Weekly Update August 10 - 15, 2026
Good Luck to Everyone Heading Back to School!
A Few Notes and Modifications This Week:
This week ONLY - there will be NO 10:30 Saturday Class as part of our team travels to Los Angeles for a training event.
The 11:30 class will take be taking place as scheduled.
NOTE FOR SATURDAY CLASS MOVING FORWARD: The Saturday 9:30 & 10:30 Classes will continue to be a merged class for levels 3&4. (5 as a make up).
Sensei Quinn!
This is Sensei’s final week at the dojo before he leaves us to begin his incredible journey at Case Western University.
(I feel certain he will love the photo I chose to share - Haha.)
Sensei began his training well over a decade ago as a 6 year old…and now he is one of our Senior Instructors!
Quinn is one of THE most intelligent, kind, responsible and hardworking students I have had the privilege of teaching during my career.
His attention to detail is extraordinary - and the patient manner in which he leads students is phenomenal.
We would like to send him off to College properly - so if your child trains in one of his classes, please take a moment to wish him the best of luck!
As we did with Sadie, if you would like to donate to his college “good luck” fund, you can use the following Venmo. He will receive 100% of the donations.
VENMO: @Kelly-Muir-2
(Note: There is a Matsubayashi Ryu Patch as my profile photo on Venmo. Please make sure you see that before you send anything.)
We will miss you so much, Quinn! BUT - the Holidays are just around the corner and we can’t wait to see you then!
In Other Dojo News - - - -
Congratulations to our New Okinawan Ranks!
Well Done! Introducing our newest WMKA Shodan (1st Degree) Ranks: (Middle Row From Left)
Sadie Sensei
Mr. Chaykin
Andrew Sensei
Mr. Dizon
Thank you to Tony Sensei, Patrick Sensei and Jonathan Sensei for sitting on the Evaluation Board. (Back Row)
Etiquette Notes For the Word “Sensei”
The term “Sensei” can be confusing at first. There are some strict rules around its use. Some think it simply means “Black Belt”, however, that is not the case. In our dojo, we use the following etiquette rules:
In the United States:
The term Sensei denotes someone who is currently a formal “instructor” within our program. If the word Sensei falls before their name, it means they hold American Rank. If it falls behind their name, it means they hold Okinawan rank. So, for example, when Sensei Andrew passes his Okinawan exam, the word sensei will then move behind his name.
If someone is a black belt, but they are not a formal instructor in the program, they are referred to as “Mr” or “Ms.” and their surname. Once they achieve 3rd Degree Okinawan Rank, they are referred to as Sensei, even if they do not hold a formal teaching role.
For the formal line up process, all Okinawan rank comes before American rank.
In Okinawa:
If an American is training in Okinawa, nobody uses the term “Sensei”. All students (including all black belts) are referred to with their first name and the word “san” behind it. For example, when I am in Okinawa training, I am referred to as “Kelly-San” - even by my own students if they are training alongside me. I would never use or be referred to as “Sensei” in that setting - as it is used ONLY for the highest ranking (Master) instructors on the Island.
Curriculum This Week
Levels 1 - 4 : Karate Club Levels
MONDAY and TUESDAY : Kumite
WEDNESDAY and THURSDAY (Level 1 & 4) : Kihon / Kata
SATURDAY: (11:30 Only This Week) Instructor’s Choice
Level 5 : Junior Advanced Level
Monday : Combatives / Kihon
Wednesday: Kumite
Levels 6 - 7 Teen / Adult Levels
MONDAY : Kumite / Combatives
TUESDAY (Black Belt) : Tony Sensei Teaching
WEDNESDAY : TBD - dependent upon who attends
THURSDAY : Kumite / Combatives / Kicking
