SEIDO KARATE
at McBurney YMCA
   125 W. 14th Street, New York, NY  10011               212-741-9210                           www.ymcanyc.org
BLACK BELTS
SENSEI PHILLIP TOMLINSON
4th Degree Black Belt
An assistant instructor at McBurney Seido, Sensei Phillip Tomlinson is a fourth degree black belt who began training at Seido in 1977 and has been a successful tournament competitor both on the local and national circuit.

As a developing and curious young athlete who excelled in soccer as well as track and field, Sensei Phillip was first drawn to karate by its beauty and grace , but was almost immediatley struck by the physical and mental benefits.  "Seido has helped me with the kind of discipline that is invaluable to everyday life", he says, "because it focuses on authentic power that can only be derived through bridging the all-important gap between body and spirit."  He believes it is this approach that has helped mold him into an accomplished competitor as well as a caring teacher.

A journalist and writer, Sensei Phillip has lived in New York City for more than 20 years.
Senpai Maria has been training at McBurney YMCA since 1999 and has the distinction of being Kyoshi Pam's and Kyoshi Dwayne's first female black belt as well as the first student to start with them as a white belt and progress through the ranks to black belt.

Senpai Maria assists with the children's program and also fills in for Kyoshi Pam and Kyoshi Dwayne instructing the adult program whenever  they are away.

A freelance proofreader/copy editor, Senpai Maria lives in Brooklyn with her husband Ian and their three children.

Maria earned her 2nd degree black belt under the instruction of Kyoshi Pam and Kyoshi Dwayne in October of 2009.
SENPAI MARIA McGRATH
2nd Degree Black Belt
Senpai Collin began his Seido Karate training in the Blind Program in May of 2003.

Born in Jamaica , West Indies, Senpai Collin lost his sight at the age of 12.  He immigrated to the United States with his family in June, 1984.

Senpai Collin is a member of McBurney YMCA and has been training with Kyoshi Pam and Kyoshi Dwayne since 2006. He earned his second degree black belt in October, 2009.
SENPAI COLLIN WATT
2nd Degree Black Belt
Earning a black belt ("Dan") ranking is an accomplishment that takes many years to attain. All of our black belts listed below have shown a high level of commitment and dedication to their training.

At the same time, reaching the first level of black belt - 1st degree or Shodan - marks the true start of a martial artist's training ("Sho" means "beginner). It is at this point we begin our real training, learning how to apply the techniques practiced to this point as well as sharing our knowledge by assisting with instructing junior students.
Senpai Pei Lin began training at McBurney YMCA in January 2002.

Born and raised in Taipei, Taiwan she moved to New York in 1994 to study and pursue a career in fashion design.

Senpai Pei Lin earned her first degree black belt under the instruction of Kyoshi Pam and Kyoshi Dwayne in April of 2008. She has been assisting with the children's program at Seido McBurney since 2003.

Senpai Pei Lin lives in Long Island with her husband Steve.
SENPAI PEI LIN WU  1st Degree Black Belt
Senpai Connie began training at McBurney YMCA in 2002.  She earned her first degree black belt under the instruction of Kyoshi Pam and Kyoshi Dwayne in April of 2008.

Senpai Connie is a graphic artist who recently moved to San Francisco with her husband Stewart.
Senpai Christon began training in the children's program in 2003 at the age of 6.  He is the first McBurney Seido student to reach the level of Junior Shodan.

Senpai Chris currently resides in New York City and is a student at Frank Sinatra High School.
SENPAI EVAN COOKE
1st Degree Black Belt
Senpai Evan began training in the children's program in 2003.  He is the first McBurney Seido student to transition from children's to adult class and attain his shodan ranking.

Senpai Evan was born and raised in New York City where he currently attends high school and resides with his parents, older brother and younger sister.
SENPAI CONNIE KAO    1st Degree Black Belt
SENPAI CHRISTON ZAWODNIAK
Junior 1st Degree Black Belt
Senpai Will has been part of the McBurney Seido for over 15 years.  Although he has the distinction of being the oldest student in our program, Senpai Will leads by example with his never quit, positive attitude.

Senpai Will received his Shodan in 2002 and after a 5 year hiatus he has began his training once again in 2011.
SENPAI WILL DORAM  1st Degree Black Belt