Julio Anta is the owner of Anta’s Fitness and Self Defense in Doral-Miami, Florida since 1998. Anta is an award winning martial arts, fitness Instructor. He is a Best Selling author. Anta is the published author of “Anta’s Ageless Warrior Fitness” book and co-author of the best selling book United Men of Honor, Overcoming Adversity Through Faith . He is also the video author of “Anta’s Art of Fighting Without Fighting Anti-Bullying,” and “Anta’s Shaolin Physical Conditioning.”

Anta was a competitive bodybuilder in the eighties who was a runner up in the Jr. Mr. Florida and Mr. Miami. He won the 2017 South Florida Bodybuilding Championships (Mr. South Florida) 60 and over light weight and overall title. In 2019 he competed in the NPC North American Bodybuilding Championships Over 60 and was the 1st Runner-up Lightweight and 2019 NPC Florida State Bodybuilding Championships Over 60, 1st Runner-up. He believes in leading by example and is in excellent shape and trains daily.

Anta’s tactical background includes being a retired State of Florida Corrections Officer and an honorably discharged United States Marine Corps Reserves Sergeant. Krav Maga instructor, Israeli Law Enforcement Defensive Tactics Instructor, Israeli Active Shooter Response instructor, Counter Terrorism, Israeli Combat Shooting Instructor and NRA Pistol and Rifle instructor.

Anta was born in Cuba in 1957. He arrived in the USA with his parents in 1962. At the tender age of 6 or 7 years old he told his father who had Street Boxed in Cuba that he was going to be a martial artist and a bodybuilder when he grew up. As a sick, small and weak child he loved watching Tarzan, Hercules and Swashbuckler movies. His father supported the idea 100%, even though no one else could ever believe that this sick, shy and weak boy could ever accomplish this. As a boy walking to a relative’s house he picked up from the street some photos of bodybuilders and told his father that he wanted to look like that when he grew up. One day watching the Tom and Jerry cartoons he saw a mouse wearing a white pajama looking outfit flip the cat. He asked his dad if that was possible. His father replied yes if you learn Judo. As a boy he loved to see Steve Reeves Hercules Movies and later Bruce Lee in the Green Hornet inspired him. Yet, in the 70’s after seeing the Kung Fu TV series and the Bruce Lee movies he knew that he had to do Kung Fu. Anta has been a practitioner of the martial arts since 1972 and began serious bodybuilding in 1976. Julio’s first martial art training began with Judo at the Florida Judo Kai in Hialeah under the tutelage of Cuban Judo great Reinaldo Montpellier.

He has studied Karate under different instructors. In 1974 he witnessed his first Kung Fu class and began training in Hung Gar. His teacher returned to NY and Anta trained in numerous styles of Karate: Japanese, American, Okinawa and Korean (Tae Kwon Do). Yet, his true love was the reality based style of Southern Shaolin, Hung Gar Kung Fu. In the early nineties Anta found his instructor again and began training in Kung Fu until he earned his Black Sash and began teaching. Today he holds the rank of Hung Gar Kung Fu Master under the late Grand Master William J. Chung of New York, and the National Hip Sing Association. He was Grand Master Chung’s personal representative in the South East United States. Grand Master Chung was a Personal Disciple of Southern Shaolin Abbot Chang Ding Fujian Province Quanzhou Southern Shaolin Temple.

After studying numerous martial arts and incorporating them in his kung fu he believed that his natural progression was to finally study Bruce Lee’s art of Jeet Kune Do (JKD). Today Anta is a member of Jeet Kune Do Athletics and is a certified Jeet Kune Do Coach One Instructor. He is also a certified instructor to teach Muay Thai, Judokickbox and Krav Maga. Anta is a Gracie Jiu Jitsu Blue Belt and a yoga student and considers himself a student for life.

Anta after many years of studying and teaching anti-bullying developed a complete Anti-Bullying program “Art of Fighting without Fighting Anti-Bullying.” Anta was awarded proclamations for “Art of Fighting without Fighting Anti-Bullying” Day on August 25, 2012 by the City of Doral and Miami Dade County.

