|
Biography
Kimberlee
had a full schedule and busy life, both professionally and personally, even
before thinking about a karate class. As
Registered Nurse, working full time in Public Health, she’s a regular in
homes, schools, physician offices and clinics.
Kimberlee teaches CPR for the American Heart Association and Immunization
Nurse classes for the State of
Michigan
and has many other programs rounding out her busy job.
Kimberlee identifies that she
started taking a cardio kickboxing class at a local karate school with a friend
from work because she was very overweight, out of shape and much in need of
exercise. The instructor, now her
sensei, kept talking about karate and how much it meant to her. Being curious,
she decided to look into it. Kimberlee
credits studying karate with changing her life and teaching her lots about
herself, particularly how she deals with stress and frustration and how to be
more patient. Her interest in helping others has resulted in assisting with
teaching the pee wee classes and children’s classes. While the rest of
Kimberlee’s life doesn’t know what to make of all this, her family thinks
karate is just a phase. If so, she
believes it will be a long one, probably the rest of her life.
Contact Me
|
|
Personal
Information
| Current
Occupation or profession: |
Registered Nurse - Public Health
Nurse |
| Marital Status: |
Single |
| Age: |
44 |
| Hobbies, special
interest or skills: |
Student of massage therapy and
bodywork (will graduate in 2/04). Certified CPR instructor, First Aid
Instructor. |
Karate
Information
|
Current
rank:
|
Shodan
|
|
Total
years of study:
|
4
years
|
|
Current
style:
|
Uechi
Ryu
|
|
Current
dojo name:
|
South
Haven
Karate
Academy
|
|
Dojo
location:
|
South
Haven,
Michigan
|
|
Current
instructor:
|
Teresa
McClary
|
|
Association
affiliation:
|
Independent,
Mr. James Thompson
|
Karate Promotions
|
Rank
|
Certificate
Number
|
Date
of Issue
|
Location
of Promotion
|
|
Ikkyu
|
|
July
2002
|
South
Haven, MI
|
|
Shodan
|
49
|
November
16, 2003
|
Kalamazoo
Okinawan Karate Academy, Kalamazoo MI
|
Educational Background
|
College:
|
a.
Michigan
State
University, East Lansing,
MI
Associate Degree in Nursing (1981)
b.
Lake Michigan
College,
Benton Harbor,
MI
Bachelor of Arts in Social Work (1984)
|
|
Post
graduate work:
|
Certified
immunization nurse educator for State of
Michigan
|
Questions:
At what age did you begin to study karate?
I began my study of karate just before my 41st birthday.
Why did you choose to study karate?
My interest in karate started while I was going to a cardio kickboxing class. The instructor was so positive about karate that I had to try it and see what it was about. The more I learn, the more I want to learn.
Was there a reason why you chose to study Uechi Ryu?
My instructor teaches Uechi Ryu, it is the only style I have tried.
What does the tour to Okinawa mean to you?
This opportunity to tour Okinawa will be a one-in-a lifetime event for me. I hope to see where our style was founded, to study and train. To tour Okinawa and learn something more about this beautiful island and culture is exciting to me.
How has martial arts study affected or changed your life?
I was surprised how much I learned about myself. How I learn, how I manage stress, how I focus and persevere when confronted with difficulty. This has not been material that came to me easily, and the lesson has sometimes been a struggle. I feel this experience makes me better at all of the other aspects of my life.
|
|
Women’s Friendship Tour association, inc. Marguerite
Hess, 3576
N.E.Skyline Drive,
Jensen Beach,
Florida
34957
Telephone: (772)
334- 7731
|
