Meet Our Instructors
Arnold Lau
Master Arnold Lau trains and competes internationally for over 35 years. With championships along the US East Coast, Europe, and Asia, Master Lau trained and developed his skills in many martial arts disciplines. He was the captain of the Rutgers Martial Arts team from 1988 til 1992 and served as head instructor at Rutgers from 1993 until 2004. Master Lau remains active with the Rutgers community by funding college scholarships and teaching as a part-time lecturer in Computer Science.
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Master Lau saw an opportunity in Ridgewood Karate Academy to continue a tradition of developing the martial artists of the future. Teaching at RKA is an opportunity to instill some of the attributes that helped Master Lau achieve his personal development goals.
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Master Lau has shared some insight about his experiences at RKA and his other commitments in The Bizwood Podcast - check it out here!
Ryan Santiago
My name is Ryan Santiago, and I’ve been training in Taekwondo and Karate for the past 11 years. I started my martial arts journey when I was eight years old, and I remember how excited I was when I earned my very first belt. From that moment on, I knew martial arts was something I wanted to keep pursuing. Growing up, I played a variety of sports and always loved being active and moving around. Martial arts gave me a way to channel that energy into something that challenged me to constantly improve. Over the years, it has helped me become more confident, disciplined, focused, and aware, not just in training, but in everyday life. One of the things I’ve come to enjoy most is helping others improve. I understand what it feels like to be a beginner, work toward a goal, and finally see all that hard work pay off. Being able to help students experience that same feeling is something I really enjoy. What started as an activity when I was eight years old eventually became a major part of who I am. Martial arts has grown from a hobby into a lifestyle that has taught me lessons I’ll carry with me for the rest of my life, and I’m excited to share that experience with the next generation of students.
Elizabeth Lau
Elizabeth Lau has been training in karate for over ten years. She has competed in a variety of tournaments in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, being able to win as the grand champion. As a competitor in a variety of activities, including martial arts, swimming, and music, she understands how it is like to overcome nerves and to set appropriate goals to improve. She grew to love this sport because of the positive and encouraging environment around her. She wants to promote a similar environment for RKA students so that they have fun, as well as learn fundamental skills.
Andrew Lau
Andrew Lau has been training in karate for over ten years. He had the privilege to learn from many talented instructors and learned both taekwondo and karate. He has won a variety of tournaments in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. He studied computer science and business and graduated from Rutgers in 2025. He enjoys running, weightlifting, doing martial arts, swimming, and playing music. He hopes to pass his knowledge and experience to the RKA students, being able to push them to their best selves.