Master Elmer V. Montoyo
Master Elmer V. Montoyo began training in the martial arts in Western Boxing at the Bacolod City Diamond Gloves Boxing Gym of Col. Porferio Arcobillas.
His Karate training started under Levy Sembrano, Jerry Gonzales and the late George Gargalicano. These men have been recognized as masters.
When Master Gargalicano decided to take a Sabbatical from teaching, he recommended Master Montoyo to Grandmaster Casimiro A. Grandeza for further training. Grandmaster Grandeza, who owned the White Kimono Club, was teaching Japanese Karate, Filipino Arnis and Japanese Jujitsu. He agreed to accept Master Montoyo as a student.
Some time after Master Montoyo had earned a black belt, the White Kimono Club was given recognition by Grandmaster Hwang Kee as the official Philippine representative for his Moo Duk Kwan organization. Grandmaster Grandeza had travelled to Seoul, South Korea and had successfully passed the Moo Duk Kwan's Special Instructor's Course.
As a result, Master Montoyo began to learn Tang Soo Do from Grandmaster Grandeza. Soon, he was assisting the Grandmaster in teaching the Police Department.
In 1982, Master Montoyo was appointed to head the administrative and teaching duties of the Moo Duk Kwan's new central gym. He held that post for 18 straight years. Throughout this time, he produced numerous black belt students, regional and national tournament champions as well as Tang Soo Do instructors. He also promoted many successful demonstrations, tournaments and reach-out activities, wherein Tang Soo Do was taught in a number of High Schools and Colleges.
In addition, Master Montoyo studied Chinese and Filipino Martial arts. He learned Hung Gar Kung Fu from Sifu Yao Hing Pui of Hong Kong, Chinese Atado Kung Fu Karato under Grandmaster Leung Fu of Malaysia and Filipino Tapado Arnis under Grandmaster Nono Mamar and Master Benefredo Lobrido.
At the start of the new millenium, all of the Philippine Moo Duk Kwan's training was standardized under the Soo Bahk Do curriculum. However, Master Montoyo believed that the Curriculum based on what was passed down to him from Grandmaster Grandeza was more relevant to the needs of Filipinos. He therefore requested permission to set up the Philippine Integrated Martial Arts Academy Filipino-Tang Soo Do Association, of which he is the founder and president.
Kyo Sah Jimmy Lee
Kyo Sah Jimmy Lee is a senior member of the PIMAA. He began his training in 1978, while he was in High School. He originally studied under Master Eslaw Billones, who later referred him to Master Montoyo for further instruction.
His dedication to the martial arts and his talent in performance, application and teaching earned him the rank of Assistant Instructor. He was also chosen to represent the Negros Occidental team for the Moo Duk Kwan national tournament in 1986. Unfortunately, logistical difficulties kept the team from participating. He last competed in the Bacolod City Open Full Contact Karate Tournament in 1992. Most recently, he was on the coaching staff that guided the Sum-Ag National High School Tae Kwon Do team to a six gold medal finish at the BACSMA tournament.
Kyo Sah Lee believes in the idea of gaining knowledge and applying it to improve one's life and the lives of others. He also believes that gaining knowledge is by education, both in and out of the classroom and that a learner can be helped by being provided with as many tools as is practical. He was one of the first to videotape training sessions at the academy so that these could be analyzed for students' improvement.
Subsequently, he constantly searches for better ways to improve methods of teaching and training. Many of the Academy's training and safety equipment as well as much of its audio-visual training aids was chosen and procured as a result of his research into the matter.
Kyo Sah Joe Clemen
Kyo Sah Jose "Joe" Clemen became one of the founding officers when the central gym was newly opened. He has dedicated himself to serious training and teaching ever since.
Kyo Sah Clemen has competed in various tournament competitions. He maintains his performance abilities by regular practice sessions.
In spite of having to take medication for diabetes, Kyo Sah Clemen continues to live an active, normal lifestyle. He stresses that proper nutrition, regular exercise and avoidance of vices results in the maximization of one's health and energy.