Anta owns one of South Florida’s most successful martial arts and fitness centers fulfilling his childhood dreams. Anta believes that he is a student for life training in numerous martial arts and in fitness.

Martial Arts and Fitness Certifications:

• Krav Maga Association Full Instructor
• Krav Maga 3rd Degree Black Belt
• Krav Maga Association Israeli Counter Terrorism
• Krav Maga Association Defensive Tactics for Law Enforcement Instructor
• Krav Maga Association Active Shooter Response Instructor
• Krav Maga Association Israeli Combat Pistol Instructor
• Krav Maga Association Israeli Tactical Rifle Instructor
• Haganah F.I.G.H.T. (Fierce Israeli Guerrilla Hand to hand Tactics) Instructor
• Hung Gar Kung Fu Master
• Sansei Goju Ryu 5th degree black belt
• Judokickbox 2nd Dan Red and Black Belt (Equivalent to 2nd Degree Black Belt)
• C.O.R.E Krav Maga Instructor
• KMMA Krav Maga Martial Arts Instructor
• NRA Pistol Instructor
• NRA Rifle Instructor
• Jeet Kune Do Athletic Association (JKDAA) Coach One Instructor
• Paul Vunak’s Progressive Fighting System Jeet Kune Do Phase One Instructor
• Progressive Fighting System Edge Weapon Instructor
• Progressive Fighting System Law Enforcement Instructor
• JKDAA Military JKD & SPECOPS Kali certified
• Muay Thai Instructor (Trans Muay Thai Association) Level 3 Kru Instructor
• WKL (World Kickboxing League) Kickboxing Instructor
• United States Ju-Jitsu Federation Brown Belt Ikkyu 1st class
• Gracie Jiu Jitsu under Valenti Brothers Blue Belt
• SABER Edge Weapons Combative’s Instructor
• Burn with Kearns MMA Fighter Fit Master Coach
• Action Strength Instructor
• Battling Ropes Instructor
• Fitness Kickboxing Instructor
• Kardio Karate Instructor
• ISSA Fitness Instructor (Personal Trainer)
• HKC Kettlebell Certification
• Mike Mahler Level 1 Kettlebell Workshop
• ECF (Elite Combat Fitness) Instructor
• Elite Kettlebell Instructor
• Kettlebell Concepts Kettlebell Instructor
• IYCA (International Youth Conditioning Association) Youth Fitness Specialist
• National Security Agency certified Child Safety Agent
• Surviving an Active Shooter certified by Vistelar
• Dr. Terrence Webster-Doyle Martial Arts for Peace Bully Buster instructor
• ACMA (American Council of Martial Arts) certified by the Copper Institute
• Dr Ben Lerner’s Maximized Living Mentor
• Authorized Steal Proof Master (Anti Child Abduction and Safety) Presenter
• ICS Fitness and Nutrition Instructor
• ISKA MMA Referee
• Pilates Physical Minds Institute
• All American Pilates
• Serrada Escrima Apprentice Instructor
• CPR Certified
• Emergency Trauma Management Trained

He has also cross trained in Boxing and Kickboxing. He trained under Boxing and Kickboxing World Champion James Warring and under Boxing and Kickboxing coach Eufracio Gonzalez who is currently the trainer of numerous professional World Boxing champions.

Awards/Organizations:

