Our Mission: to enhance the learning experience and professional recognition
of women martial arts instructors by actively promoting and encouraging
instructor excellence through teacher training, school and organizational
development, ethical standards, and rank recognition and promotion

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About the AWMAI - board members

Events Coordinator, Dory West

Dory West brings to the AWMAI board many years of experience coordinating events for organizations and institutes. A graduate of Idaho State University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, Dory held the position of Gallery Chair as a member of the Associated Students of ISU student government board , organizing and presenting gallery shows and gallery openings for two years, as well as traveling to participate in gallery show selection panels. A long-time member of a national historical society, she has organized many local and regional events serving dozens to hundreds of participants.

A member of NWMAF and Lifetime Member of AWMAI, Dory took her first step on the martial arts path some 15 years ago. Just before moving to Texas, a friend introduced her to the first few steps of a kung fu form, and she was hooked. Soon after arriving in Austin in 1994, she volunteered for Big Brothers/Big Sisters. One of the many businesses offering a BB/BS discount was SunDragon Martial Arts. After training there in Kyokushin for a couple years, in 1996 she discovered Kim Soo Karate, Chayon Ryu--Natural Way Martial Arts, founded by acclaimed Grandmaster Kim Soo of Houston and taught by Master Kim Geary. She knew she’d found a home.

Teaching background includes art instruction through private and adult education classes, homeschooling, divemaster training, and as assistant instructor at Kim Soo Karate, Austin.

An avid scuba diver and aquarium nerd with more artistic interests than seem reasonable, Dory has survived two teenagers and is working on surviving a third.