Patrick Jean-Claude Richoux, Godan, originally from Vierzon, France, began his karate career in 1974 and joined IMA in 2002. His wife Veronica and son Bryan train with him. The owner/manager of a pool hall, Sensei Patrick runs the IMA dojo in Houston, Texas. His hobbies include outside activities and good food and movies. Sensei Patrick holds referee certifications at the Pan American level in both Kata and Kumite, and is a former French National Team Member as well as a former International Traditional Karate Federation National Team Member. Most notably, he won a Bronze Medal at the World Championships in Brazil in 1993. President of USA-NKF Texas, Honorary President of the El Salvador Karate Federation, and member of the Referee Council of the Central American Karate Federation, Sensei Patrick likes teaching karate because it gives him the opportunity to give back what he learns, to avoid monotony in his life, and to sweat together with his students.  

Sensei Catalin Neagu, Godan,

Coming soon 

Sensei Marius Gîlcă

Coming soon 

Sensei Rick McGavin

Coming soon 

Sensei Amadou Niang

Coming soon 

Senei Michelle Prud'Homme,  

has been training at IMA since 1993, when she joined her daughter, Renee Prud'Homme, at the dojo. Michelle is an attorney who was born in Chateauroux, France and is a certified judge at the national level. She competes, coaches, and referees locally and nationally and is known at IMA as the Master of Ceremonies and the Overseer of the Rags (for floor cleaning!). She enjoys teaching karate, because she gets to see the progress of her students, and because it helps her learn and improve her own techniques. Hobbies include karate (of course!). Michelle notes that "Karate is a great stress reliever that has made me physically and mentally stronger. It's also a social outlet for me." You can find Sempai Prud'Homme teaching Saturday mornings at 9 at the dojo.

I have practiced karate since 1994. In 1998 I achieved the level of black belt, which I have found is only the beginning of the journey. I am currently Yondan (4th degree). I have been teaching since 1996 under Shihan Madani. I especially enjoy teaching our youth and watching them grow over the years. I also referee at local and national tournaments.

Sempai Robert McCormick; 

I  started training at IMA in September of 1997, with my oldest son Ian.  Ian is now studying music in college and I am still training, but with my younger son, Neal.  I have been interested in martial arts for most of my adult life, spending some time studying Tae Kwon Do, Hapkido, Judo, and Aikido in my teens and 20s.  I left the martial arts world to focus on mountaineering and family, but as I neared 40 I needed to do something on a regular basis and closer to home.  This led me to visit IMA, where I could tell almost immediately that karate-do was being practiced at a very high level.  The more I train in karate, the deeper and deeper it gets, and the more challenging it gets.  Today I also derive great satisfaction from watching the young people that I teach progress and have success at karate.  The IMA family is my family.

Deborah Keyek-Franssen, Nidan has been training with the International Martialarts Association since February 1998.  The first student from the Lafayette YMCA to receive her black belt, Sampai Deb enjoys teaching the Tuesday/Thursday 6 pm class at the Honbu dojo, and trains mornings at the 6 am class (ugh!) and at the Tuesday/Thursday black belt classes.  She is a Class D referee with two sons at IMA:  Nathaniel (Junior Black Belt) and Jonathan (1st Kyu).

 Janson Ferrera, Sandan,  currently an electrical engineering student at the Colorado School of Mines, was born and raised in Louisville, Colorado, and also holds the rank of Shodan in weapons and is a referee at the state level. Janson has been training with IMA since 1994; his sister, Kaylyn, is also a student at the dojo. In addition to karate, Janson also enjoys wrestling, science, and math. He has competed in several national competitions in weapons, kata, kumite, and iai-do. He likes teaching karate, because he has the opportunity to see his students improve after he teaches them. He says about his karate experiences: "While karate has helped me physically, it has helped me the most mentally. I have learned to be humble, patient, and to have self-confidence.

Helmut Lestinsky, Sandan, has been a lead instructor for the mid week classes.  He enjoys teaching adults and self defense techniques.  Helmut began his karate journey in 1994 a year after his two children started.  Although he no longer competes, he continues to be a presence as a Regional level Referee in many local tournaments. 

Stephen Bryant, Nidan. I started karate back when my son Derrick was in second grade which would be 11 years.  As you know I joined because of the school program being put on by Tracy over at Monarch.  I am Vice President in the Wealth Management division of Wells Fargo in Boulder and enjoy teaching and trainning for the stress relief of my daily job.

Jeffrey Holley, Nidan, has been training at IMA since 1991; his daughter Miya is also a member of the IMA family. An electrical engineer, Jeff was born in Boulder, Colorado, and enjoys skiing, mountaineering, and motocross. He loves to see the progress that kids make over years of hard work. Jeff has received many medals in local and national competitions in kata and kumite, is a certified referee at the state level.

