Our instructors
A lifelong student.
A passion for teaching.
Meet Jared Hartstein, the martial artist behind Strong Roots.
Instructor · Strong Roots Martial Arts
Jared Hartstein
Jared is a lifelong martial arts practitioner who enjoys learning, practicing, and teaching. He has more than 25 years of training experience across several styles and has competed in Karate, Muay Thai, and Jiu Jitsu.
His real passion is teaching: sharing a combination of martial arts that supports students’ self-defense skills, personal growth, and way of life.
Learning across traditions
Jared has traveled to Thailand twice to train in Muay Thai and to the Philippines twice to study martial arts. In Cebu, he began Doce Pares Eskrima with Grandmaster Ciriaco “Cacoy” Cañete. He continued that training after returning to the United States.
Growing through shared practice
His Jiu Jitsu journey began in childhood and continued through high school and college, including training with members of the Gracie Jiu Jitsu family. At UC Santa Cruz, he led the freestyle martial arts club, where practitioners shared knowledge and refined their skills together.
Experience on the mat and in the ring
After college, Jared trained with professional MMA and UFC fighters at Southern California gyms. His competitive experience includes Karate tournaments, kickboxing matches, and Jiu Jitsu tournaments.
The roots of Strong Roots
It begins with
character.
At five years old, Jared began traditional martial arts training under Grandmaster Fumio Demura. Those early lessons became the foundation of his lifelong practice.
Beyond self-defense, Demura’s teachings placed tremendous emphasis on character development. Strong Roots carries that influence forward through empowerment, respect, and the courage to stand for the greater good.
Let’s stay connected.
Have a question about Strong Roots? Get in touch with our martial arts community.