2008 Teach the Teacher Conference - meet the teacher planning committee
Shifu/Sensei
Koré Grate: Feminist
Eclectic Martial Arts -
FEMA's head instructor, Koré Grate, became interested in the
martial arts at age 16. She received her black belt from Dr. Alex Feng
of Wu TAO KUAN in Berkeley, California, in 1991, having trained with
him since 1981. She continues her training with Dr. Feng, and attends
the "Journey to the East" special trainings in Shanghai, China
with Professor Pei Kun Wang.
Koré also credits Professor Coleen Gragen of Hand to Hand Kajunkenbo in Oakland, California, and Sensei Annie Elman of the Center for Non-Violence and Education (BWMA), in Brooklyn, New York, as true inspirations to her teaching ability and political awareness.
Koré is a founding board member of the Pacific Association of Women Martial Artists -PAWMA. In 2002-2005 she served again on the PAWMA board as Vice-President and Elder Counsel. In 1994-1996 she was elected as Chair of the National Women's Martial Arts Federation Steering Committee -NWMAF. She is a life-time member of PAWMA, NWMAF & AWMAI -Association of Women Martial Arts Instructors. She has been hired to teach at many PAWMA, NWMAF and AWMAI Training Camps and is a creative and popular teacher, famous for her "LEARN TO LOVE THE MAT". Koré was honored as PAWMA's 2005 Martial Artist of the Year.
Koré has taught Martial Arts and Self-Defense/Empowerment workshops and seminars to thousands of women, children, teens, seniors, differently-abled and men on both coasts. She continues to train and teach with dedication and passion.
In January of 1988 Koré followed her heart to Minneapolis and one year later began FEMA with the assistance of Kellie Rose Jones. FEMA continues to flourish as a strong, safe, and supportive school with wonderful students and teachers.
Koré also has her own business as a professional Tattooist, Tatus By Koré, Inc., in Minneapolis, MN. Her other passions include riding her horse (Midnite), studying Calligraphy and Chinese Painting with Lin Laoshi, graphic arts, and composing and recording music.
Owner of Desantos
Martial Arts
Kwan Jan Nim (The term used for Masters Instructor in Korean) has the
talents and instincts of a born leader. Coaxing and stimulating, demanding
and supportive, very much on the basis of the needs of the individual
student, she strives to empower the students to be the best they can
be. She has an uncanny ability for knowing how hard a student is working
within themselves, and to demand no less than the best efforts of each
student. She has high standards of professionalism and a fierce loyalty
to her staff and students.
Kwan Jan Nim De Santos has the enthusiasm and passion of the true seeker,
constantly broadening her experiences and capabilities. Her many students
range from the non competitive to students who compete at a national
level. She is supportive of the efforts of other martial artists, while
keeping to her own vision of what her school should be. She has a special
interest in empowering women, both as people and martial artists and
regularly holds seminars and workshops for women’s shelters.
Some History
KWAN JAN NIM VERONICA DE SANTOS
The founder of DeSantos Martial Arts, is Kwan Jan Nim Veronica De Santos. Born in Prospect, East Bank Demerrara, Guyana and the youngest of 10 children, Kwan Jan Nim De Santos had always aspired to be a martial arts expert. She is a 6th degree Black Belt and is currently training for her mastery level under The Ultimate Black Belt Test Organization, a U.S. based organization where she is the only Canadian member. KJN along with a few of her Black Belts visited Alabama in May 2006, where they helped renovate a home for a 70 year old woman and her granddaughter, a project that was sponsored in part by the Ultimate Black Belt Testing Team and Habitat for Humanity.
Kwan Jan Nim has been instructing martial arts for over 20 years and has taught numerous self-defence courses at community centers, women’s shelters, Seneca College and since 1994, she has been teaching Tae Kwon Do and self-defense as a credit course at the University of Toronto.
Kwan Jan Nim De Santos has traveled extensively throughout North America and Europe competing and holds many championship titles to her name. She is a three time Gold Medalist from International Championships held in Florida, Boston and Bermuda, and a two time Silver Medalist from World Championships held in Germany and England. From 1982–1990, she was ranked Canada’s #1 female fighter and in 1986 & 1987 won the Ontario Woman Athlete of the Year. In 1994 she represented Canada at the Goodwill Games in St. Petersburg, Russia. In January 2004, her last competition, she represented Guyana at the Pan Am Games in Mexico, an Olympic qualifier where she placed 4th.
Kwan Jan Nim DeSantos’ business achievements are not to go unmentioned as well. Since 1993 up to the present day, she has been consistently nominated by the International Martial Arts Association for Guru of the Year, Instructor of the Year, and their prestigious Ambassador Award. In October of 1999, she was awarded the Legion of Honour from the International Martial Arts Association. In November of 1999 she was the first woman inducted into the North America Martial Arts Hall of Fame.
In June of 1999, Kwan Jan Nim De Santos hosted a camp for the National Women’s Martial Arts Federation that was held outside of the United States for the first time since its inception, 20 years ago. Over 200 women from around the world participated in this landmark event that was held at Brock University, just down the road in St. Catharine’s.
Kwan Jan Nim De Santos is a true icon to the martial arts world. As one of the first women to open a martial arts school, and as far as we know the only woman to be successfully running a school on her own, Kwan Jan Nim De Santos continually sets the standards for a quality martial arts program.
Through her unique insights and strategies for teaching, and her many contributions to the martial arts world as an instructor, DeSantos Martial Arts Studio has been ranked in the top 100 schools in North America.