Denise Coursey, Owner and Head Instructor
Denise started training in martial arts in 1998, when her father enrolled her and her sister in classes so they could learn to defend themselves. Little did he know how much of a positive impact that class and the years of training that followed would have on her life.
Over the next two decades, Denise studied several styles under different instructors. In 2011, she met Kyoshi Roberto Curtis (8th Dan), who introduced her to the teachings of Grand Master Seikichi Iha (10th Dan). Of all the styles she'd studied so far, this was by far the most practical for self-defense and applicable for her -- for women and people of smaller stature.
She has been studying Okinawan Shido-kan karate with Sensei Curtis and Sensei Iha ever since. She made her first trip to a National Training Seminar to study with Sensei Iha in 2013. She’s since attended numerous seminars with Sensei Iha and his senior instructors, studied at the Hombu dojo in Lansing, Michigan, and attended Sensei Iha’s Tookachi celebration and seminar in Okinawa in 2018.
Throughout her martial arts career, she’s often been one of only a few women in the dojo. So in 2018, she started a women’s class through Sensei Curtis at his dojo, becoming one of the first female karate instructors in his dojo, to try to bring more women into martial arts. She succeeded in increasing the ratio of women from 10% of students to more than 30%.
Denise continues to teach women’s and co-ed classes at Sensei Curtis’s dojo. She also teaches women’s self-defense (volunteer) for several organizations in Alexandria for young and at-risk women.
Matthew Coursey, Associate Instructor
Matthew started studying karate in 2012 with Kyoshi Roberto Curtis, at the age of ... over 40, proving it really is never too late to start your karate journey.
Because he started studying later in life, Matt understands what it is like to learn a new, physical skill as an adult. He's adept at teaching adults by using and demonstrating practical applications, and sharing his own experience and modifications.
Matt has also studied at Sensei Iha's National Training Seminars, at various seminars with Sensei Iha's senior students, and attended Sensei Iha's Tookachi celebration in Okinawa in 2018.
