Our 2011 Holiday Party included pizza, drinks, ice cream and sweets. The party life saver for the kids included a Moon Jump donated by one of our parents. The kids were more interested in the Moon Jumper then the food. The evening ended up with alot of sweaty smiling kids.
If your interested in a VERY AFFORDABLE rental of a Moon Jumper, Tables & Chairs, Tents etc. email Ana at onestoppartyrental@yahoo.com.
Alot of my oldest pictures were damaged when my basement flooded. These are some of the survivors. If any of my old students have anything you would like to send me please do! The memories live on.
Also notice the picture with no sparring equipment and NO I didn't get disqualified . . . this time.
Sensei Smith
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Stacy Strunk Promoted to Black Belt
On November 4, 2011 Stacy Strunk was promoted to Shodan (1st degree black belt). Stacy started karate in 2007 training under Master Smith. Four years later and more than 100 pounds lighter she has achieved her goal of becoming a blackbelt. Over the 4 years she has participated in dozens of karate tournaments and training seminars to further her skills. She is also an active blogger who writes about competition, weight loss and body image in her blog, The FatKarate-ka. Stacy is also an avid CrossFitter, paleo enthusiast, anime fan and cosplayer. |
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Congratulations to Sensei Burrell on his recent promotion to fifth degree black belt. Sensei Burrell tested before a board of 8 master level instructors during the American Okinawan Karate Association training weekend. Sensei Burrell began his study of Isshinryu in 1987 under Grandmaster Steve Young. Sensei Burrell is a military veteran having served in the U.S. Army from 1991 to 1997. Sensei Burrell is a police officer for the village of Brookfield.
Congratulation also goes out to Eric Cohen, who flew in from Denver Colorado, who also successfully passed his San-dan test. |
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Congratulations to Mrs. Strunk who took two 1st's and a 2nd at the 29th Northwest Indiana karate, kung fu, tae kwon do championships held on September 4, 2011.
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MASTER A. KEITH SMITH - Hachi-Dan
Master Smith was born in Aurora, Illinois in October of 1954. He started his martial arts training in Isshinryu in 1972 under Sensei Patrick Buckley. Sensei Buckley, a student of the late James Chapman, promoted Master Smith to the ranks of Sho-Dan and Ni-Dan. After Buckley's School of Isshinryu closed, he made inquiries to several Isshinryu organizations and after reviewing his options followed Sensei Buckley's advice and chose to follow Grand Master Armstrong and the A.O.K.A. Master Smith opened his school in 1975 under the name Eastwood Karate Club; the school name was subsequently changed to the Midwest School of Isshinryu. Master Smith has been a volunteer instructor since his schools inception.
In the late 70's Master Smith's efforts to encourage area Isshinryu schools to use the tapes of Grand Master Shimabuku to help standardize the kata's met with great resistance. Master Smith regularly corresponded with Grandmaster Armstrong whose conversations helped keep his spirit alive.
Master Smith met his current instructor, Grandmaster Steve Young through a co-worker, also a student of Isshinryu, who, while at work, repeatedly returned requesting to be taught new segments of the kata he was learning at his school. The student continually returned for further instruction. This surprised Master Smith because at that time very few instructors in the area preformed Isshinryu kata so closely to the films. Finally, Master Smith went to meet the co-workers instructor and was introduced to Master Steve Young. Master Smith has been a student of Master Young's ever since.
Master Smith has continued his training over the years participating in seminars taught by Grand Master Steve Armstrong, Grand Master Louis Lizotte, Master Ron Boucher, Master Sherman Harrell, Master Nick Adler, Master Angi Uezu, Master Kichiro Shimabuku, Master Willie Adams, Master A. J. Advincula and Grandmaster Stephen Young.
Master Smith received his 8th Dan in Isshin-Ryu Karate in July of 2005. In November of 2011 he received his "Kyoshi" certificate from Grandmaster Steve Young. He has also served on the A.O.K.A. Awards Committee and is currently on the A.O.K.A. Promotion Board and Advisory Board.
Master Smith has received a number of local and national awards for his participation in and support of martial arts, and specifically, Isshin-Ryu Karate.
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GRANDMASTER STEVE YOUNG
Master Young was born in Carthage, Illinois on January, 10, 1955. He started his martial arts training in both Isshinryu and Shotokan in 1971. Master Young progressed to the rank of Sho-Dan in both arts and gradually moved full training efforts into Isshinryu.
