Blue Ridge Martial Arts

Our Thursday night class was excellent. We are proud of all the hard work our students are putting in.

Meet Our Team - Samantha Grindstaff

Samantha is our amazing dojo mom, multitasking, superpower! She keeps our dojo running smoothly and our students supported every step of the way.

Born and raised in California, Samantha developed a strong foundation in both education and youth leadership early on. She worked as a country line dance instructor and graduated college with three degrees in child development and general education.

In 2007, Samantha relocated to North Carolina, where she continued her dedication to working with children and families. In 2017, she became the cheer coach for Mitchell County Recreation, working with students in grades 3 through 6. She currently serves as the cheer coach for kindergarten through second grade at Mitchell County Recreation, inspiring confidence, teamwork, and enthusiasm in young athletes.

Samantha is deeply committed to supporting her community. She is the Co‑Director of the Miss High & Low Country Caring Crowns Pageant, an annual event held in Mitchell County, North Carolina, that focuses on service, leadership, and personal growth.

In addition to her role at the dojo, Samantha is a North Carolina Board‑Certified Paralegal. She serves as the Real Estate Paralegal and Office Manager at B. Dean Grindstaff Law.

Her passion for education, community involvement, and youth development makes Samantha an invaluable part of the Blue Ridge Martial Arts family.

Please join Blue Ridge Martial Arts in congratulating Conner and Keegan Lujan on their promotion to Green Belts.

We are extremely proud of the diligent effort these two have been putting in for their belt testing and competition.

Both of these young men began their karate journey at Blue Ridge Martial Arts just seven months ago. Their dedication, commitment, and work ethic continue to yield outstanding results.

MEET OUR TEAM - Joshua Wirtz

At 20 years old, Joshua Wirtz is Blue Ridge Martial Arts’ youngest instructor. He is the son of Teresa and Joseph Wirtz. Joshua is a black belt trained in Kenpo and Sh*to-Ryu Karate and began his martial arts journey at age 11.

Joshua has had the privilege of learning from many instructors at BRMA, and he is proud to give back by helping provide free karate classes for the community.
· Rick Sparks
· Ben Varney
· Curtis “Bo” Deaton
· Steve Queen
· Dean Grindstaff
· Bobby Briggs
· Marybeth Briggs
· Doug Parish
· Heath Hall
· Hudson Hall
· Hank Phillips
· Rochy Branch
· and many more

Joshua’s martial arts journey has required persistence and hard work. He credits his teachers for pushing him to grow through high standards and consistent practice. The lessons he has learned along the way have helped shape him not only as a martial artist, but also as a person.

Joshua has competed in numerous tournaments, including the ISKA U.S. Open. He is one of seven children and was homeschooled using a classical education approach. He currently attends Mayland Community College and enjoys teaching—sharing what he has learned and encouraging students as they build confidence, discipline, and skill.

On May 22–23, 2026, brothers Conner and Keegan Lujan proudly represented Blue Ridge Martial Arts at the Carolina Martial Arts Open in Columbia, South Carolina.

The Carolina Martial Arts Open featured weapons, kata and point sparring, with over 300 divisions of competition throughout the weekend. With 43 schools from across the Southeastern United States competing at the event, both athletes demonstrated outstanding skill, determination, and sportsmanship throughout the tournament. Here are the results

Keegan Lujan - Novice - Orange Belt.
Competed in Weapons, Kata & Point Sparring
- 1st Place Kata, Novice. Age 14 -17
- 1st Place Weapons, Novice. Age 14-17
- 2nd Place Point Sparring. Novice. Age 14 -15
- Winner GRAND CHAMPIONSHIP- Kata & Weapons Under Belts - Ages 10 to 17

Conner Lujan - Adult Novice - Orange Belt. Competed in Kata and Point Sparring.
- 1st Place Kata, Novice. Age 18-34
- 2nd Place Point Sparring, Novice.AGR 18-34
- Runner-Up GRAND CHAMPIONSHIP- Kata &Weapons Under Belts - Ages 18 to 34

We are incredibly proud not only of Conner and Keegan’s achievements on the competition floor, but also of the character, leadership, and dedication they display both on and off the mat.

Their hard work and commitment continue to reflect the values we strive to build every day at Blue Ridge Martial Arts:
Character. Honor. Respect

We would also like to extend a heartfelt thank you to our Sensei Rick Sparks and our instructors for their dedication, guidance, and support. Your leadership and commitment help shape not only strong martial artists, but strong individuals.

Congratulations, Conner and Keegan, on an incredible performance

Great Classes tonight!

Tonight presents a fantastic chance to experience our karate classes for the first time.

If you're already part of our BRMA family, we're excited to see you back in the Dojo tonight!

Come on by and see what all the excitement is about!

CONGRATULATIONS! Keegan Lujan took first place in his division for traditional weapons at the Carolina Martial Arts Open in Columbia, South Carolina. Keegan did an excellent job, representing Blue Ridge Martial Arts. Keegan and his brother Conner will both be competing tomorrow in Kata and Sparring.

Be part of something special! Join us tonight and find out what everyone's talking about.

MEET OUR TEAM- Steve Queen

Steve began studying karate in 2018 alongside his son. He currently trains under Grandmaster Rick Sparks and is working toward his 2nd-degree black belt. As an instructor at Blue Ridge Martial Arts, Steve enjoys both training and teaching, and he is proud to support the dojo’s mission of providing free karate classes for the community. His instruction emphasizes fundamentals, accuracy, and steady progress.

Accomplishments & Credentials
- Won numerous tournaments in the region
- Received instructor certification
- Received his 2nd-degree black belt under Grandmaster Rick Sparks

Steve is an active member of the community, and he and his son, Seth, have enjoyed sharing their martial arts journey together since 2018. He especially enjoys seeing students build confidence and skill through consistent practice, and he works to make every class encouraging, and focused on solid technique.