Founder and Director of De Santos Martial Arts in Toronto, Canada

Kwan Jan Nim (The term used for Masters Instructor in Korean) has the talents and instincts of a born leader. Coaxing and stimulating, demanding and supportive, very much on the basis of the needs of the individual student, she strives to empower the students to be the best they can be. She has an uncanny ability for knowing how hard a student is working within themselves, and to demand no less than the best efforts of each student. She has high standards of professionalism and a fierce loyalty to her staff and students.

Kwan Jan Nim De Santos has the enthusiasm and passion of the true seeker, constantly broadening her experiences and capabilities. Her many students range from the non competitive to students who compete at a national level. She is supportive of the efforts of other martial artists, while keeping to her own vision of what her school should be. She has a special interest in empowering women, both as people and martial artists and regularly holds seminars and workshops for women’s shelters.

Kwan Jan Nim Veronica De Santos. Born in Prospect, East Bank Demerrara, Guyana and the youngest of 10 children, Kwan Jan Nim De Santos had always aspired to be a martial arts expert. She currently holds a 5th degree Black Belt, having been studying the martial arts since 1975 – she must have stared in her pre-teen years. She has been instructing martial arts for over 20 years and has taught numerous self-defense courses at community centers, women’s shelters, Seneca College and since 1994, she has been teaching Tae Kwon Do and self-defense as a credit course at the University of Toronto.

Kwan Jan Nim De Santos has traveled extensively throughout North America and Europe competing and holds many championship titles to her name. She is a three time Gold Medalist from International Championships held in Florida, Boston and Bermuda, and a two time Silver Medalist from World Championships held in Germany and England. From 1982–1990, she was ranked Canada’s #1 female fighter and in 1986 & 1987 won the Ontario Woman Athlete of the Year. In 1994, her last year of competition, she represented Canada at the Goodwill Games in St. Petersburg, Russia. But who knows what the future may hold…..

Kwan Jan Nim DeSantos’ business achievements are not to go unmentioned as well. Since 1993 up to the present day, she has been consistently nominated by the International Martial Arts Association for Guru of the Year, Instructor of the Year, and their prestigious Ambassador Award. In October of 1999, she was awarded the Legion of Honour from the International Martial Arts Association. In November of 1999 she was the first, and to date, the only woman inducted into the North America Martial Arts Hall of Fame.

In June of 1999, Kwan Jan Nim De Santos hosted a camp for the National Women’s Martial Arts Federation that was held outside of the United States for the first time since it’s inception, 20 years ago. Over 200 women from around the world participated in this landmark event that was held at Brock University, just down the road in St. Catharine’s.

Kwan Jan Nim De Santos is a true icon to the martial arts world. As one of the first women to open a martial arts school, and as far as we know the only woman to be successfully running a school on her own, Kwan Jan Nim De Santos continually sets the standards for a quality martial arts program. She keeps abreast on the most innovative teaching techniques and is currently one of the few schools in Canada who has integrated the S.T.A.R. Program* from the Jefferson Learning Centre in Pasadena, California into her curriculum. *(Stop/Think/Act/Review – a Character Education Program which teaches young people about personal responsibility.)

Movement Based Class: Keeping the Energy High

Lecture: Tools for Commercial Dojo: NAPMA and other Affiliations

Lecture:  The Business of Teaching Kids: Rank and Leadership Issues

Movement Based Classes: Kobudo- Sai;  Kobudo-Tonfa; & Concepts of Waza/Ti

Lecture: Informal Discussion on Managing Multiple Organization and Training in Okinawa

