vInstructor Bio

Sensei Dara, Certified Black Belt Instructor of Tae Kwon Do, Japanese weapons, & Self-Defense offers a non-aggressive approach to teaching kids. Sensei Dara has been featured in THE JOURNAL, CONTRA COSTA TIMES and BAY AREA BUSINESS WOMEN NEWS-- as well as other media mentions as a highly effective & positive Instructor for kids. Her classes develop self-confidence & skill in young people and teach the added benefit of practical self-defense techniques-- even for beginners.

Not all black belts are good teachers...

As a mother, I give the type of instruction I would like my child to receive. I feel my role as the Instructor is to focus on the positive & to motivate each student to express themselves to their best ability. Each student has their own individual process of learning and it is important for me to discover what that is. In every class I incorporate one on one instruction, teamwork, creativity & fun.

I walked into a Karate class at age 10 & didn't like it at first...

With the help of 2 Masters (8th Dan Korean Master Park & 7th Dan Master Difiglia), and my own determination, I quickly learned of my abilities; after several years of training I advanced quickly, and was promoted to Instructor. In my adult life, I expanded my training to include Japanese weapons & practical self-defense techniques. In total, I have over 15 years experience in martial arts and continue to learn each day. What is important is that I still remember my first day walking into a karate class and can anticipate the anxieties & concerns of my students. My program is called "Karate" for kids because it incorporates 3 disciplines: Tae Kwon Do, Japanese weapons, & Self-Defense.

Being the youngest in a 3rd generation family lineage of entrepreneurs, it was a natural fit for me to combine my love of teaching with my interest in Eastern philosophy. One of my favorite quotes is from an ancient Zen saying: "You can accomplish whatever you set your mind to." This is something I heard often from my father growing up, & is one of the 3 laws that my students quickly become acquainted to in class.

Building a strong community...

My work is important to me and has been recognized throughout the Bay Area and is endorsed by the Albany Police Department. My emphasis on teaching is for all of my students to learn important core values and build self-esteem. My mission statement says it best: "Albany Karate for Kids will develop self-confidence and inner-strength in young people, fully empowering them to believe in themselves."

Occasionally, we are asked to recommend a self-defense program and we support the Kurukula empowerment organization for women. For more info visit www.kurukula.org