David Claflin. I started Karate at his daughter’s request in 1998.   “Dad you should do this too, so we can so something together,” she said.   I had long had a passing interest in martial arts, but always felt I didn’t have the body to do it.   I started with the goal of at least making it to a blue belt, never imaging I would get to where I am today.   It has been a struggle, but has been worth it. Mr. Claflin have achieved Shodan (1st degree) level in his training.   Mr. Claflin teaches classes at Louisville Recreation Center , at the Lafayette YMCA, and occasionally assists at the International Martial Arts Dojo. Mr. Claflin came to Colorado  in 1974 to pursue his academic education.   Mr. Claflin holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Studio Arts from Ottawa University  and a Master of Architecture from the University  of Colorado .   Mr. Claflin is currently a practicing Architect with the Denver  office of a multi-national firm.

Robert Davies, Shodan  -  I began karate training Halloween of 2001.  The reason I started is that my 6 year old son and 9 year old daughter had started, and I became more interested as I would watch their classes.  Despite the fact that I was 38 years old and had never done anything similar to martial arts, I hesitantly started my practice.  Very quickly I truly became obsessed with the practice of karate.  Through years of training, I eventually achieved the level of First Dan, and am now working toward Second Dan.  The practice of karate has positively effected every aspect of my life, including my work where I am now studying the impact of incorporating traditional martial arts practice into the treatment of at-risk use who are starting to use drugs.  On a personal note, martial arts training, and more importantly the family I have found at the IMA dojo, have been truly lifesaving in helping me weather some very difficult times in my life.  

Rita Vali, Shodan,  was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada and has been at IMA since 1999. Sons Quinn and Max are part of the IMA family, too. A biochemist and ceramic artist, Rita is interested in art in general, gardening, kayaking, hiking, and working with non-profit art groups and children's community service groups. She has placed in the top three in numerous tournaments and likes teaching karate because she gets to work with kids, contribute to the Dojo and keep her skills up. She appreciates the spiritual and health benefits she receives from karate and enjoys the IMA community and friends at the Dojo.

Sara Stewart Martinelli, Nidan, trains at IMA with her three children, Jax, Rory and Lily.  Sara and her husband own a number of local restaurants and Sara is also a Cerified Medical Herbalist.  Sempai Sara teaches some of the Little Dragon's classes, as well as being one of the assistant coaches of the IMA Competition Team.  She is also a licensed USANKF Karate Referee.

Trudee Kiyota, Nidan  - joined the IMA family in 2000 through her daughter Taylor and then she and her son joined in 2002. The Kiyota family has competed Nationally and Internationally since 2002 and has traveled to Virginia, Hawaii, Seattle, Vancouver, San Jose, New Orleans, Las Vegas, South Carolina, North Carolina and Orlando for karate tournaments. Trudee is a CPA who was born in Berkeley, California and enjoys running, skiing, snowboarding and hiking. She is also a certified USANKF Karate Referee.

Debbie Cooper-George, Joined IMA School 1996 and achieved 1 ^st  degree Black Belt 2006.   My son Alexander joined karate after getting to know the Madani’s and having an interest in sports. I wanted to be part of his life so the Madani’s encourage me to be interested in the self defense side of karate since my job was working with the public by myself and needed to be aware of the happenings around me. I found myself enjoying sharing karate with my son. My son advanced and we loved going to completions, knowing fellow karate students. Karate became a “way of life” for our family. As my son went into high school he focus on other things, but I found myself with the karate spirit in my heart calming my soul. I am very thankful that karate is a part of my life and what the Madani’s have poured into me and my son.  

Ernesto Barnabas, Shodan  is currently in his fourth year of doctoral training in the Pediatric School Psychology program at Lehigh University.    As a four-year letterman student-athlete in NCAA Division III Football and an instructor in Shotokan Karate at Colorado College, Ernesto earned his B.S. in Psychology in Colorado Springs.  Inspired to give more effort to their local community, Ernesto and his wife Sarah returned to teaching Shotokan Karate at the Bethlehem YMCA Center for building strong children, strong families, and strong communities.       

Email: ebarnabas@lehigh.edu

Dr. Sarah Barnabas, Shodan,  is currently working as a physical therapist at Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Hospital in Allentown , PA.    She is an active member of the Stroke Team at Good Shepherd where she works to rehabilitate patients following stroke, knee/hip replacements and other neurological impairments in hopes of helping them return home. Sarah is also currently involved in assisting to teach the shotokan karate class with Ernesto at the local YMCA in Bethlehem , PA.    Sarah began Shotokan at Colorado College where she earned her degree in Anthropology with a minor in ethnic studies.    At CC she helped with teaching and organizing classes and activities for the Karate club and now looks forward to seeing the current program at the YMCA grow and develop into a strong community. .              

Email: barnabas513@yahoo.com                                                                                                    

 Coming up soon:

Taylor Kiyota, Miya Holley, and many more....