FTK Studio: Bringing Martial Arts and Community to Bernal Heights
Bernal Connect recently sat down with Diandra Thompson and Liza Fernandez, the dynamic duo behind FTK Studio. As minority women business owners, they have transformed a childhood passion for martial arts into a thriving community space on Cortland Avenue in Bernal Heights. Their journey from karate students to studio owners highlights their commitment to martial arts excellence and community service.
FTK Karate Studio, Cortland Avenue, Bernal Heights
Good morning, and welcome to Bernal Connect. Deandra and Liza from FTK Studios are joining me today. Good morning. Tell us a little bit. You’ve been in a couple of places on the corridor now.
Liza and I grew up practicing karate together. We met while taking karate at Lamas Kenpo Karate, which remains significant. We grew up, earned our black belts, and then our instructor decided to move away from Cortland for a while. That’s when the yoga studio was on the corner for about 10 years. After the yoga studio relocated, he decided to reopen Lamas.
At the time, Liza and another instructor, a good friend of ours, were supposed to run it, but he had started nursing school. I was there to assist, complete the paperwork, and perform other tasks. I saw she needed more help, and I got on the mat. By then, it might have been 10 to 15 years since I had last practiced karate. Liza was relatively new to the scene, having been away for about five years. She was still a little rusty.
We ran it for a while, and then our instructor semi-retired to spend more time with his family after closing the San Bruno locations. By then, we were so invested in the studio that we didn’t want to give it up. He turned it over. He said, “You girls make it your own, create your name, get your own identity,” which led to the birth of FTK. At that time, we were still working under Lamas.
FTK technically stands for Fernandez Thompson Karate. Depending on who you ask, it’s “For The Kids.” We’ve adopted various acronyms over the years. Whatever works, right?
His kids grew up and started families of their own. Our instructor decided to return to work, which is fine with us because that’s how we grew up, and we wanted him to continue that tradition and teaching. That’s what he loves to do. It just so happened that our lease was up, and the Succulence building had become available. We just got lucky and moved into this space maybe three months later.
We were very lucky to have the support of a great team of parents and a community rallying behind us to fundraise and acquire the necessary materials for mats and the build-out.
How has it been in the new location? Tell us a little. We love it because you’ve expanded your offerings as well, right?
Absolutely. It gave us the space to revive yoga and host parties in Cortland. Since the yoga studio relocated out of Bernal, there hasn’t been a community space here for several years. When we saw the space, we saw it as an opportunity to bring it back to the neighborhood.
We offer yoga, Pilates, and Qigong classes. We host Parents’ Night on the back patio for a Paint-and-Sip event. We host movie nights for the kids and birthday parties for neighbors who wish to rent our space. We’re trying to revive the community atmosphere and center in Bernal.
Do you keep a calendar of these events on your website?
Yes. For Parents’ Night, we primarily focus on karate students, specifically their parents. However, we don’t limit ourselves to people who happen to live in the neighborhood; we don’t typically host events like those on the calendar. We may start doing that soon until we establish a good rhythm. However, as of now, the Pilates, yoga, and Qigong classes are listed on the website.
Having grown up in Bernal, why is it important to be on Cortland and be part of the neighborhood?
Besides being close to home, it’s about contributing. As a child, I used to participate in these events. Liza was an altar server for St. Kevin’s and volunteered for the Bernal Heights Community Center. Having grown up in this neighborhood, I’m not obligated to give back, but I want to give back to my community.
Diandra grew up in the Bayview, but spent most of her childhood in Bernal. Running up and down the street, going to the pizza or coffee shop, getting donuts and other treats as a kid, or even visiting Good Luck grocery store, which has been here for decades. Given our familiarity and knowing people in the neighborhood who have watched us grow up, we want to give to the next generation of kids behind us.
Tell us a little about this: As a woman-owned business, how does that impact the services you offer and the clientele you attract?
Initially, it was challenging for us because we’re both minority-owned, which is relatively unheard of in the karate community. For a while, we were known as “Moe’s Girls.” And we wore it with a badge of honor, because we love our instructor that much.
But he said, “No, these girls know what they’re doing.” I taught them well; they know the skills.” And then it took about five or six years for it to be like, “I don’t know what you did to get these girls, but you are the luckiest man on earth.” We’ve built our reputation, and we believe it’s easier because students tend to be more comfortable with female instructors.
We do have a strong sense of discipline and respect. Listen carefully and follow the instructions, and there should be no issue. However, as you grow up, these are the consequences of not listening. Now, we’re not for screaming in kids’ faces. Sometimes, we yell and get loud because that’s the nature of the beast when we do karate. However, we’ve learned that kids tend to listen more and gravitate towards female instructors. It makes parents more comfortable with female instructors.
And in this business, we’re more logical. We’re not more emotion-based. We try to think things out clearly. We strive to find a solution and resolve the problem promptly.
I think students, especially children, have an advantage when they see instructors who look like them. Especially if you’re a young girl, where else can you go to learn karate from someone who is a person of color?
Absolutely. And, you know, we love our boys, but we get so excited when we see another little girl walking in. It builds your confidence.
Where do you think this will go from here?
We’re in it for the long haul. We’re here as long as the community needs us, as long as we can stay. We’re training up the next generation of instructors and karate kids. The goal is to focus on the business side and reach a position where the next generation can teach full-time, enabling us to add them to the payroll. That would be awesome.
We can run the studio with yoga, Pilates, and other engaging activities while also being the corporate-minded, behind-the-scenes businesspeople. Then, we can have the next person come up and teach. When kids come of age, they go to high school, then to college; it’s time to move on and create their path. Someone’s coming in right behind them to pick up the mantle.
If readers want to learn more, please share your website with us. What’s the link?
The website is ftkstudio.com. You can also find classes through MindBodyOnline.com. Look for FTK Studio. We offer yoga, Pilates, and Qigong classes through MindBody. You can reserve specific classes that interest you. If you’re interested in karate lessons or similar activities, please don’t hesitate to contact or email us at the studio. We respond quickly.
What are your hours?
For karate lessons, we’re open Monday through Friday, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The yoga classes, Pilates, and Qigong vary from month to month. If you can’t check the website, we’ll have a printed schedule in the window each month that you can use to check for updated classes.
What would you say to an interested young girl? What words of encouragement would you offer her?
Oh, words of encouragement. Don’t be scared. Just do it. You never know until you try. Kids come, and they go. We don’t take offense to kids who say, “It’s not for me.” It’s not for everybody. But we want kids to try a little bit of everything. We have a kid taking fencing lessons, so if you’re in karate or soccer, you might know them. So spread your wings and give it a shot. We’re not as scary as it all sounds. We’re having a good time. I promise you’ll love it here.
We appreciate both of you and are delighted to see you back on the corridor. We’ve seen the corridor evolve, and we’re glad you’re still a part of it. So, check out FTK. If interested, please visit their website, explore MindBody, or drop by.
We’ll be here. Thank you so much. We’re always here. You’re welcome.
FTK Karate Studio represents more than just a martial arts school – it’s a testament to community resilience and female entrepreneurship in the Bernal Heights neighborhood. Diandra and Liza have created a space where tradition meets innovation, offering karate instruction alongside yoga, Pilates, and community events. Their commitment to nurturing the next generation while honoring their roots makes FTK Studio a valuable neighborhood institution. Their welcoming approach and diverse programming ensure that martial arts and community wellness remain accessible to everyone in Bernal Heights.