JKFNW Dojo Locations

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Multnomah Athletic Club                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1849 SW Salmon St, Portland, OR 97205                                                                                                                                                                                                         (Private Members Only)

Sensei Bill Plapinger

 jkfkarate@comcast.net

 

Sensei Bill Plapinger has been practicing karate since 1972 with a background in the Shotokan style. He joined JKFNW and the Ryobu-Kai style in 1990 and has been the head instructor at the MAC dojo since 2000. He is involved in the competition aspect of the art as a decorated tournament referee (PKF Judge B for Kumite) and MAC Karate Committee Member. He is also a member of the JKFNW Executive Counsel. Sensei Plapinger currently enjoys retired life where, in addition to continuing to teach karate, he has been enjoying playing the guitar and tending to his bonsai collection. He and his wife are very proud of his son who is currently a musician in the U.S. Navy.

Classes with Sensei Plapinger focus on developing strong basics (kihon), studying the performance of forms (kata) and their proper applications, and prearranged sparring (yakusoku kumite). “The study of kata is a critical component,” he says. “I want my students to learn how to use the correct body form and breathing, and to develop strong techniques for stances, punches, kicks, blocks and thrusts.”  Classes at the MAC dojo are very traditional. Sensei Bill strongly embraces the dojo creed and believes the moral lessons learned through practice of the art will help students throughout their lives.

 

JKF Ryobukai  NW Salem Dojo
Permanent Location TBD

Sensei Dena Healy

Sensei Dena has been training with the organization for nearly 25 years and has been teaching for 17 years. Always searching for the right balance of mental and physical challenges, Sensei Dena found what she was looking for in the martial arts and with JKFNW. She cannot image her life with out karate in it and enjoys watching her students progress in her dojo.
Sensei Dena is also an active Oregon Committee member, is a wonderful cook and spends a lot of time volunteering at animal shelters helping those in need.

Permanent location TBD due to COVID-19.

Sensei Steve Ahnert 

Auburn Valley YMCA
1620 Perimeter Rd SW
Auburn, WA 98001

Contact the YMCA directly for class information and to sign up.

Sensei David Munden has been training karate cumulatively for nearly 20 years and has been teaching for 8 years. Sensei David is a USA Karate certified coach and had taken numerous athletes to local and national level competitions, and has a history of competing himself, bringing back silver and bronze metals in national competitions.
Recently he has been named the Sensei Head Coach for the Maccabiah Games taking place in Isreal.

Highline College

2400 S 240th St, Des Moines, WA 98198

PE116/PE216 (Check Highline College schedule for class availability.)

Sensei Donald W. Kenaga

DKenaga@AOL.com

Sensei Don Kenaga has been closely involved with JKFNW since he first began practicing in 1984, achieving 4th degree black belt (Yondan) in 2014.  He began teaching in 1992 and has been the JKFNW Chief Instructor for Washington State and Board Chairman of the Washington JKFNW non-profit committee since 2005.  A former Boeing Engineer with a Master of Science in Aeronatics and Astronautics from Purdue University, Sensei Kenaga retired from the Boeing Company after 32 years and now enjoys spending time with his wife, Cynthia, another black belt within the organization.

Sensei Kenaga’s Karate Philosophy:

“While it’s fair to say that karate is not for everyone, it’s also fair to say that karate training offers something of value for every student.  For me, karate-do became a way of life, which is to say I have been finding value in karate since my beginning over 35 years ago.  The biggest benefit to me has been the challenge of facing and overcoming my fears, because karate certainly gets a student out of his or her comfort zone, and that is the way toward growth and self-improvement.”

Permanent Location TBD due to COVID 19.

Sensei Jay Farrell

 Contact Information

PHOTO

 

Under Kaicho (Chairman), Junki Yoshida is Fukukaicho (Vice-Chairman) Jay Farrell of Japan Karate Federation Ryobu-Kai. He oversees the daily operation of the organization, that spans from Northwest US to the Rocky Mountains. Sensei Farrell has 47 years of martial arts experience in Shito-Ryu, Shotokan, and Shurite Karate, as well as Aikido, Boxing, Muay Thai, Judo, Wrestling, Fencing, and Escrima/Kali. He has been fortunate to be able to train in Japan for up to two years at a time. He was a dominant heavy-weight fighter for the USA Karate National Team (US Olympic Team) for over ten years as US national champion, multiple-time medalist at the Pan-American Karate Championships, and representing the US at several World Championships in Australia, Malaysia, World Cup in Germany and selected as the US team captain for the national team. Now, he travels throughout the world, representing USA Karate and the Japan Karate Federation at the World Championships and other international competitions as a highly decorated tournament referee (WKF Kata Judge A and Kumite Referee A). Sensei Farrells professional background includes attorney, retired Lt. Commander from the US Navy, and retired fire officer with the Seattle Fire Department. He and his wife are avid animal lovers and keep several pets, which are their pride and joy.

Classes with Sensei Jay will be challenging and informative, and you will not regret the opportunity to learn first hand from this legend of martial arts.

 

 

Billings Family YMCA
402 N. 32nd St, Billings, MT 59101

 

Sensei Michael Kok

mkok@bresnan.net

206-280-6957

 

Sensei Mike Kok has been practicing karate nearly 30 years and teaching for nearly 20 of those years. Karate is something Sensei Mike has always been interested in since he was a young boy, and when he was able to get started with a program through the Boeing Employee Karate Association in Washington State, he grew passionate about the art, and became the BEKA secretary, treasurer, vice presidents, and finally president. When he moved to Montana in 2005, he was able to bring his passion with him and opened a dojo in 2007. In his free time, Sensei Mike enjoys spending time with his wife and two sons doing various outdoor activities, like fishing and hiking, and participating in other sports, such as basketball and volleyball. He also loves getting to ride his motorcycle.

Sensei Mike keeps a regimented teaching schedule, and students will know what type of training to be prepared for and what to expect on the night they come in to train with him. His philosophy is “To give students the gift I was given by teaching the way I was taught.” He hopes his students will come away from his classes with more self confidence, self discipline and a better understanding of respect for self and others.