Mr. Darius Andaya, VI Dan – HEAD INSTRUCTOR.  Mr. Andaya started Taekwon-Do in 1983 under the tutelage of Grandmaster Johhny Arsol of the Philippine International Taekwondo Jido Kwan Association. He had to travel 1.5 hours each way to train in the art that has since become his passion. In 1988, Mr. Andaya was promoted to I Dan Black Belt and became a Certified Principal of Taekwon-Do under the supervision of the Jido Kwan Main Temple and the Korea Taekwondo Association and in 1990 promoted to 2nd Dan Black Belt. On that same year, Mr. Andaya started teaching his art to a small group of friends in his neighborhood. Ultimately, the club became known as the St. Michael Taekwondo Club and members came from all over the city. However, once in university, Mr. Andaya had to take a few years off from teaching to concentrate in his studies. In university, Mr. Andaya had the chance to study the Maharlika style Arnis as well as olympic style Taekwon-Do. 

In 2000, Mr. Andaya’s family moved to Canada.  He briefly taught Taekwon-Do at The Cage Martial Arts Centre (Surrey) in2003, while at the same time  studied Arnis, the filipino art of stick fighting under Datu Shishir Inocalla (IMAF Philippines, Michaelangelo of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles).

In 2007, he began teaching his kids in the backyard. Their friends started joining and thus, the DSA Royal International Taekwon-do was born. DSA recertified to become a member of the International Taekwon-do Federation under the banner of the Canadian Taekwondo Federation Internationale and the ITF of BC.  Master Hal Lipscombe, 7th Dan, of the Pacific Rim Institute of Taekwon-Do took him under his wing and became his instructor and mentor. In 2013, Mr. Andaya received the rank of International Instructor (Sabum Nim) when he received his 4th dan certification at the  International Instructors Course at Ocho Rios, Jamaica. Mr. Andaya received his 5th degree in July of 2017, then his 6th degree in 2022.

Mr. Andaya is a Pan American and North American and Carribean Champion and a Certified International Instructor of the ITF. He holds a Class A Umpire Certificate, and a certified Taekwondo Kids, and Harmony Program instructor.  He served as a Board director for the ITF of BC from 2012-2017 and then again as Vice President since 2022.  Mr. Andaya has been an advocate for the Adapted/Special Needs/ Inclusive Taekwon-Do program since 2013 and was able to successfully include the Adapted events at the 2023 BC Provincials and the 2023 Canadian Nationals.  

Outside of the dojang, he is a sport enthusiast, an MBA and computer science degree holder, a pilot, a painter, a poet, cellist, a singer, a dancer and most of all, a dedicated family man. He continuously look for ways to improve and be a better contributor to society. In 2020, at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, Mr. Andaya, in collaboration with his son, Darryl, wrote the inspirational book, I Too Can be Special! where he narrated the words that his son and people like him could not express.