Chris Leigh-Smith
Head Instructor

Chris has studied Martial Arts for over 30 years and holds the following credentials:

• 5th Degree in RCI Combatives

• 4th Degree Black Belt - International Combat Hapkido

• 1st Degree Black Belt World Hapkido Federation

• Black Belt in Budo Ryu Kempo

Chris taught Physical Education & Health for 15 years with the Calgary Board of Education and served as Vice Principal for his last 4 years. Chris earned a B.Ed in Physical Education from the University of New Brunswick and a Masters Degree in Education from the University of Calgary. His passion is in working with people to assist them in allowing their greatest human potential to emerge.

Instructor Alberto

Instructor Alberto fell in love with the Tao of Peace and the way it combined martial arts, life skills, philosophy and community.  The mat became a place where, no matter what was going on in his life, he could lose himself in and develop himself through, the training. Alberto is a home-grown Tao Black Belt who for four years ran the Renert School Martial Arts program. Alberto is a student of philosophy, psychology, and positive communication strategies. Alberto has a passion for helping students grow holistically through martial arts and feels honoured to be able to express this through teaching at the Tao.

Instructor Brad

Brad has been training in Martial Arts since he was in Grade 7, primarily in Tae-Kwon-Do. He has been teaching with the Tao since 2015 and is an avid member of the grappling team. His passion lies in sparring and grappling aspects of the art, and although he claims to be slow and old, he acts like he’s in his 20's. His sense of humour and big heart really shine through in his teaching and how he relates with others.

By trade, Brad is a craftsman, making cabinets and beautiful wooden boxes. His love for the Martial Arts is rivaled only by that for his wife and 2 daughters. In the summer you can find him camped out in Radium, swinging the days away on a golf course.

Instructor Curtis

Instructor Curtis has studied martial arts since 2004 and has been a part of the Tao of Peace team of instructors since 2005.  Curtis has a passion for all aspects of the martial arts especially the Hapkido and Aikido principles of joint manipulation and anti-grappling.

As well as teaching part-time for Tao of peace, Curtis is a full-time electrical instructor at SAIT and is currently pursuing a Professional Instructional Development diploma in adult education through Vancouver Community College.

Inspired by Carl Rogers and his Humanistic Learning Theory, Curtis believes that to train the mind you also must also engage the body and the spirit of the learner. Curtis considers his goal and role as a teacher is to be a mentor, a role model and a source of wisdom for his students

Instructor Eric

Eric has trained with the Tao of Peace since 2003 and has been teaching part time under Instructor Chris since 2008.  When offered a role on the full-time team in Spring of 2018, Eric leapt at the chance and has since become Program Coordinator for the Demo Team.  His passion in martial arts mainly lies in kicking, diving, and acrobatics.  Any time spent inverted is always a bonus.  When not at the Tao, Eric spends his time in the mountains either biking or skiing, depending on the season.

Instructor Lisa

Lisa’s son insisted she start taking classes at the Tao, this is when her addiction to martial arts began. Lisa is originally from Edinburgh, Scotland. She has a dance degree from the university of Surrey, U.K., has two teenagers and is also a birth and postpartum doula. Her spare time is spent reading, bouldering or taking hot yoga classes.