Instructors at Okami Kai Martial Arts & Fitness
Sensei Glenn Rilling began his training in Shotokan karate at Okami Kai in 2003. He was inspired by 2 of his sons, who were training at the time. He received his Shodan (1st degree black belt) in 2013 and graded to the rank of Nidan (2nd degree black belt) in Dec 2017. In addition to his ongoing karate training, he is studying the art of Aikido as well as the weapons Bo, Eku and Nunchaku at Okami Kai.
Reminder to all students that Superhero shirts can be worn in all classes today. No dogi top or belt is required. Anyone wishing to still wear their full uniform is welcome to do so.
Due to the kyu (colour) belt grading, all classes except for Lil’ Dragons and Spin will be cancelled on Saturday June 25.
Our March newsletter is now available! Please go to www.okamikai.com and use the link at the bottom of our homepage to get your copy.
www.okamikai.com
Emphasis on focus, breathing, power, strength and endurance. A minimum of one Discipline Stripe must be obtained if the student is under the age of 16.
After practicing Yoga for many years, Maureen completed a yoga teacher training at YogaSpace in Toronto in 2004/2005 and has been teaching yoga ever since. She furthered her practice and teaching by attending The Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram in Chennai, India in 2006, which focused on Vedic chanting, Pranayama (breathing techniques), asana (postures), and dhyana (meditation). Her continued education has included many intensive workshops and further certification in restorative yoga, pre-natal yoga, and post-natal yoga. Mo teaches classical Vinyasa, which is meant to strengthen the connection between the body and mind through the breath. This is achieved through thoughtful asana sequencing and breath work. Each class is different and each class strives to explore this connection.
Jennifer has enjoyed transferring her passion for teaching and her own fitness goals into helping others to work to find their own physical and emotional potential and depth through fitness and wellness.
She enjoys a multitude of physical activities including running, cycling, weight lifting and martial arts.
Jennifer’s experience as a Fitness Instructor expands through many disciplines including SPIN, HIIT and Bootcamp.
In addition to her fitness life, Jennifer is a professional voice teacher, choral conductor and performer.
Jonathan Gladstone Sensei has been studying Karate at the Okamikan since 2002, and has been the co-ordinator of our Demo Teams since 2005. He achieved his Shodan (first degree black belt) rank in December, 2008; Nidan (second degree) in December, 2011; and Sandan (third degree) in June, 2016. Karate is a family affair for Gladstone Sensei. One of his sons, Sensei Simon, graded with him from white belt through Shodan at Okami Kai; he enjoys support for his training activities from his wife, Liz, and their other son, Ben.
He studied Judo briefly as a child, but most of Gladstone Sensei’s training in Karate and other martial arts has been with or through the Okamikan in Uxbridge. He says he “enjoys the warm, friendly and family-oriented community where we study martial arts seriously and with rigour without losing touch with fun.” Gladstone Sensei studies Iaido (sword) at Okami Kai along with Karate and, outside of the home dojo, has also studied Tai Chi.
Gladstone Sensei is a Professional Engineer (Ontario) who works full-time on large computer systems at a Canadian bank, and is a part-time instructor in the School of Computer Studies at Georgian College in Barrie, ON. He is an inveterate volunteer who works with both children and adults in a variety of activities. He coached and organized children’s baseball in Uxbridge for many years and delivered Junior Achievement programs at a local elementary school for about a decade. Currently he also helps run adult and children’s programs at Okami Kai and at a local squash club, participates actively in various committees at his synagogue, and volunteers extensively with CMG, an academic organization of computer professionals where he is on the Board of Directors.
Wally Blacklock Renshi has studied karate with Okami Kai since 2002. He achieved his Nidan (second degree) black belt rank in June, 2011, and his Sandan (third degree) black belt in June 2014. Through the Okami Kai curriculum and additional seminars and events, he has acquired some ability in aikido, judo and jujitsu.
He has studied the use of sai, nunchuku, tonfa and bo as weapons. He has completed the On Guard Defense and Control Tactics Training Program becoming a Basic Level instructor. In addition, he is an instructor of the Li’l Dragons Karate program at Okami Kai.
Sensei Wally Blacklock believes that “perfect” practice makes perfect and that skills are built one on another. He realizes the importance of training seriously and often.
He has come to fully appreciate this in his work as a psychoeducational therapist and as a student in karate. He works tutoring academics with children and young adults that have fallen behind at school or have developmental disorders and delays.