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

New at SFMAI

Lunch Box is Back! Wednesdays and Fridays in Feb. 12:15 - 12:45

MADLEAPS: Busting Out Party: Sunday March 7, 2010.

Infant Developmental Movement Education Classes - from birth to walking: Thursdays 10:30 - 11:45am, Jan. 28 - March 25th (no class Feb. 18)

Toddlers (12 - 30 months) Play Group: Fridays 2-3:00pm Feb. 12 - March 26 (no class Feb. 19)

Please Donate

The Society for Martial Arts Instruction is raising money to purchase the Philips HeartStart Onsite AED, automated external defibrillator. The Philips HeartStart defibrillator is the latest in essential safety equipment. Please help us by donating any amount that you can afford. Osu!

SFMAI is a not-for-profit, tax-exempt, 501 (c) (3) organization. Your tax-deductible contribution will assist the development and maintenance of programs which help keep our community safe and empowered through the knowledge and practice of movement.

Sensei Michelle Gay, CMA, RSME/T

Sensei Michelle, SFMAI's Executive Director, is a martial artist, Laban Certified Movement Analyst, Registered Somatic Movement Educator and Therapist and has a background in professional dance and theatre. Along with her regular SFMAI schedule of classes and special workshops, she teaches Anatomy and Kinesiology at the Manhattan Center for Alexander Technique, is on the guest faculty for the Laban/Bartenieff Institute of Movement Studies, Dalton High School, and Broadway Dance Center. Her first book "Brain Breaks For The Classroom" ,published by Scholastic, is due for release this fall.

She is a five time World Oyama Knockdown Champion and holds many North American Open Tournament Championship titles in kata and kumite. She won the Canadian Kyokushin Knockdown Division in 2001 and took 2nd place, plus the Fighting Spirit Award at the Seidokaikan "Knockdown Kings" tournament in NYC 2002. On October 9, 2004 she completed a 50-woman kumite (in 61 consecutive 1min. 30 secound fights) at the historic "A Woman's Right To Fight". The event was created to showcase the fighting spirit of the women who practice full contact karate. In 2003 she became a Laban Certified Movement Analyst. In 2004 , after competing further training in anatomy/ kinesiology and somatic movement education, she was accepted to the International Somatic Educators and Movement Therapists Association(ISMETA). She is also certified by the American Council of Exercise.

She continues to practice Tai Chi with Grandmaster Yu (at SMAI), Iaido with Pam Parker, Renshi (at Ken Zen Dojo) and Brazilian Ju Jitsu with Professor Jucao (at SMAI). She studied embodied anatomy and kinesiology with Amy Mathews, Anatomy and Kinesiology with Irene Dowd, Integral Anatomy (cadaver dissection) with Gil Headley, PHD, Experiential Anatomy with Bonnie Bainbridge-Cohen, and is pursuing certication as an Infant Developmental Movement Educator (IDME) from the school of Body-Mind Centering. She continues to explore studies in a variety of "hands on" healing practices.

Sensei Michelle Conducts the Children's Karate Class

Photo: Rondell Romiel

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Classes

Children's Karate Classes

Instructor Highlight

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.

Articles

A parent, whose child has been training with us for a couple of years, sent me this essay written by her son as part of his middle school application process.

It floored me that I had so much in common with a 10 year old's training experience. I too have changed a lot and have had many wonderful teachers to whom I owe a great deal for their patience, perseverance, wisdom, and humour. Ironically, the people that I learn the most from these days are my students. Thanks to all the kids at World Kanreikai Karate NYC dojo!