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Karate
Spirit Japan Karate Association of Greater Hartford 1159 Main Street, Coventry, CT 06238 USA |
(860)
280-6890 karatespirit@sbcglobal.net |
Chief Instructor
Margaret Thomas, 6th Dan
Sensei Margaret Thomas holds a 6th degree black belt with the Japan Karate
Association and is one of the highest-ranking women in the country. Sensei
Thomas started studying karate in 1975 in Philadelphia. She moved to Connecticut
in 1979 where she completed an M.S. in Geology. She has been teaching
traditional Shotokan Karate to students of all levels for many years.
In 1995, Sensei graduated Master Masataka Mori's (8th Dan) advanced Shotokan
Karate-Do International Instructors Course in NYC. She was the Assistant
Chief Instructor of the University of Connecticut JKA Karate Club from
1995-2003. Sensei Thomas is also an accomplished competitor in sport karate.
She has been a member of the USA Karate Team numerous times and has received
regional, national, and international awards spanning more than a decade.
Sensei is an internationally certified JKA Instructor, Rank Examiner,
and Tournament Judge.
Instructor
John Seifert, 4th Dan
John Seifert is a 4th degree black belt, and has been studying karate for 20 years. He began his training at the UConn Karate Club in 1989 where he also received a BA in Mechanical Engineering. Sensei John is an assistant instructor at the UConn Karate Club and JKA Montville. He is a 2-time member of the U.S. National Karate-Do team, competing at the 6th and 10th Funakoshi Gichin World Cup Karate Championships in 1996 (Osaka) and in 2006 (Sydney). He is a 7-time SKDI men's kumite champion. Sensei John is a graduate of Master Mori's advanced Instructor Training Program in NYC. Sensei John attended the JKA International Instructors Seminar in Tokyo in 2005. He is an Internationally certified JKA Instructor, Examiner, and Judge.
Instructor
John Henderson, 4th Dan
John Henderson is a 4th degree black belt, and started practicing karate
at UConn in 1979, where he graduated with a BS in Accounting in 1982 and
continues as an Assistant Instructor. Sensei John studied karate in Brussels
, Belgium with Miyazaki Sensei (cofounder of JKA Europe with Enoeda Sensei)
for a number of years before returning to Connecticut . He has competed
in regional and national events in both the US and Europe and was a member
of the AAKF US National Champion team kata in 1990 and 1991, as well as
ITKF US kata and kumite team champions in 1995. Sensei John is a JKA Shotokan
Karate Do International instructor course graduate, and a JKA Internationally
certified Instructor, Examiner, and Tournament Judge.
Instructor
Mark Rollins, 3rd Dan
Mark Rollins, a 3rd degree black belt, began practicing karate at UConn
in 1987, where he received his BS in Electrical Engineering. Upon his
graduation in 1991, Mark moved to Atlanta, GA to attend graduate school
at Georgia Tech, where he continued his karate training with Sensei Takashina’s
organization. Sensei Mark returned to Eastern Connecticut in 1993. Since
then he has continued his karate practice at both Karate Spirit and the
University of Connecticut. He is a regular participant in Shotokan Karate
Do International seminars. In addition to being a regular instructor of
Karate Spirit in Coventry, Sensei Mark assists with the karate classes
at the Mansfield Community Center, and is a guest instructor for the Trinity
College Shotokan Karate Club.