Toney Lopez
Recognized on the cover of the 2006 Sport Karate NBL magazine for winning three out of five National conferences in one year, and a nine time National and International champion in Sport Karate NBL (National Black Belt League), 5th Degree Black Belt Master Toney “TJ” Lopez is the owner and head instructor of Retro Sport Karate. Master Lopez began his formal martial arts training at his father’s studio in 1990, and received his first-degree black belt from his father and Grand Master Jhoon Rhee in 1996 at the age of 10 years old. That same year he won his first Pan-American Championship in the National Black Belt League. By the age of 14 he was training in both the physical as well as the business aspect of the martial arts, holding the position of Program Director at his father’s studio. By 18 years of age, he had retired from competition and assumed the full-time position of Head Instructor at his fathers’ facility. The 10 years spent assisting his father in his studio’s operations inspired and encouraged him to open his own facility in 2012, where the journey to Building Leaders One Black Belt at a Time truly began. Possessing the heart of a mentor, Master Lopez desires to provide elite martial arts training to Helotes and the surrounding San Antonio area, as well as passing along disciplines and skills that will positively impact his students’ future lives and career goals.
