Master Steve Ross is owner and Chief Instructor of West Coast Tang Soo Do Karate Academy. After moving to southern California from Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1983, he assumed ownership of a studio in Costa Mesa, California. At the request of The Sports Club / Irvine to join their team and bring them the highest quality marital arts program available, he moved his operation there in 1991. He was the head martial arts instructor there from 1991 to 2008 and established one the most successful martial arts programs at the University of California, Irvine (UCI) which was later assumed by one of his students, Mr. Danny Lockhart. Master Ross now teaches in several locations throughout the Orange County area.

He has spent most of his life in association with martial arts and self-defense. He began his studies in 1971 at the age of 11. Prior to his dedication to the art of Tang Soo Do, he studied Tae Kwon Do, Jiu Jitsu, Goju-Ryu, Judo, Aikido and hand to hand combat.

Master Ross has been a competitor since 1977 and has won numerous national, regional and state martial arts awards in both fighting and forms. Included in these accomplishments is his 1^st place world title from the 1986 World Marital Arts Championships held in London, England. 

In 1993, he was evaluated by the arts founder, Grandmaster Hwang Kee and was awarded the rank of Sa Bom from the U.S. Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan Federation. He has served as the bodyguard for various celebrities, taught members of royal families, CEO’s and instructed hand-to-hand combat techniques to military personnel.  He has also worked in the motion picture industry with actors such as Jean-Claude Van Damme, Louise Gossett Jr. and Peter Coyote.

He was the first in Orange County to start teaching martial arts to children 3 years of age and has successfully done so for over 15 years, and he has helped many children and adults to become national champions.

Dedicated to the growth and development of Tang Soo Do, he has devoted the majority of his life toward helping others to understand the principals of self-defense and to develop the skills required to master the art.