Karate Spirit
1060 Merrow Rd, Coventry, CT 06238 USA

ABOUT  THE  INSTRUCTORS

Chief Instructor
Margaret Thomas, 6th Dan
Sensei Margaret



Sensei Margaret Thomas holds a 6th degree black belt with the Japan Karate Association and is one of the highest-ranking women in the country. Sensei Thomas started studying karate in 1975 in Philadelphia. She moved to Connecticut in 1979 where she completed an M.S. in Geology. She has been teaching traditional Shotokan Karate to students of all levels for over 40 years. In 1995, Sensei graduated Master Masataka Mori's (9th Dan) advanced Shotokan Karate-Do International Instructors Course in NYC. She was the Assistant Chief Instructor of the University of Connecticut JKA Karate Club from 1995-2003. Sensei Thomas is a Director for Shotokan Karate Do International, headquartered in New York City. Sensei is also an accomplished competitor in sport karate, with regional, national, and international awards spanning more than a decade. She has been a member of the USA Karate Team for both Kumite and Kata numerous times, and has been a US Team Selection Judge since 2006. Sensei also hold JKA International qualifications for Instructor, Rank Examiner, and Tournament Judge. Karate CV
 



Assistant Chief Instructor
John Seifert, 6th Dan
Sensei John Seifert


John Seifert is a 6th degree black belt and has been studying karate for over 30 years. He began his training at the UConn Karate Club in 1989 where he also received his Mechanical Engineering degree. He is a 3-time member of the U.S. National team, competing at the 6th, 10th and 13th Funakoshi World Cup Karate Championships in 1996 (Osaka), 2006 (Sydney) and 2014 (Tokyo).  He is a 7-time SKDI men's kumite champion and a graduate of Master Mori's advanced Instructor Training Program in NYC. Sensei John has also attended JKA Instructor’s Seminars in Tokyo in 2005 and 2014. He is an internationally certified JKA Instructor, Examiner, and Judge.

Instructor
Mark Rollins, 3rd Dan





Mark Rollins, a 3rd degree black belt, began practicing karate at UConn in 1987, where he received his BS in Electrical Engineering. Upon his graduation in 1991, Mark moved to Atlanta, GA to attend graduate school at Georgia Tech, where he continued his karate training with Sensei Takashina’s organization. Sensei Mark returned to Eastern Connecticut in 1993.  In 2013 Sensei Mark graduated from the Basic Shotokan Karate Do International Instructor Course, under the direction of Master Mori. He holds JKA International certifications as an Instructor and Tournament Judge.