Master Daniella Leifer is a 5th degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do, and has been an avid practitioner for almost 20 years. She trains daily and is honored to be under the tutelage of Master Paul Melella (6th Dan), Master Anthony Melella (5th Dan), and Master Chris Berlow (6th Dan). Her instructors train under the guidance of Grand Master Byung Min Kim, who has instilled in them that as long as they continue to train consistently, they will always grow as Martial Artists and as leaders. This is the message we are passing down to our students at UMAC.
Master Leifer was introduced to Tae Kwon Do and to her teachers through a 6 week after school program at Putnam Valley Elementary School. She earned her white belt at the end of the course and that same night, drove to what was once Tae Kwon Do Educational Center in Carmel and enrolled as a student. At age 14, she qualified to become a Certified Instructor and began her teaching career. She has been instructing ages 4 and up for over 10 years.
In the year 2014 Master Leifer graduated Marist College with a Bachelors Degree in English Literature and Adolescent Education. Her dream all her life was to be an English teacher. When she graduated she was offered many teaching positions in local public schools, but she had to ask herself “What can I not live without?”. She could not envision a life without Tae Kwon Do, and she chose instead to be a Professional Martial Artist with United Martial Arts Centers. She knew she could impact the world on a much greater scale teaching Tae Kwon Do.
Master Leifer has the deepest gratitude for her parents, brother, family, and close friends who have loved and supported her. She also says however, that UMAC has been the backbone to all of her success in her school career, and in all of her life. Aside from a lifelong family and countless friends, Master Leifer also met her fiancé, Master Jason Bender, through UMAC. Master Bender is also a 5th Degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do, and they will both tell you that there is nothing better than doing what you love with the person that you love.
Master Leifer lives each day through her Worthy Ideal: To lead, teach, and inspire students, my friends, and family, to reach their personal full potential physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, so that they can lead a healthy, vital life, of happiness, passion, and fulfillment.
