Master Rachael Evans (she/her), is the founder and chief instructor at Quantum Martial Arts, with over 35 years of martial arts experience. A sixth-degree black belt, she teaches a unique style of her own creation that blends Tae Kwon Do, Wing Chun, Judo, and Arnis, among other styles, in a challenging and positive learning environment.
Inspired by Bruce Lee’s performance in the movie Enter the Dragon, Master Evans first studied Shito-ryu as a youth. Martial arts has been a constant in her life, through a journey that includes management, music, bookkeeping, and the U.S. Marine Corps. She took her first Tae Kwon Do class from Master Mark Karasek in Twentynine Palms, CA, and studied under him for five years before returning to Seattle to teach.
Master Evans opened Quantum Martial Arts on Capitol Hill in Seattle in March of 1995 with just 8 students and 8,000 square feet of space. Since then, the school has grown to well over 100 students and moved to its current larger location in First Hill, Seattle.
Master Evans moved to San Francisco and opened a second Quantum Martial Arts dojo in the Mission District in 2007. The school has since grown from a handful of Seattle transplants to a thriving program for all ages that continues to expand. The Quantum style continues to develop as well, as her experience with yoga, body work, and healing arts deepens.
Amy Popovich, Assistant Instructor, (she/her), has been training with Quantum Martial Arts since 2007, and has earned the rank of 2nd Dan, Black Belt. As an Assistant Instructor, she brings with her 20 years experience practicing yoga, and a life-long love of dance and movement arts. As Board President and Communications & Design Director for Quantum, Amy brings 14 years experience in graphic design and copywriting for advertising, marketing, public relations, and publishing clients.
She holds an MA in Creative Writing and Publishing. Additional experience working with youth includes four years as a summer and environmental camp counselor, lifeguard, and swim instructor.
Michael Shehane, Assistant Instructor, (he/him), has been training with Quantum Martial Arts since 2011 and has earned the rank of 1st Dan, black belt. Unathletic as a kid, Michael came to Quantum unsure of how to move on the Dojo floor and wondering whether he could commit to a specific, disciplined practice. Over the past 8 years, the community of the dojo and the individualized, explicit instructions of Master Evans and Ms. Popovich has helped him focus his attention and advance his martial arts to what it is today.
His instruction focuses on developing body awareness by breaking down techniques step-by-step. He encourages students to push themselves, practice without judgement, and ask for feedback from instructors and peers. There is no one way to learn martial arts at Quantum.
He credits Quantum Martial Arts in helping him find his confidence, leading him to start his own business; he publicly speaks at Bay Area tech companies on the topic of effective communication skills and their importance in building productive, healthy company cultures.
Yasi Lowry, Volunteer Coordinator, (she/her and they/them), has been training with Quantum Martial Arts since 2018, and has earned the rank of Fourth gup, blue belt.
Yasi got her BA in 2016, and after several years of traveling, ended up in San Francisco. Just a few short months after the move, Yasi found her way to the Quantum Dojo and began her training.
In addition to coordinating volunteers and assisting in youth classes, Yasi spends her time writing and making music.
Volunteer Teachers
Daniel James, Assistant Instructor, (he/him), has earned the rank of Fourth gup, Blue Belt.
Daniel volunteers as assistant instructor in kids and teens classes. He has been a Quantum student in San Francisco for twenty years! Daniel is a designer of online games and lives in SF with his wife Eunice and two children, who are also students at Quantum.
Alex Kleissner, Student Teacher, (he/him), has been training at Quantum’s San Francisco dojo since 2014, with a two year stint in Seattle, and has earned the rank of 2nd Gup, Red belt.
Alex trained in Tae Kwon Do for 15 years, and Capoeira for 7 years. He has always loved training and teaching, finding new and interesting ways to push his body and his practice. The combination of long, medium, and short distance techniques drew Alex into Quantum, and the community and mission keep him there.
Alex is currently learning how to drop his nunchucks less, and teaches various kicking combos and takedowns in the Sparring Concepts class.
Sanjeeth Cherian, Student Teacher, (he/him), has been training at Quantum since 2015, and has earned the rank of 2nd Gup, Red belt.
On turning 30, Sanjeeth decided to pursue a childhood dream of training in martial arts. Having trained in Kung-Fu previously, Sanjeeth joined Quantum in 2015 to continue his martial arts journey, after moving to San Francisco.
The focus on community, holistic approach to training and non-competitive learning is what attracted Sanjeeth to Quantum. His classes focus on grounding in the right technique.
Outside of Quantum, Sanjeeth leads product management at a retail organization.