CHANGING LIVES ONE CLASS AT A TIME
MEET THE CHOE’S HAPKIO FLOWERY BRANCH TEAM!

Choe’s HapKiDo Flowery Branch has been a part of Hall County, GA since 2013!
INSTRUCTOR ANTHONY RIVERA

INSTRUCTOR ANTHONY RIVERA
Hello, guys! My name is Anthony Rivera, or also known as Instructor Rivera by the students here at Choe’s HapKiDo Flowery Branch. I started as a HapKiDo student in 2007, and earned my 1st degree black belt in 2011. My journey in this martial art has greatly continued since then, and now, I’m currently a 3rd degree black belt.
Like all of us, my martial arts journey started as a kid watching kung fu movies. There was even a series called Kung Fu at the time with David Carradine. Bruce Lee was on The Green Hornet, and even had a cameo on Batman and Robin. As a result, I learned American Karate and practiced up into my mid-teens.
Fast forward to when my 6-year-old son wanted to do martial arts after attending a Karate party done by an ex-military guy in a warehouse setting. I searched for a place that I felt comfortable for my son to be at and learn from. I came across Choe’s HapKiDo located in Grayson. After several months of taking him to class, I got the, “I can do this!” bug bite and joined.
Soon after, my wife (Instructor PattiAnn) and daughter joined classes as well. It became a family activity for us that had extreme benefits. My wife and I eventually became Assistant Instructors, and our children became Junior Instructors. Once we reached our Black Belt goals, our love for teaching and helping students to better themselves blossomed into opening a Choe’s HapKiDo school in Flowery Branch in 2013.
It has been an honor to continue my journey at Choe’s HapKiDo Flowery Branch. My family and I are now Changing Society One Black Belt at a Time!
INSTRUCTOR PATTIANN RIVERA

INSTRUCTOR PATTIANN RIVERA
Hello! My name is PattiAnn Rivera, and my students know me as Instructor PattiAnn. My journey as a Choe’s HapKiDo student began in 2008, and it has been an honor to be running the Flowery Branch location with my husband since 2013. I am currently the head instructor for our TaiChi class, and I’m currently a 3rd degree black belt.
My passion for martial arts definitely started when I was a kid. I liked all kinds of martial arts movies and watching boxing with my dad.
My husband, Instructor Anthony Rivera, and I moved to Georgia back in 1994. When we started our family, we decided we needed an activity and thought about martial arts! Out of the Rivera clan, our son was the first pioneer at 6-years-old. After trying several martial arts places, Anthony came home and told me he had found the perfect place—Choe’s HapKiDo in Grayson, GA! He said it felt like home from the moment he walked through the doors.
With no time at all, I joined the TaiChi classes and absolutely loved it. Then one day, my instructor approached me and said, “Why don’t you try HapKiDo class? Your kids and husband like it, and I bet you will too!” So I tried it and was hooked! We soon became Asst Instructors and our son Hudson a Jr Instructor. Our daughter remained a student.
At the time, I had no idea where this new path would take us. Our decision led us to the opportunity to impact and improve our lives and also many others. By training at one location, and then opening one in a Flowery Branch—IT WAS A DREAM COME TRUE! I’ve always had a love of teaching, so this felt so natural. Watching students build confidence and character is the most rewarding life I could have chosen for myself.
INSTRUCTOR STEPHEN MALLORY
INSTRUCTOR STEPHEN MALLORY
As a Husband, Father, Graduate from Georgia Tech, and a successful Software Architect, one would think I had success in all parts of my life. But something was missing.
My martial arts journey began in 2016 when my two oldest sons expressed interest. We were lucky to find Choe’s Hapkido. The instructors were passionate, energetic, and fun—My boys were hooked immediately! The more I watched from the sidelines, the more I was impressed. We had found a ‘real-deal’ traditional martial arts school. The lessons were physical of course, but also contained a lot of character development. Then one night, the parents were invited on the mat to give it a try. I never looked back after that night!
Martial Arts improved every aspect of my life. The increase in my confidence, manners, and respect helped me with my relationships, both familially and professionally. My body, mentality, and heart have been forever transformed.
I’m grateful I’ve been given the opportunity to pay it forward by handing down this traditional martial art. I get to improve the entire world, one Black Belt at a time. I’m grateful to the Rivera family for inviting me into their family business. I’m grateful to all of the Senior Instructors and Masters who invest their precious time in me and my family. Ultimately, I’m grateful to Grandmaster Choe for bringing his Family’s martial art from South Korea to share with the United States.