The Instructors
Ryan Nowakowski - Mr. Nowakowski began martial arts training at age 17. In 1995, He started teaching at Master Niblock's school in Round Rock while attending the University of Texas. In 1999 he fell head-over-heels for another student when she kicked him in the face. In 2000 Courtney Hoag and Ryan Nowakowski were married. That same year, Mr. Now started his first Taekwondo club at the Westover Tennis Center in Austin, TX. Mr. and Mrs. Nowakowski were awarded the rank of 4th degree black belt in 2003.
Courtney Nowakowski - At the age of 16, then Courtney Hoag went to watch her boyfriend compete in a martial arts tournament. She was skeptical watching all those people jumping around in their "pajamas". However, once she caught a glimpse of her future instructor Marilyn Niblock sparring, she knew she wanted to do that! Mrs. Hoag earned her black belt in 1996 and began working for Master Niblock at the front desk. Then, in 1998 after kicking some poor guy in the face during a sparring match, she took pity on him and accepted his offer to take her out on a date. In 2000, Mr. Now and Mrs. Now were married. Shortly after that, she convinced him that they could run a school. So, the Westover Taekwondo Club became Nowakowski's Family Martial Arts.
