MJ CEbellos

Maria José Ceballos Florez, known as Miss MJ, began her martial arts journey at the age of seven after being inspired by Avatar Aang from Avatar: The Last Airbender. What started as a childhood interest grew into a long term commitment to Taekwondo and martial arts. Over the years, martial arts became an important part of her life, shaping her discipline, confidence, teaching, and personal growth.

As a young martial artist, Miss MJ was selected to be part of her studio’s demonstration team. The team performed at local street fairs, school fairs, and county fairs, giving her the opportunity to perform and represent her studio within the community. Her interest in martial arts also expanded beyond Taekwondo through workshops in different styles, including Hyper Tricking and Weapons.

Miss MJ’s Taekwondo journey branched into competition beginning at green belt; she was selected to compete in both Poomsae and sparring and continued competing across six colored belts. At the age of 12, she earned her First Dan Kukkiwon certification through the World Taekwondo Federation. 

Around the same time, she began teaching in small groups at her old studio. Teaching gave her the opportunity to share what she had learned while continuing to develop as a martial artist. She attended workshops in San Diego and an expo in Las Vegas in 2019, where she was introduced to exploring new forms of movement. After earning her second degree, Miss MJ began teaching full group classes and private lessons at around 17 years old. In 2020, she adapted her teaching to new environments by holding private and group lessons in parks and homes, as well as teaching lessons through Zoom.

In 2021, Miss MJ began her college career at UC Riverside. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology in 2025 and worked in fellowships within the Riverside community during her time in college. Her education gave her another perspective on people, learning, and personal development, which also influenced how she approached teaching. After returning to San Diego, Miss MJ continued her martial arts training and personal growth. From starting Taekwondo at seven years old to becoming a second degree black belt, competitor, and instructor, martial arts has remained a constant part of her life. What started with the inspiration of a character she looked up to as a child has grown into a lifelong practice of learning, teaching, and becoming a better version of herself.