Growing up in a working-class coal mining community in the UK, Sensei Lisa discovered the importance of self-defense at a young age. It was during her years at college that she formalized her training and enrolled in a Shotokan karate course and was immediately hooked. After a brief hiatus due to military deployments, she rekindled her passion for karate and enrolled in traditional Okinawan Shorin-Ryu karate classes in 2002 with her husband Patrick and their two children, Hannah and Jonah, under the tutelage of Sensei(s) Joe and Teresa Knight and Kyoshi Sal Scaglione and has been making an X in the book ever since. What Sensei Lisa loves the most about our style of karate is the humility and continual quest for self-improvement, which reminds the practitioner of their flaws and vulnerabilities and the importance of never resting on one’s laurels. She is honored to have been handed the baton from Kyoshi Sal to serve as Shihan of the NoVA karate dojo. 

“When faced with an opponent always move forward” is one of the key philosophy and practice of Shorin Ryu Karate that has become the foundation of life for Sensei Shabbir Kazmi. Born in Pakistan and migrated at age 15 to USA with a family of five brothers and sisters, adapting to new environment is a way of life. Joining Shorin Ryu Karate at age 32 in New York, Hombo Dojo under the direction of Kyoshi Michael Mackay, was the first step forward towards a disciplined way of life. The first five years of training in the learning halls of Shorin Ryu Karate was about pushing beyond the comfort zone, rigor of physical training, learning new techniques and acquiring self respect. After achieving 1st degree Black Belt, it was about teaching the Art of Karate to his family and friends. Now training for the past sixteen years at Ueshiro Northern Virginia Dojo, it has been a most rewarding experience of lifetime under the training of Kyoshi Sal Scaglione and Sensei Lisa Markowitz.

On January 22, 2011, at age 52, I performed the hardest move in karate - stepping onto the deck for the first time. This June, 2024 at age 66 I attained the rank of a third degree. In between I’ve enjoyed the hard training and camaraderie with my fellow Shorin-Ryu karateka from around the world.  I appreciate pushing my physical limits while expanding my mind and spirit.  I also love sharing what I’ve learned and look forward to many more years on this challenging lifelong journey.