught a Wing Chun class at his first Judo school. In 2016 he received his black belt in Judo from Sensei Agnes Gall at Apex Martial Arts Center.
In 2011 he began learning Judo to become a more well-rounded martial artist. He taught a Wing Chun class at his first Judo school. In 2016 he received his black belt in Judo from Sensei Agnes Gall at Apex Martial Arts Center. Since 2019, Alex is teaching Wing Chun at East Cloud Kungfu, and practicing Wushu with Imari.
He is our beloved kung fu instructor, and head instructor for summer camp in 2019, and 2020.
Sensei Colista – Instructor
Colista was born and raised in North Carolina and has lived in the Raleigh area since her college days in the early 1990s. She began studying karate at the tender age of 37 after her oldest son began taking classes. Until then, she had only thought karate was done in the movies (having seen The Karate Kid in the 1980s). It turned out that she liked the cool outfits and snazzy colorful belts. Even more surprising was that she actually enjoyed learning karate techniques, katas, and history!
Colista’s favorite area of karate is learning and teaching katas. She’s excited to share her new-found passion with other karate students – both young and not-quite-as-young! As a working mom studying and teaching karate, she understands the challenges parents and their kids face every day trying to balance work, school, and extra-curricular activities.
In 2016 Colista earned her 1st degree Black Belt in Shorin-Ryu Karate, followed by her 2nd degree Black Belt in 2019, both under the instruction of Sensei Chris and Sensei Stefan at Balance Martial Arts. She also became a certified instructor in 2017 after completing training with Black Belt Schools International.
When she’s not at the dojo, Colista moonlights as a civil engineer and a personal Uber driver for her kids. Her karate training (patience, mainly) has proven useful at home, as she is the only female in a house with a husband, two sons, and a hedgehog.
Sensei Chesseley –Instructor
Chesseley Robinson is proud to call North Carolina his home state! He started practicing martial arts in Washington D.C. when he was twelve years old. Holding a second-degree black belt in Taekwondo specializing in sparring and demonstration and also proficient in Hapkido, he has become a student favorite a Balance Martial Arts. Not only is he a talented martial artist, but he also has been honing his acting chops, and hopes to pursue a career in film, and choreography.
Sensei Steven – Instructor
He began karate at the young age of six to help develop self-control and patience, but quickly developed a lifelong passion for the art. This passion extends into his teaching and desire to share his knowledge with others.“Everything you need to get through life, you can learn through karate. It helps you decide which side of the road you want to walk on. In the words of Mr. Miyagi, ‘Walk left side, safe. Walk right side, safe. Walk middle, sooner or later…get squish just like grape.’ I have overcome many obstacles in life from the lessons I have learned through martial arts and hope to pass those lessons on and help others prevail in the art of life.”
Sensei Anusha Tamhane – Instructor
Anusha & her sister, Ankita started martial arts with Sensei Chris in 2010 at the age of 10 years old. She has studied Shorin-Ryu for 11 years now and is a highly skilled martial artist. Sensei Anusha is an inspiration and big sister to students of all age groups. Her passion for martial arts has never waivered as she stayed committed to training throughout high school, and college. She graduated in 2020 with degrees in business and international relations. Her future plans are to help women entrepreneurs start/run small businesses (esp. in developing nations) or do hands-on work regarding sustainability/climate policy to help provide a better life and future for everyone.
Sensei Ankita Tamhane – Instructor
Ankita was just 6 years old when she started training in martial arts with Sensei Chris. She tested for her junior Black Belt at 10 years old. Many students would see earning their black belt as the end of the journey, but Ankita kept with it, training for another 2 years and taking a grueling 6-hour test to earn her second degree. After that – she became the youngest 3rd degree candidate in Balance Martial Arts history. This time it took another 3 years, and an 8-hour test that challenged her mentally, and physically more than ever before. She earned the distinguished title of “Senpai Ankita” when she turned 15, and her Sensei title at 18.
We have had the honor to watch her grow from a small, quiet 6-year-old into a confident, and talented martial artist. In addition, she has shown leadership skills by being a role model to new students in class and demonstrating a strong desire to set goals and accomplish them. She has been accepted to UNC Charlotte in the fall of 2021, and we know she will do well!
We asked her what you love most about teaching, and here’s what she said: “The thing I love most about teaching is that we get to teach kids fun karate techniques as well as techniques that are useful for self-defense. I also love that we not only teach karate but valuable life lessons every month, too.”
Her advice for young martial artists: “My advice for young martial artists would be to never stop learning because even when you reach your black belt, there is still so much more to learn. You should never feel like you are done, there is always more to know!”
Sensei Matthew Hightower – Instructor
Matthew started martial arts when he was 14 years old in New York City. He studied Shotokan style under an amazing instructor named Sensei Mori who was a legend in JKA. Throughout his martial arts career, he has trained in Shotokan, Tae Kwon Do, & Shorin Ryu. Martial arts is a family affair for him; his daughter is also a black belt!
His philosophy on martial arts has evolved over the years. When he first took karate it was strictly for the self-defense benefits. It was only through the repetition of the moves and focus required to truly master the techniques that he learned a greater sense of discipline, both mind and body.
Sensei Matt’s advice for young martial artists: “Do your best, keep a positive mindset. Mistakes and errors are just opportunities for growth and improvement if you take the time to learn from them.”
Josh Stamper
~Personal Training Coach
Joshua Stamper has been a coach and a trainer since 2004. He has a bachelor of science in Kinesiology: the study of the mechanics of body movements, from the University of Maryland. He received his certification for personal training through the American College of Sports Medicine. He is also a Level-One Crossfit coach. Joshua has worked with personal training clients on weight loss, rehab, general physical preparedness, strength and conditioning, muscle development, and sports performance/preparation. He also has been a coach for several sports: Crossfit, weightlifting, powerlifting, wrestling, boxing, kickboxing, MMA, and soccer.
At the tender age of 4, he started his wrestling career. In high school, he began training in kickboxing and karate and started amateur fighting his senior year. After high school, he started boxing at his junior college. Later, at the University of Maryland, Joshua started training MMA and BJJ. Along with the sport he found a passion for fitness. Shortly after starting college he became a wrestling coach and found his calling: coaching. With his education, passion, and calling aligned, his goal became to help people be the best they can be.
“My motto has always been ‘Fitness is Freedom’ and I believe that to be true. The more fit you are the more free you are to move. If you are free to move you can work hard, help others, develop skills, and perform properly. Fitness gives you the freedom and strength to live your life to the fullest.”