• – 2024 Best of Doral Martial Arts
• – 2024 IFBB Federation USA Judge
• – 2023 Legacy Business in Doral
• – 2023 Best of Doral Martial Arts
• – 2023 City of Doral Award for 25 Year Anniversary Presented by Mayor Cristie Fraga and City Council
• – 2023 Miami Dade County Award for 25 Year Anniversary Presented by County Commissioner J.C. Bermudez
• – 2022 United Men of Honor, Overcoming Adversity Through Faith Co-Author, 4X Amazon Best Selling Book
• – 2022 Iron Patriot by Anta Apparel Company www.ironpatriotbyanta.com
• – 2020 Member of Miami-Dade County Wellness Group on COVID-19 Safety
• – 2020 COVID Safe Martial Arts Instructor Certification
• – 2019 NPC North American Bodybuilding Championships Over 60, 1st Runner-up Lightweight
• – 2019 NPC Florida State Bodybuilding Championships Over 60, 1st Runner-up
• – 2019 Best Martial Arts Training in Miami
• – 2017 NPC South Florida Bodybuilding Championships Over 60, Lightweight and Overall Champion
• – 2017 NPC South Florida Physique Championships Over 50, 1st Runner-up
• – 2017 WSCL (World Sports Combat League) Hall of Fame
• – 2016 USJKBF United States Judokickbox Federation President
• – 2016 Judokickbox Doral Representative
• – 2015 NPC South Florida Bodybuilding Championships Award of Recognition
• – 2014 Best of Doral and South Florida
• – 2014 Best of Doral Martial Arts
• – 2013 Best of Doral Martial Arts
• – 2013 PMA (Professional Martial Arts Association) Best School in Doral
• – 2012 City of Doral Proclamation Anta’s Art of Fighting without Fighting Anti-Bullying Day
• – 2012 Miami-Dade County Proclamation Anta’s Art of Fighting without Fighting Anti-Bullying Day
• – 2012 Best of City Search
• – 2012 PMA (Professional Martial Arts Association) Best School in Doral
• – 2011 Century Martial Arts Mark of Excellence Gold Award
• – 2011 PMA (Professional Martial Arts Association) Best School in Doral
• – 2010 Century Martial Arts Mark of Excellence Gold Award
• – 2010 Doral 5K 3rd Place Winner
• – 2009 Best of Doral Martial Arts Award
• – 2009 Century Martial Arts Mark of Excellence Award
• – 2008 ICSDA Florida State Representative
• – 2007 ICSDA (International Combat Self Defense Association) Advisory Board
• – 2006 United States Martial Arts Hall of Fame Kung Fu Master
• – 2006 World Martial Arts Union Hall of Fame Life Achievements
• – 2006 Miami Dade County Certificate of Appreciation
• – 2006 Captain of the runners up in the South Florida Dragon Boat Festival 250 Meter Kung Fu Cup
• – 2005 EFC Black Belt Schools “Outstanding Martial Arts School”
• – 2005 EFC Black Belt Schools “Hero Award”
• – 2005 Proclamation “Anta’s Fitness and Self Defense Day” City of Doral
• – 2004 Miami Dade County “Martial Arts Excellence Award”
• – 2003 Florida Martial Arts Hall of Fame “Instructor of the Year”
• – 2003-2004 Co-holders of the World Simultaneous Kicking Record
• – 1998 Florida PBA Certificate of Appreciation
• – 1983 2nd runner up Jr. Florida Bodybuilding Championships
• – 1983 2nd runner up Miami Bodybuilding Championship

Julio has been a guest on over 150 TV shows. Univision’s Control, Despierta America, Noticias 23, Al Amanecer, Primer Impacto, mun2 Fuzion, Telefutura’s Veredicto Final, CBS 4 News, WPLG TV 10 News on ABC. Channel 7 Fox News, CV Network, Telefutura, Galavision, Today in South Florida, Telemundo’s News, Buenos Dias, Al Rojo Vivo, TVC’s Una Hora Contigo, Ch 41 America TeVe News, Quiereme Descalsi, Miami Contigo, Show de Fernando, Pax’s Aleph TeVe, TBN Joy in our Town, UMTV News, Telemundo’s Al Rojo Vivo, Levantate, Un Nuevo Dia, Titulares Y Mas, Deco Drive, Fuzion DN and numerous other TV shows.

Anta has many instructional videos on Krav Maga, fitness, workouts, anti-bullying, child safety, motivation on www.youtube.com/antafit

Anta hosted the Fitness Tip of the Week for Metro Life Worship Center in Doral in 2005. In May of 2018 Anta was featured in the Life Extension magazine. Mr. Anta wrote a column for the Doral Tribune for 13 years. He also use to write for Ciudad Doral Newspaper, Doral Planet Magazine, and Live Doral Magazine. His articles have been published in Tae Kwon Do Times, Journal of Asian Martial Arts, Martial Arts Professional, Dragon Boat World, Fytness Fanatiks, NAPMA Now, Doral Lifestyle, Trumpeter Magazines and at his blog www.martialartsandfitness.typepad.com.