Our Karate Instructors

Nick W. Smith

Nick Smith started Hill Country Karate in 1983 with one location in New Braunfels, Texas. His program currently has 32 locations, an active instructor base of over 40 Black Belt instructors and an annual weekly enrollment as high as 1500 students. Mr. Smith has trained and promoted well over 275 individuals to the rank of Black Belt. He has hosted and directed more than 230 tournaments with competitors numbering from 300-1600 over the past 40 years. Nick is recognized as one of the nation's top tournament directors and is requested by the International Sport Karate Organization to judge and officiate the World Finals Divisions of their tournament that is televised on ESPN every year.

Nick's other accomplishments include:
• 8th Degree Black Belt - American Karate (1985)
• 8th Dan Black Belt - Superfoot Systems (1985)
• 6th Dan Black Belt - World Tiger & Crane - Goju Ryu Karate (2008)
• 1st Degree Black Belt - Cha-yon Ryu Tae Kwon Do (1982)
• 1st Degree Black Belt - Pekiti-Tersia Kali (1990)
• Silat Suffian Bela Diri Team Leader (2015)
• Silat Suffian Bela Diri Regional Director (2017)
• Silat Suffian Bela Diri Global Tactical Director (2018)
• Adaptive Combative Class Instructor at the US Armed Forces Center for the Intrepid (2011)
• Board of Directors member for NASKA (North American Sport Karate Association - 2022)
• Owner/Promoter “Cowboy Up! World Championships” (NASKA World Tour - 2022)
• Combat Pistol, Duty Rifle & Combat Shotgun Instructor (USCCA/L J N & Associates - 2019)
• North American Professional Martial Arts member (1997)
• North American Professional Martial Arts Cardio Karate Instructor (1997)
• Dog Brothers Martial Arts Instructor (2001)
• Kabaroan Eskrima of Filipino Barons Associate Instructor (2001)
• CDT (Law Enforcement) Master Instructor (2006)
• LRT(Military) Master Instructor (2006)
• TFL(Civilian) Master Instructor (2006)
• Real Safe/Know & Go/Bullyguard Instructor (2006)
• ITC Licensed/Certified Executive Protection Specialist (2007)

Roger Haggard

Mr. Haggard joined Hill Country Karate in 1984. He had taken judo classes and played baseball & football throughout his childhood. After graduation from New Braunfels High School, he was looking for a way to challenge himself mentally and physically. He was approached by Ms. Angel Smith while lifting weights at the Landa Park Rec Center. She told him that if he kept lifting weights like he was, and didn't start stretching, he soon wouldn't be able to move at all! She challenged him to come and try the karate class she and Mr. Nick Smith were teaching. He gave it a try and fell in love with martial arts all over again. Mr. Haggard feels very blessed that in 1987, he became the first person to receive a Hill Country Karate black belt from Mr. Smith. After many years of teaching martial arts, Mr. Haggard now coaches the HCK Stars Competition Team exclusively. These students travel all over Texas and the United States competing in sport karate tournaments. He has been the head coach of this team since 2015. In 2017, under his direction, and with the help of a wonderful coaching staff, The HCK Stars won the ISKA World Championships at the US Open in Orlando, Florida!Mr. Haggard is also married to his wife Holly and has 4 children. During the day, he works as a nurse, providing medical care for veterans with catastrophic injuries. Request information now!
Training Center Located at 28864 Country Dr., New Braunfels, Texas 78132

Mark DeBerardino

Bio coming soon.

John Covington

Bio coming soon.

Richard Ruff

Mr. Ruff teaches our Specht Elementary class and is an assistant coach of the HCK Stars Competition team.

Nick W. Smith

Director- 8th Degree Black Belt- 1985

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Roger Haggard

5th Degree Black Belt- 1987

Our Karate Instructors

Nick W. Smith

Roger Haggard

Mark DeBerardino

John Covington

Richard Ruff

Nick W. Smith

Roger Haggard

Mark DeBerardino

John Covington

Heather Hedquist

Bo Estrada

Tony Vannella

Louis Polichino

Robin Armstrong

Richard Ruff

Diana Polichino

William Waring

Michaela Zach

Richard Armstrong

Fernando Luna

Richard Rodriquez

Mairi Vannella

Rick Agquiz

Stephanie Ayala

Jose A Ayala

Robert Dunlap

Jason Hibbard

David Janson

Polly Johnson

Denise Knebel

Tracy Birchfield

Jessie Garcia

Kira Knebel

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