At Siyah Taekwondo, our program blends tradition, discipline, and a modern, scientific approach to training. Guided by our mission to develop confident and resilient students and athletes, we combine strong values with high-performance instruction to help every student grow on and off the mat.
Our program is led by Master Instructor and Head Coach Russell Beneby, a Fort Lauderdale native who began his Taekwondo journey in 1984. In 2001, he began training with three-time Olympian Juan Miguel Moreno, founder of the Peak Performance Program, further shaping his approach to elite athletic development.
After retiring from competition in 2009, Master Beneby was honored with an appointment as a USA National Team Coach. Today, he brings decades of experience as a coach, educator, and mentor, guiding students and athletes toward excellence while building a program rooted in integrity, perseverance, and self-confidence.
At Siyah Taekwondo, our story is about tradition, innovation, and community—developing strong individuals and future champions.
Our vision is to build an internationally respected Taekwondo program that continuously raises the standard of instruction, performance, and character development through a structured values-driven approach.
Our mission at Siyah Taekwondo is to employ a modern scientific approach in providing taekwondo instruction to develop confident and resilient students and athletes.
At Siyah Taekwondo, our purpose is to develop strong individuals through the discipline of Taekwondo. We combine traditional martial arts values with modern, scientific training methods to help students grow in confidence, resilience, and character.
Through structured instruction, mentorship, and high-performance athletic development, we strive to create an environment where students can reach their full potential—both on and off the mat.
Our goal is not only to build skilled martial artists, but to develop leaders, champions, and lifelong learners.
A Native of Fort Lauderdale Florida, with European and Caribbean heritage. He began training in 1984, under the tutelage of Dr. Alexander Song at World Taekwondo School. After college he focused on Olympic Style Taekwondo, training with Marc LaLonde, a student of Grand Master Chong Lee in Montreal, Canada. In 2001, he began training with three-time Olympian and founder of Peak Performance Juan Miguel Moreno. In 2009, he retired from competition to focus on training athletes. That same year he was given the honor of being appointed USA National Team Coach. Coach Beneby currently, trains and coaches numerous world-class athletes at national and international competitions.
He brings a wealth of knowledge from his professional experiences serving the community as a social worker and school teacher.
Coach Beneby is a dedicated husband, father, and educator. His passion is developing national and international champions.
With over twenty-two years of experience in Taekwondo, he is a two-time USA National Champion and a current world class competitor who leads by example through discipline, consistency, and performance. His career spans multiple weight divisions and includes numerous Florida State titles along with national and international podium finishes, earned through years of high-level competition and continuous refinement of his craft. His experience at the highest levels gives him a clear understanding of what it takes to perform under pressure.
As both an active athlete and coach, he specializes in Olympic style sparring, bringing intensity, structure, and accountability into every session. He emphasizes precise technique, intelligence, and mental toughness, challenging athletes to raise their standards, earn their accomplishments, and continuously set new goals. He brings real world experience, genuine competitive insight, enthusiasm, and high expectations to every training session.
Amber is a second-degree black belt and a native of South Florida with over 15 years of Taekwondo experience. She serves as a Poomsae instructor at Siyah Taekwondo.
Her early experiences focused on Olympic-style taekwondo, where mental toughness and technical precision are essential. She has successfully transitioned those skills into traditional and sport instruction.
Amber is a current Olympic-style Taekwondo athlete representing Canada.
Alina began her Taekwondo journey at seven years old and has a strong passion for the traditional art of Taekwondo. She started serving as an assistant instructor nearly three years ago, working primarily with younger children, where she discovered a love for teaching.
Alina is currently a student, athlete and instructor, she balances her academics with her commitment to Taekwondo. She began training in Olympic-style Taekwondo one year ago under Coach Russell Beneby and continues to work diligently to grow in the competitive field.
Alina aspires to become a Taekwondo Master and pursue a career in law.
A native of Miami, Florida who spent a significant amount of her childhood in Venezuela. A wife, mother of three, entrepreneur, and Taekwondo practitioner. She began her Taekwondo journey five years ago and has spent the past year training in Olympic-style taekwondo.
Inspired by her children, she initially entered Taekwondo to support their training. What began as encouragement quickly developed into a personal passion, leading her entire family to train together. Through Taekwondo, she has developed grit, perseverance, and self-confidence, while utilizing discipline to promote personal growth.
Taekwondo represents more than an opportunity to train, it is a source of balance, personal pride, and family connection. Sharing this journey with her family has become one of the most meaningful experiences of her life.
Carlos Figuera is a husband, father of three, military veteran, pilot, and entrepreneur. A Venezuelan native with Portuguese parents, his years in the Air Force instilled in him a deep sense of discipline, pride, and a commitment to excellence in all he does.
He began his Taekwondo journey five years ago after his wife and children started training and quickly developed a strong passion for the sport. Drawn to the competitive side of Taekwondo, Carlos trains in Olympic-style Taekwondo, where focus, discipline, and perseverance are essential.
Ms. Eli is a native of Brazil, a wife and mother of three. She was inspired to begin training Taekwondo in 2004 after signing up her oldest son for classes. She was active and competitive growing up and has always loved combat sports. After taking a long break, she was able to come back and pursue her black belt and compete at the national level. She now helps coordinate and manage our school’s programs while still continuing her training, and the most important part for her is doing what she loves alongside her family.
Performance and character development through a structured values-driven approach
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