Thousand Waves Martial Arts & Self-Defense Center is run by two of the most experienced and recognized women martial artists in the country. Sarah Ludden Kyoshi has been training for more than 20 years. Ludden Kyoshi is a 5th degree black belt in Seido Karate and a 5th degree black belt in Kajukenbo. She has taught regularly at the international, multi-art training camps sponsored by the National Women’s Martial Arts Federation, the Pacific Association of Women Martial Artists, and the Association of Women Martial Arts instructors.
Sarah was first drawn to the martial arts as a form of creative movement. She began training in Kajukenbo Kung Fu in 1981 with the late Professor Coleen Gragen at Hand to Hand Community Self-Defense Center in Oakland, California. She taught Kajukenbo and self-defense to adults and children at Hand to Hand and in outreach programs throughout the Bay area, and ran a Kajukenbo branch program for deaf and hearing students. 
During the 1980’s, in addition to teaching in the community, Sarah and other black belts at Hand to Hand provided security services to community organizations and political exiles from Central America and Chile. She was a founding member of “Streetwise,” an ensemble of martial artists that blended music, dance, martial arts, and theatre to create socially relevant performance pieces for progressive causes.  
In 1991, Sarah moved to Chicago to live and work with her partner, Nancy Lanoue. Together they owned Thousand Waves Spa, a women’s health and relaxation spa, and are executive directors and head instructors of Thousand WavesMartial Arts & Self-Defense Center. When Sarah first came to Chicago, the dojo was small, housed in the same building as the spa, and offered classes in Seido Karate only. She began training in Seido at that time, while continuing to practice Kajukenbo. During the first decade of their collaboration, Nancy taught Sarah Seido Karate while Sarah taught Nancy Kajukenbo, all while both were teaching most of the classes, plus running the dojo and the spa! Since that time, the dojo has grown tremendously, enabling Sarah and Nancy to focus on areas of special interest. Sarah now runs a Kajukenbo program as a second, enrichment art to Thousand Waves students, and has to date promoted 9 students to Kajukenbo black belt. She received her 5th degree black belt in Seido in 2005 and her 5th degree black belt in Kajukenbo in 2002. Sarah loves children and very much enjoys her position as head instructor of the junior karate program, and co-head instructor of the youth program. She continues to teach and perform at national training camps, produced by the Pacific Association of Women Martial Artists and the National Women’s Martial Arts Federation.

Movement Based Class: How to Teach Sparring

Movement Based Class: Helping Students Achieve Classical Form:  Observation and Analysis

Lecture:  How to Overcome Negative Stereotypes & Effectively Communicate your Dojo's Class Values

Panel Member of The Role of Special Programs (summer camps)

Sifu Michelle McVadon has been training at Seven Star Women's Kung Fu since 1983. She received her first-degree black belt in 1989 from Anne Moon, the school's founder, and became co-head instructor the following year. In 1995, upon Sifu Moon's retirement from teaching, Sifu McVadon became head instructor. She has continued her own Kajukenbo training under Sigung Barbara Bones.

In 2003, Michelle's personal accomplishments and many contributions to the martial arts were recognized by the Pacific Association of Women Martial Artists (PAWMA), which named her their Martial Artist of the Year.

Each year the PAWMA board uses this award to recognize an outstanding martial artist. The board chooses a woman who is a devoted teacher and practitioner, someone who is dedicated to promoting martial arts and sharing skills and knowledge with others. Someone who is committed to the idea and reality of women's ability to reach the highest levels of martial arts practice, the belief that an organization can encourage and enhance the goals of female martial artists, and the vision to help make such an organization a reality.

Sifu McVadon was also honored in 2003 by the International Martial Arts Council of America, which inducted her into the United States Martial Arts Hall of Fame

Movement Based Class: Logistics of Running an Exercise

Movement Based Class:  Managing The Classroom-Positioning and Verbal Strategies

Lecture:  Designing A Teacher-Training Program

Fitness:  Skill Building Warm Ups for Adults

Shihan Sandie Benevides has trained in the martial arts since the age of six and currently instructs Kickboxing, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and Tesshinkan. She developed a strong foundation of both the mental and the physical tenants of the martial arts, while studying judo and Tae Kwon Do (TKD). At a young age, Sandie remembers her father dragging her into her first martial arts school and saying to the instructor “Please sir, help my daughter she needs discipline.” Since that day, the martial arts uniform changed her life. To her credit she holds a 5th degree black belt (EMA), 4th degree in International Tae Kwon Do, 3rd degree in Jhoon Rhee TKD, 2nd degree in Kickboxing/Karate, 1st degree (Kobudo), 1st degree (Judo) and a Masters Degree in Business Administration.
 

Panel Member of the Technology Workshop - Martial Art Software

Master Barbara Dickens

Master Barbara Dickens, 7^th Dan Black Belt, began her martial arts training in the early 1970’s in Singapore.  She later trained under world renowned Grand Master Pyung Soo Kim.

