Chief Instructors
Master John Kay
Shichidan (7th Degree)Master John Kay began studying Karate in February 1972 at the University of Florida with our style's founder, O'Sensei Ngo Dong. John earned his Black Belt in February 1974 - the same year he met Ricki Kay. They were married in 1980. They were the first husband and wife couple to both earn Master rank (6th degree or higher) in Cuong Nhu.
Master Ricki Kay
Rokudan (6th Degree)Master Ricki Kay being studying Karate at University of Florida with O'Sensei Dong in January 1974. She earned her Black Belt in 1978, and founded our style's first school in the Seattle-area in 1980. In 1995, she and her husband officially started Fairwood Martial Arts, and she has been Head of School ever since.
Sensei Tony Kay
Sandan (3rd Degree)Active Black Belts
The following individuals have earned Black Belt rank or higher, and still actively train at Fairwood Martial Arts. In addition to pursuing their own training, many of our Black Belts also assist our chief instructors.
Sensei Chris Zarlengo
Sandan (3rd Degree)Sensei Joseph Cordell
Nidan (2nd Degree)
Sensei John Sommerville
Nidan (2nd Degree)Sensei Jeff Stanger
Nidan (2nd Degree)
Sensei Axel Adalsteinsson
Shodan (1st Degree)
Sensei Blake Allen
Shodan (1st Degree)
Sensei Molly Clark
Shodan (1st Degree)Sensei Molly studied Aikido in college and learned some Eskrima while in the Police Academy. She enrolled her young son in our Little Ninjas program in early 2003, and by October of that year had joined our Adult Karate class. Molly is currently an officer in the Seattle Police Deparment, and thinks of our school and style as a "second family of inspirational martial artists" and "wonderful friends."
Sensei Steve Jenkins
Shodan (1st Degree)Sensei Steve began studying Kishindo, a karate style which blended various martial arts, as a college student at Brigham Young University in 1994. After moving to Seattle, he started over as a White Belt in Cuong Nhu at Fairwood Martial Arts in September 2001, and earned his Black Belt in 2010. The karate section of Steve's personal blog contains many articles about his thoughts and experiences in the martial arts.
Sensei Brian Shaw
Shodan (1st Degree)Sensei Kyle Visitacion
Shodan (1st Degree)
Sensei Mindy Vuong
Shodan (1st Degree)Sensei Mindy began dabbling in the martial arts at the impressionable age of eight. She switched to our Adults & Teens class at the age of twelve. Five years later, Mindy received her black belt during her senior year of high school. Mindy is also currently an active duty member of the United States Marine Corps.
We look forward to adding your name to this distinguished list!
