I started training in Kyokushinkai Karate at the Do Ku Ritsu Dojo at the age of nine, under the instruction of Sensei Don Parliament. I began
training because I got tired of waiting for my brother’s karate class to end after my ice skating lessons ended. My
instructor’s daughter, also a black belt, encouraged me to join the class instead of just watching, to see if I liked
it. She knew I was becoming disenchanted with ice skating and was looking for a different outlet. I tried the class out and
was immediately hooked. I loved the strict discipline of the school and the feeling of satisfaction I got from mastering a
complicated technique. I gained confidence, and continued training for the next eleven years. As a junior brown belt, I was
ranked number one in the state of New Jersey
in sparring. I earned my first-degree black belt at the age of fifteen and continued to study and teach
karate for the next five years. I also studied Ju-Jitsu and a bit of Muay Thai. At that point, unfortunately the dojo I was attending closed.
During the next ten years I was busy building a family and developing my career as an educator. I earned my Bachelor’s
of Arts degree in Special Honors Curriculum and a Master’s degree in Chemistry Education from Hunter College of the City University of New York. Later, I earned a second master’s degree in school administration and staff
development, from the College of New Rochelle. Currently, I teach high school science in
the local public school.
In November of 2008, I joined Human Weapon Tae Kwon Do and resumed my martial arts journey, training under the instruction
of Sabumnim Rich Marinelli. I earned my second-degree black belt on August 10, 2009. I specifically chose to continue my training at Human Weapon Tae Kwon Do because it offers a
unique opportunity to train in martial arts while maintaining a strong sense of yahadut. As a married woman, I am faced with
the challenge of maintaining my commitment to Judaism while practicing the martial arts I love. The instructors, students,
and atmosphere of Human Weapon Tae Kwon Do are conducive to this, as they are loyal to the Torah and the martial arts.
I look forward to an exciting future, furthering my knowledge of martial arts and training others at Human Weapon Tae
Kwon Do who will love it as I do. My diverse martial arts background allows me to integrate the strengths of each specific
style into one art. My education background has taught me to individualize lessons to meet each student’s needs. Combining
the two, I can teach these strengths to others in a manner that best suits them. Kyokoshinkai’s strengths include strict
discipline, deep stances and patterns. Tae Kwon Do’s strength includes more diversity in kicking and power. I can teach
these strengths to others in a manner that best suits each individual. For example, being a very short woman, I must rely
on technique rather than brute strength in overcoming my opponents. I will teach others to find and use their strengths to
their advantage as well.