Head Instructor - Damien Ludwig

Damien Ludwig has been part of the Mountainside Martial Arts family since 1992, when he first tied on a white belt as a young student. Decades later, he now serves as lead instructor, sharing the same lessons of discipline, perseverance, and respect that shaped his own journey.

In 2024, Damien co-led a 15-member competition team to Japan to represent Mountainside Martial Arts at the prestigious 50th Annual Wado Ryu Karate Championships, giving students the opportunity to test their skills on an international stage.

Outside the dojo, Damien is the owner of Foothills Pool Care & Repair, a business he grew from just 11 pools to nearly 700 through hard work, integrity, and a commitment to excellence. A graduate of Mountain Pointe High School (1998) and Arizona State University (B.S., Criminology and Criminal Justice, 2022), Damien also served eight years in the United States Coast Guard, where he played a key leadership role during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill response in 2010.

Whether he’s teaching karate, running a business, or leading teams in high-stakes situations, Damien brings the same energy and focus to everything he does: lead by example, lift others up, and never stop learning. He and his wife, Shauna, are proud parents of Raelyn, who is following in her father’s footsteps as a brown belt at the dojo.