Master Dickens founded White Horse Academy of Martial Arts on November 1, 1992. Her system, called Universal Way, encompasses Karate, Tae Kwon Do, and Hapkido. With over 35 years of martial arts training, 30 years teaching, Master Dickens has become one of the highest ranked Black Belt women in the United States. In addition to her school, Master Dickens and her instructors teach martial arts in the Houston School District and in several private schools...

Fitness Seminar: Butterfly Stretching

Michele Elefante Sensei has been studying in the martial arts since the early 1990's primarily in Germany where she both taught and competed. She began her study of Shorin Ryu at the Okinawan Karate Club of Dallas under Ilene Smoger Sensei (6th dan in Shorin Ryu and 7th dan in Shudokan) in 1999. Elefante Sensei was presented her rank of Shodan directly by Shimabukuro O'Sensei.  She then received the rank of Nidan (2nd Degree) in 2003. While at  OKCD she instructed both adult and youth classes

She has been an instructor at the National Women's Martial Arts Federation's (NWMAF) Special Training camp, the Pacific Association of Women Martial Artists (PAWMA) training camp and assisted at the Association of Women Martial Arts Instructors (AWMAI) conference.

Elefante Sensei relocated to San Francisco to attend graduate school and has since earned her Master of Science  in clinical psychology.

Joanne Factor Sensei, a Shodan at Feminist Karate Union, recognized some aspects of her life were in transition, and knew that physical activity would improve my emotional outlook. She had heard that practicing martial arts was an aid to concentration and focus. Ostensibly, she wanted to learn self-defense. She asked a friend of hers who had toyed with tae kwon do for six months as a college student-which of the martial arts he thought most efficacious. He suggested karate.

She was impressed by the support and encouragement that the women at Feminist Karate Union gave each other, so she joined. An essential tenet at FKU is dedication to train any woman, regardless of aptitude. Karate was, and still is, difficult for me, and she struggled for the first couple of years on the most rudimentary of forms. After those first couple of years, she realized she was developing a new sort of awareness of connections between body and mind. She was discovering aspects of "mind" apart from intellect. Her training was toward an intense awareness of the here and now.

Panel Member of the Technology Workshop - Online Stores

Melanie Fine joined Suigetsu Dojo as co-owner and instructor in December of 1995. She began her study of the martial arts as a graduate student in 1976. She studied Tae Kwon Do for 2 years, then began an 18 year study of Tang Soo Do under Master Maynard Stanley in Cincinnati, Ohio. She received her Shodan in 1982, Nidan in 1985, and Sandan in 1991. She was Head Instructor of Karate Temple in Columbus, Ohio, for 7 years during that period. Upon moving to Corpus Christi, Texas, she continued teaching Tang Soo Do, and began studying Aikido and Arnis.

In 1994, she met Dara Masi Shihan, became her student in Jujutsu and a member of the Hakkoryu Martial Arts Federation. She received her Shodan in 1999 and Sandan in 2004 and recently Yondan in 2006. In addition to Jujutsu, she studies T'ai Chi Ch'uan with Master Wasentha Young.

Fine Sensei is a lifetime member of the National Women's Martial Arts Federation, the Assoication of Women Martial Arts Instructors, and JuJitsu America. She has actively supported the women's martial arts community for more than 25 years, serving on the Board of the NWMAF for 7 years - 5 years as Treasurer, and 2 years as Chair from 1990 through 1997 and serving as its Archivist for many years as well. Fine Sensei was a Board member of the AWMAI during 2004 and has actively assisted that organization since its inception.

Panel Member of the Technology Workshop - Online Stores

Elise Flynn began her martial arts career in 1990, when she took Karate as a PE class in college.  From the first lesson, she was hooked.  She enjoyed much success on the tournament circuit in the northeast as she was coming up through the ranks, but in the last 10 years has drifted from the tournament scene for the more intrinsic rewards of training for the sake of training; teaching, learning, and sharing with others; and discovering deeper understandings and connections between martial arts and life.  She is a lifetime member of NWMAF, and is currently serving as Administrative Coordinator on the Board of Directors of AWMAI.  Elise holds a third degree Black Belt in Chidokwan Karate-do, under Renshi Joseph Liberto, and a first degree Black Belt in Hakkoryu Jujutsu under Shihan San Dai Kichu Douglas Woodhall. 

