Shinsei Federation Board

Born in Cleveland, Ohio, raised on the West side, she was involved in track, baton, swim and dive team. She graduated from North Ridgeville Senior High in 1983 and also Baldwin-Wallace College with a Bachelor’s of Science in Education while on the swim and dive team.

Leslie joined martial arts with her son when he was 5 years old and earned 1st degree in Kempo Karate in 2000. Necessity caused her to move and open a school in 2001. Shortly after that she met and began training under Joseph Lumpkin, the founder of Shinsei Hapkido. Leslie earned 1st to 6th degree in Shinsei and sits on the Shinsei Hapkido Federation Board of Directors.

David Lyons started training in martial arts in November of 1999, not knowing at the time just how much it would shape his life. In those early years, he met Joseph Lumpkin while Joseph was serving as President of Karate for Christ, and that connection helped deepen David’s appreciation for both the art and the community around it.

As the years went by, David had the grace in timing of joining Shinsei Hapkido early in it's development and the joy of watching the Shinsei Hapkido Federation grow and evolve. Along the way, he’s been fortunate to learn from people like Joseph Lumpkin, Daryl Covington, and many other dedicated teachers who were generous with their time and knowledge.

David is currently an eighth-degree black belt in Shinsei Hapkido, something he sees as a reflection of steady learning rather than personal achievement alone.

Some of his favorite memories come from spending time with Jim and Jodie Hiner at their home in Indiana—simple, genuine moments that left a lasting impact.

For David, martial arts has always been about more than techniques or rank. It’s a place of growth, faith, friendship, and gratitude. After all these years, he still feels thankful for each step of the journey and hopes to continue sharing what others have poured into him.

Eric Stieg is Vice Chair of the Board of Directors, and began his training in 1984. He holds various dan ranks in multiple forms of hapkido, jujutsu, kenjutsu, kumdo, kendo, TaeKwonDo and Wing Chun.  He began teaching in 1994, and continues to teach from the Christian Academy of Martial Arts in the San Jose, CA area since 2003. Eric combines his Christian faith with his teaching of martial arts, and uses it as a conduit to a closer relationship with Christ.  He is often heard in the dojo uttering, "WWJD," or "what would Jesus do," as his litmus test for situations in life.