During the next 12 years, Master Young was very active in the tournament scene. He also was very active in assisting in the dojo. Under the instruction of Sensei Jerry Tuzzo, Master Young open his first dojo in Carthage.
Upon graduation from college, Master Young moved to the Chicago area. At this point he was encouraged to contact Grand Master Stephen Armstrong to seek advice on continued training. Grand Master Armstrong invited Master Young to his Tacoma dojo. Each year Master Young would travel to Tacoma, or arrange for Grand Master Armstrong to come to the Chicago area, to continue his training.
Through Grand Master Armstrong's introductions, Master Young met Grand Master Lewis Lizotte and Grand Master Willie Adams. These masters, became Master Young's source for continued training and guidance. Master Young now trains under Grand Master Lizotte.
Master Young opened several dojos in the Chicago area during the late 1970's and continued through the mid 1990's. Master Young's schools became a major faction of the American Okinawan Karate Association. During this era, Master Young hosted two of the AOKA Grand Nationals. Heavy job related travel has forced many of the schools to close. The main dojo is located in Aurora with one of Master Young's long -time students, Master Keith Smith, in-charge of the school.
Master Young is currently an 9th Dan in Isshin-Ryu Karate, a 1st Dan in Shotokan and a Brown Belt in Judo. He has served on the Board of Directors of the American Okinawan Karate Association and has since been appointed as President of the Association.
Master Young has received a number of local and national awards for his support of martial arts, and specifically, the support of Isshin-Ryu Karate. He was awarded the "Spirit of Isshin-Ryu" by the AOKA Isshin-Ryu Hall of Fame.
Master Young is a Certified Public Accountant and holds an undergraduate degree in accounting. He also holds an MBA in Finance and has spent a large portion of his career in the auditing profession. Master Young currently serves as Vice President of a joint venture based in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Master Young currently resides in Wheaton, Illinois where is married and has two children, Jennifer and Joseph. Jennifer is a Junior at Florida State University majoring in Marine Biology. Joseph is a Junior at Wheaton Warrenville South High School and is an avid football player. Jennifer, Joseph and his wife, Kay, are all Black belts.
On July 12th, 2003 Grandmaster Lewis Lizotte promoted Steve Young to the rank of Grandmaster, 9th degree blackbelt.
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Karen Miller - Ni-Dan
Karen (Eberhart) Miller has been studying Isshinryu Karate on and off since 1979. She says anyone can achieve their black belt if they are persistent. She lives in Bolingbrook. She is employed at Eberhart Accounting and Tax Services (family owned) as a tax preparer, accountant and general manager. She is also actively involved with Illinois Society of Enrolled Agents, Child Care Resourse & Referral Center and Girl Scouts. In her spare time she likes to put on 25 pounds of medieval armor and hit other people with sticks at medieval events sponsored by The Society for Creative Anachronism. She also bikes, kayaks, sews, gardens and reads.
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Sensei Dwayne Burrell - Go-Dan
Dwayne A. Burrell began his training in Isshinryu in 1987 under Grandmaster Steve Young. He is married to Julie Burrell, has 3 children and is a Police Officer for the Village of Brookfield. Sensei Burrell taught Isshinryu to members of his Army Platoon while state side and while he was deployed to Bosnia. Sensei Burrell teaches classes both here at MSOI and the AOKA World Headquarters in Wheaton, Il.
In August of 2011 he successfully tested before the American Okinawan Karate Association testing board and was promoted to the rank of Go-dan. |
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Stacy Strunk - Sho-dan
Mrs. Strunk started karate in 2007 under the instruction of Master Keith Smith. Severely overweight, she had spent three traumatic days in the hospital, where she had to use special extra-large blood pressure cuffs, special extra-large wheel chairs , and the special extra-large MRI machine. When she was released with a relatively clean bill of health (except a diagnosis of asthma), she vowed to change her lifestyle and started by joining her daughters in taking karate classes at MSOI-Aurora.
Four years later and 100 pounds lighter, she has participated in dozens of karate tournaments across the country, dragging her children and best friend in tow. Now an assistant instructor, Ms. Strunk has a fitness-oriented and commpetition-centered approach to teaching. She is also an active blogger who writes about competition, weight loss and body image in her blog, The Fat Karate-ka.
When not at the dojo, Mrs. Strunk practices mixed martial arts and is also an avid CrossFitter, paleo enthusiast, anime fan and cosplayer. In November of 2011 she was promoted to the rank of Sho-dan.
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