Elise teaches and trains in Alfred NY, where she has directed the Alfred Martial Arts Association (a club style, college based program operating for over 30 years now) since 1997.  In May of 2005, Elise had the opportunity to open a private Dojo for Alfred Martial Arts, and now has expanded the programming to include Tiny Tigers classes, and Karate Classes for Children, Families, and Adults.  The new Dojo has filled a niche in the community, and has enjoyed a tremendously successful first year, welcoming over 75 new members from the surrounding area, since its grand opening on September 10th.  She owes much gratitude to the team of Black Belts that has helped make all of this possible.

Professionally trained as an art educator, Elise Flynn lives with her husband Scott and her dog Bailey, in a little red-roofed house on a quiet street surrounded by the beautiful hills of western New York.  She enjoys making pots, gardening, riding horses, and hiking in the woods whenever possible.

Movement Based Class:  Teaching Bunkai (Application)

Lecture: Key Points to Research Before Leasing / Buying a Space

Panel Member of the Technology Workshop - Marketing and Selling

Koré Grate, became interested in the martial arts at age 16. She received her black belt from Dr. Alex Feng of Wu TAO KUAN in Berkeley, California, in 1991, having trained with him since 1981. She continues her training with Dr. Feng, and attends the "Journey to the East" special trainings in Shanghai, China with Professor Pei Kun Wang.

Koré also credits Professor Coleen Gragen of Hand to Hand Kajunkenbo in Oakland, California, and Sensei Annie Elman of the Center for Non-Violence and Education (BWMA), in Brooklyn, New York, as true inspirations to her teaching ability and political awareness

Koré is a founding board member of the Pacific Association of Women Martial Artists -PAWMA. In 2002-2005 she served again on the PAWMA board as Vice-President and Elder Counsel. In 1994-1996 she was elected as Chair of the National Women's Martial Arts Federation Steering Committee -NWMAF. She is a life-time member of PAWMA, NWMAF & AWMAI -Association of Women Martial Arts Instructors. She has been hired to teach at many PAWMA, NWMAF and AWMAI Training Camps and is a creative and popular teacher, famous for her "LEARN TO LOVE THE MAT". Koré was honored as PAWMA's 2005 Martial Artist of the Year.

Koré has taught Martial Arts and Self-Defense/Empowerment workshops and seminars to thousands of women, children, teens, seniors, differently-abled and men on both coasts. She continues to train and teach with dedication and passion.

In January of 1988 Koré followed her heart to Minneapolis and one year later began FEMA with the assistance of Kellie Rose Jones. FEMA continues to flourish as a strong, safe, and supportive school with wonderful students and teachers.  Koré also has her own business as a professional Tattooist, Tatus By Koré, Inc., in Minneapolis, MN. Her other passions include riding her horse (Midnite), studying Calligraphy and Chinese Painting with Lin Laoshi, graphic arts, and composing and recording music.

Fitness Seminar:

Chinese Martial Arts:  The Balance of Hard and Soft

Laura Holmes brings her organization and logistical skills to the AWMAI as the Event Co-ordinator.  Her years of dealing in commodities trading and international logistics contribute not only to the running of AWMAI’s annual training camp but also to other events that the organization participates in.  She is currently employed as a Trading Assistant and International Logistics Co-ordinator in a brokerage firm in Toronto. 

Movement Based Class: How to Integrate Edged Weapons into your Curriculum 

Thousand Waves Martial Arts & Self-Defense Center is run by two of the most experienced and recognized women martial artists in the country. Jun Shihan Nancy Lanoue has been training for more than 20 years. Lanoue Jun Shihan is a 6th degree black belt in Seido Karate and a 2nd degree black belt in Kajukenbo.  She has taught regularly at the international, multi-art training camps sponsored by the National Women’s Martial Arts Federation, the Pacific Association of Women Martial Artists, and the Association of Women Martial Arts Instructors.
 

Nancy Lanoue has been practicing martial arts since 1977. For two years, she studied Goju Karate and women’s self defense under Sensei Susan Murdock at the Women's Martial Arts Center in New York. During this time, she began to develop a political analysis of violence, and to understand how martial arts could be a non-violence practice. From 1979 to 1982, with two other women, she started and co-directed an organization called SAFE, which created empowering seminars on self-defense and brought them to schools, community groups, and corporations. 

