Kazoku Budokan
Your Instructors
Verne
Gilbert, Sensei: In many years of seeking martial arts knowledge, Gilbert
Sensei has studied several disciplines and philosophies. The
highest rank he holds is Shichidan, (7th Degree Black Belt), in Shorei
Ryu Karate. In addition he holds various black belt ranks in Kempo,
Jujitsu, Tae Kwon Do and Kyukido. Other arts studied are Aikido,
Judo, Taichi, Chuan Fa, and Yoga. Over the years he has had the
privilege of studying with many very talented martial arts
instructors. The three instructors who have influenced his
career the most are: Victor Ryther, Karate; Terry Sanders, Karate and
Woodrow Edgell, Chuan Fa / Tai Chi
Master
Edgell, the head of our tai chi program, has a rich history and has studied with many
great
martial arts instructors over the past 50 years. His highest
rank is Master of Chuan Fa Kempo, (9th level,
black
sash). He originally trained in Aikido, Jujitsu and Kempo.
After many years of study in the Japanese / Okinawa arts he switched his
interest to the Chinese arts
of Chuan Fa Kempo and Tai Chi Chuan. Among the great instructors he
has studied with are; Master John Keehan, Kempo; Master Frank Miller,
Jujitsu; Master Mas Tamura, Judo and Jujitsu; Master Joseph Dodaro, Aikido
and Tai Chi Chuan; Master James Lee and Master Wu, Chuan Fa Kempo and
Master Hsu Fun Yuen, Tai Chi Chuan
Keith
Danielson, our weapons and Kendo instructor, first came to us in 2006 from
Lee's Tae Kwon Do in Marshall, MN where he began his study at the age of
8. and where he earned his first black belt. It was there that he
also received his black belt in Kum Do, the Korean equivalent to
Kendo. Keith enjoys working with the various weapons that we work
with, particularly the bokken and Katana, and has even written a few kata
that we incorporate into our tournament repertoire. He has an innate
ability for learing kata and is currently working the most among the
assistant instructors.
Tony
and Mary Stenzel, our only husband and wife pair of dojo members, joined our dojo in September of 2005 with no prior
martial arts experience. Quickly they became
core members of the dojo,
and each took to their roles with enthusiasm. Tony became the go-to
training dummy for demonstrating new techniques,
and Mary became Sensei's
new Ju-jitsu partner.
After rising
through the ranks to Go-Kyu (blue Belt)
they began to regularly assist with the instruction of the kids'
class. Once promoted to San-Kyu (1st level brown), they and Mr. Danielson took over the kids' class nearly
completely for a brief period of time. In
January 2008
they were both promoted to the level of Shodan, while Mary was 6 months
pregnant with their first child, Malcolm. After beginning studies for a
masters degree in Social Work Mary
is not always able to be at the dojo, but still spends time focusing on her kata
and ippon kumite. Tony was the website's first visitor only minutes
after it was created and has now become the webmaster. He enjoys work
with bunkai (practical application of kata movements), and continues to
work more
frequently with the bo staff and other weapons to continue to develop the
weapons program at the Kazoku Budokan
