SFMAI.org: Karate Classes, Martial Arts & Boxing in NYC

Announcements!

SMAI is proud to welcome Professor "Jucão" Ailson Henrique Brites and his students! Brazilian Ju Jitsu - Tuesday, Thursday, Fridays - See Brazilian Ju Jitsu Class Schedule

Instructor Highlight

Sensei Michelle, is a 3rd degree black belt, Laban Certified Movement Analyst, Registered Somatic Movement Educator and Therapist and has a background in dance and theater. She began her study of martial arts with her son and husband in the fall of 1994 when she signed them all up for tae kwon do classes at a small neighborhood school. In 1997 she joined World Oyama Karate Headquarters where she trained directly under Grandmaster Soshu S. Oyama. In 1999, after successfully competing in many semi-knockdown tournaments she was invited to join special morning training with the uchi-deshi under the instruction of Soshu S. Oyama and encouraged to fight in the more challenging knockdown tournaments. She participated in this training along with a regular class and teaching schedule for 4 years until World Oyama HQ closed its doors on Sixth Avenue.

Instructors

Shihan Jose Cotton

Shihan Jose is a 5th degree black belt. He began his martial arts training directly under Soshu Shigeru Oyama at World Oyama Headquarters in 1986. He holds World Championship titles in Heavyweight and Open Division Full Contact karate. He was an original member of the Oyama Karate Full Contact Team and defeated opponents in tournaments in the United States, Europe, Canada and Japan.

Sensei Michelle Gay, CMA, RSME/T

Sensei Michelle, is a 3rd degree black belt, Laban Certified Movement Analyst, Registered Somatic Movement Educator and Therapist and has a background in dance and theater. She began her study of martial arts with her son and husband in the fall of 1994 when she signed them all up for tae kwon do classes at a small neighborhood school. In 1997 she joined World Oyama Karate Headquarters where she trained directly under Grandmaster Soshu S. Oyama. In 1999, after successfully competing in many semi-knockdown tournaments she was invited to join special morning training with the uchi-deshi under the instruction of Soshu S. Oyama and encouraged to fight in the more challenging knockdown tournaments. She participated in this training along with a regular class and teaching schedule for 4 years until World Oyama HQ closed its doors on Sixth Avenue.

Sensei David Sheeger

Sensei David began his martial arts training at World Oyama Karate Headquarters in Manhattan in 1986. He currently holds a 4th degree black belt in this style. He was a member of the World Oyama Karate Full Contact Team from 1992-1997 and competed Nationally and Internationally in the Light Weight Division.

Sensei Maria Van Dessel

Sensei Maria has been involved in the martial arts as student, competitor, judge, coach and teacher for nearly twenty five years. After a number of years as a dance student, she was seeking another field of movement training. She began practicing Eizan Ryu Jujitsu in 1981, drawn by techniques which allowed a smaller person to control a larger attacker.

Gary Lai

Gary Lai has instructed martial arts at New York Martial Arts Academy, Revolution Studio, Physical Arts Center, and various academic schools and independent studios. He has studied Bruce Lee’s Jeet Kune Do Concepts with Dan Inosanto, the primary instructor for Bruce Lee’s martial arts school, Burton Richardson, Chad Stahelski and with others in the same lineage. He has also performed as a martial arts stuntman in commercial and screen work.

Sang Kim Sensei

Sang Kim sensei, Yondan - US Batto Do Federation/Zen Nihon Toyama Ryu Iaido Renmei Nidan - Sei Zan KaiYondan studied with Bob Elder sensei (6th dan kyoshi) and Hataya Mitsuo sensei (9th dan Kaicho of the Zen Nihon Batto Do renmei). He was first introduced to sword at age 12 through kendo. He's been practicing Toyama Ryu and Battodo since 2000.

Amy Mathews

Amy Matthews, CMA, SME, RYT, RSMT/RSME has been teaching movement since 1994. She is a Certified Laban Movement Analyst, a Body-Mind Centering Practitioner, and a Motherhand Shiatsu practitioner.

Darwin Bodero

Darwin Bodero (Graduado Cobra D'Agua) was born in New York City where his martial arts training began at age 14. After experimenting in several styles throughout the years, Capoeira found him in 1999. In 2000 Mr.Bodero was officially inducted into Capoeira through his first batizado with Mestre Bom Jesus.

Grandmaster Yu Cheng Hsiang

Born in Shanghai in 1929, Master Yu Cheng-hsiang studied Shaolin at age 15 to control asthma. In 1949, he moved to Taiwan, where he studied Yang-style tai chi with Cheng Man-ching. Ten years later, Master Yu was teaching teachers. He came to New York in 1979 where he continues to teach. Prominent students have included Maggie Newman and Joseph Zeisky.

Professor Jucao

Jucao holds the rank of fifth degree black belt professor. In his 30 years of training and teaching ju jitsu. Professor Jucao fas formed internationally recognized athletes, both as champions and professors of ju jitsu, capable of teaching and fighting anywhere in the world. As a competitor, he has been in over 1000 ju jitsu matches, won gold medals at the Pan American Games in Los Angeles in 1995 and 1996, and took the gold medal at the European Championships in Portugal in 2004.

Tony Ortiz

Tony Ortiz, founder of New York Eskrima, has an extensive background in a variety of martial arts, including San Miguel Eskrima, Pekiti Tirsia Arnis, Boxing, Thai boxing, and Wing Chun. In addition, he is certified in personal training, pre- and post-natal training, and USAW weight lifting.

Events

The Movement Fundamentals class is suitable for anyone seeking more ease and effectiveness in movement. It explores kinesthetic awareness and the basic principles of movement that underly all activities.
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Past Events

"Still Moving" workshops were developed to explore the idea of "cross practice" similar to principles of athletic "cross training". The current series uses the inner focus, consciousness and sustained quality of yoga practice as a preparation for the quick, goal oriented, and externally focused practice of karate.
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