In 1979, Nancy began to study Seido Karate under Kaicho Tadashi Nakamura, and in 1999 she was awarded the rank of 5th degree black belt in this traditional Japanese art. In 1991, she also began training in Kajukenbo, a beautiful, hard/soft eclectic martial art, under her partner, Sarah Ludden. She currently holds a 2nd degree black belt in this art.
 

In 1985, Nancy began teaching Seido Karate to women in Chicago at the Women’s Gym. In 1990, children’s classes began, and in 1995, a new dojo was built and the adult program was opened to men. With the assistance of their dedicated senior students, who include over 50 active black belts, they currently oversee the practice of approximately 300 men, women and children at Thousand Waves Martial Arts and Self-defense Center, NFP. 

In addition to her work at Thousand Waves, since 1987 Nancy has been selected six times to serve as a trainer at Special Training, the annual camp of the National Women’s Martial Arts Federation. In 2001, the New Traditions Women’s Martial Arts Hall of Fame named her Instructor of the Year. In January 2003 and 2005, she taught at the Association of Women Martial Arts Instructors national conference, “Teaching the Teacher.” 

From 1995 to 1997, she served as a member of the violence committee on the City of Chicago’s Advisory Council on Women, supporting local, state, and national initiatives to reduce and prevent violence against women and children. She is also a founding member of the Lesbian Community Cancer Project.

Lecture:  Key Issues for Non-Profits Mission, Dual Leadersip Structures, and Roles of Board, Staff, and Volunteers (with Ann Taylor)

Panel Facilitator and Member:  Planning for and Surviving Major Transitions

Panel Member of the Technology Workshop - Dojo Software

Debbie Lee, Sr. Instructor and Dojocho - with over 20 years of martial arts experience, Debbie is the Assistant Headmaster and a Senior Instructor.

Most recently, Debbie's professional career has taken a turn towards education. For the past six years, She has been teaching web design and programming at the college level, and currently serves as the Director of Compliance for the International Academy of Design and Technology in Orlando

Panel Member of the Technology Workshop - Martial Art Software  (Demonstrating DOJO MBA software)

Panel Member of the Technology Workshop - Online Stores

Valerie Lee has studied martial arts since 1971. She is a national and international champion in forms and fighting competition. Her principal teacher is Sifu Adam Hsu.

Lecture/Discussion:  Strike Points / Health Points

Movement Based Class:  Breath and Form

Fitness Class: Pilates-This workshop is open to AWMAI participants and non AWMAI particpants if you came with somebody to the conference.

McGregor Hanshi has been studying martial arts for over 30 years. A world class competitor, she has been a NASKA champion, winning such prestigious tournaments such as the US Open more than once. She was member of the USA WKO World Team. As a member of the USA team  McGregor Hanshi  medalled in her events at the Pan Am Games in addition to medalling in the USA AAU Nationals and WKO World Championships. Over her career,  McGregor Hanshi as won several hundred competitive matches.

While she is well known for her sport karate career, she is even more respected her self-defense and combat martial arts abilities.  McGregor Hanshi is a sought-after guest instructor world-wide, teaching traditional and modern combat techniques, fighting and self-defense.

Some recent highlights include

• Featured on Ripley's Believe It or Not TV program
• Featured on Discovery Channel's Way of the Warrior
• Featured on The learning Channel's Top Ten Martial Arts
• Keynote speaker and instructor for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes
• Guest speaker and instructor for the Meeting of the Masters Conference

Currently  McGregor Hanshi is the Division Head for Juko-Kai International's Shorin-Ryu Division and for Pachivas Pankration's Women's Division.  She is also an adjunct professor teaching fitness, kickboxing, self defense and martial arts classes at Valencia Community College.

