ATHERTON, CA -- Menlo College Taekwondo continues to elevate its coaching staff on the strength of assistant coaches Jae Sung Lee and Julia Vasconcelos dos Santos Penfield. Bringing extensive international and elite competitive backgrounds, both coaches add valuable experience and perspective to the program. Their backgrounds reflect Menlo's commitment to establishing a strong foundation as the trailblazing Taekwondo program moves forward.

Lee Carries World-Class Competitive Background

With more than 20 years of elite international experience as both an athlete and coach, Jae Sung Lee brings an exceptional competitive background to Menlo College Taekwondo. A 6th Dan black belt and former world-level competitor in the sport, Lee has coached across national team, military, and collegiate settings, guiding athletes to numerous medals through high-pressure environments such as the Asian Indoor & Martial Arts Games, World Military Games, and Asian Taekwondo Championships. His background provides Menlo Taekwondo with valuable technical knowledge and exposure to top-level competitive standards.

Penfield Adds Olympic-Level Experience

Born in São Paulo, Brazil, Julia Vasconcelos dos Santos Penfield will teach from her Olympic-level experience on staff with Menlo College Taekwondo. She began practicing Taekwondo at six years old and, in addition to serving with the Brazilian Army for six years, went on to compete as a member of the Brazilian National Team from 2010 to 2017, where she ranked No. 1 in the -62kg division. Vasconcelos dos Santos Penfield's competitive career includes an 11th place finish at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, along with podium finishes at the 2015 Pan American Games, 2015 World Military Games, and 2014 Pan American Championships.

In addition to her athletic background, Vasconcelos dos Santos Penfield brings a strong foundation in performance and athlete support, holding certifications as a NASM Certified Personal Trainer and a Certified Sports Mental Coach through Peak Performance Sports.

Building The Program

"With building our coaching staff, we are setting up the team for more success in the future," said Head Coach TJ Curry. "We're really looking forward to seeing what's next."

Together, Lee and Penfield bring a wealth of international experience and high-level competitive knowledge to Menlo College Taekwondo. Their combined backgrounds as elite athletes and coaches provide valuable perspective as the program continues to grow. Their experience supports the program's focus on preparation and high-level competition moving forward.