Movement Based Class: Teaching Footwork for Kata & Sparring

Lecture:  Facilitator and Panel Member: The Role of Special Programs: Self-Defense, Camps & Seminars

Ilene J. Smoger Sensei has been training since 1975, holds the rank of  Rokudan, 6th dan black belt, given to her directly by Eizo Shimabukuro O'Sensei in the Shorin Ryu Karate system. O'Sensei also awarded her the rank of Sandan, 3rd dan black belt, in Toei Jujutsu. Smoger Sensei also holds the rank of Godan, 5th dan black belt, in the Shudokan Karate system given directly  to her by Shibucho Walter Todd when he was alive.  Recently, she was awarded Shichidan, 7th dan black belt, in Shudokan Karate by the Todd family at the expressed wishes of the late Shibucho Walter Todd.

Smoger Sensei began her martial arts training in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in 1975 under Gary Hu Sensei, the Director of Training at the Asian Martial Arts Studio.  She was also instructed there by Karl Scott III Sensei, who is currently  the Co-Shibucho in the U.S. Shudokan Karatedo system.  Smoger Sensei continued her training with Barbara Christensen Sensei from Ann Arbor, Michigan. Smoger Sensei was Christensen Sensei's first student.  Barbara Christensen Sensei continues to be Smoger Sensei's primary instructor.

Smoger Sensei teaches martial arts all over the country. She has instructed at the 1996 Pacific Association of Women Martial Artists (PAWMA) and at the 2003, 2005 and 2006 Association of Women Martial Arts Instructor's (AWMAI) conferences. In 1997 she was honored by the World Martial Arts Hall Of Fame as "The Woman Of The Year In The Martial Arts".  In 2004, she received the Sensei of Merit award at the International Martial Arts Symposium in South Carolina.

Under Smoger Sensei's leadership, the Okinawan Karate Club of Dallas is one of Dallas' oldest traditional dojos and the Club has promoted over 46 black belts over the years.  Additionally, there are five affiliated dojos with OKCD in the cities of Atlanta, Arlington, Denton, Highland Village and San Francisco. 

Smoger Sensei is a personal injury attorney at the Smoger Law Firm.   For more information visit www.okinawankarateclub.com.

Facilitator and Member: Technology Panel Workshop - Martial Arts Software

Facilitator: Technology Panel Workshop - Online Stores

Panel Member:  Planning for and Surviving Major Transitions

Ann Taylor Sensei

Ann Tyler has studied martial arts since 1992 and holds the rank of sandan in Seido Karate. She is also a professor of visual communication at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Ann has served as Chair of the Board of Directors of Thousand Waves Martial Arts & Self-Defense Center, NFP since its restructuring as a non-profit in 2001.

Ann’s varied professional experiences  provided her with a wide range of skills to help Thousand Waves have a successful transition. She  drew upon her early small business experience of running a design office in the areas of financial planning and communication. Within her academic role, she served on her college’s faculty senate and as departmental chair providing her with experience in matters of governance and personnel.

These skills combined with her martial arts experience helped Ann form a vision of the unique aspect of a martial arts non-profit: creating a dual leadership structure — one based on the tradition of rank and the other on a combination of board, staff, and volunteers.

During her tenure as Chair, the focus has been on building infrastructure including creation of:

•governance processes — including board creation and transitions; determining responsibilities among board, staff, and volunteers; developing strategic and annual plans

•personnel structures — including supervision and reporting responsibilities; benefit structures for different levels of staff; and systematized salary, work-study, and teacher-trade arrangements

•financial stability — including tuition payment methods and structure; event fundraising; individual, small business, and corporate donor solicitation; budget planning and development

•communication — including refocusing membership communications for a broader community often unfamiliar with Thousand Waves’ compelling mission.

Lecture:  Key Issues for Non-Profits: Mission, Dual Leadership Structures, and Roles of Board, Staff and Volunteers (with Nancy Lanoue)

Panel Member of The Role of Special Programs - Self Defense & Corporations

Joy Williamson began her martial arts training in 1995, after taking an intriguing self defense class. She studied with Sensei Suzanne  Pinette at Sun Dragon Martial Arts in Austin, Texas, earning her  black belt in Kyokushin in 2000. Joy began teaching at Sun Dragon, then was requested to take over leadership of the school when her teacher retired. She has been the Executive Director and Head  Instructor of Sun Dragon since 2004. Joy is currently training in 
Seido Karate with Jun Shihan Nancy Lanoue of Thousand Waves.

Panel Member:  Planning for and Surviving Major Transitions