SEVEN STAR WOMEN'S KUNG FU

All classes at Seven Star are taught either by our chief instructor, Sifu Michelle McVadon, or by students in advanced belt ranks (green, brown, black) who have volunteered to teach and have been mentored by Sifu Michelle.

This page provides a brief introduction to Sifu Michelle and the other black belts on the teaching staff.

Name:	Michelle McVadon
Rank:	5th degree black belt in Kajukenbo; Sandan in Aikido; Shodan in Seido Jujitsu

Sifu Michelle McVadon has been training at Seven Star Women's Kung Fu since 1983. She received her first-degree black belt in 1989 from Anne Moon, the school's founder, and became co-head instructor the following year. In 1995, upon Sifu Moon's retirement from teaching, Sifu McVadon became head instructor. She has continued her own Kajukenbo training under Sigung Barbara Bones.

In 2003, Michelle's personal accomplishments and many contributions to the martial arts were recognized by the Pacific Association of Women Martial Artists (PAWMA), which named her their Martial Artist of the Year.

Each year the PAWMA board uses this award to recognize an outstanding martial artist. The board chooses a woman who is a devoted teacher and practitioner, someone who is dedicated to promoting martial arts and sharing skills and knowledge with others. Someone who is committed to the idea and reality of women's ability to reach the highest levels of martial arts practice, the belief that an organization can encourage and enhance the goals of female martial artists, and the vision to help make such an organization a reality.

Here is just part of what the PAWMA Board had to say about Sifu McVadon:

It is with great excitement that the PAWMA Board awards Michelle McVadon the honor of Martial Artist of the Year 2003. Michelle embodies all that the Martial Artist of the Year stands for and more—she is a woman of impeccable integrity, steadfast loyalty to her training and her students, and devoted service to the PAWMA community. As an organization, PAWMA has benefited from Michelle's commitment as a Board member, her on-going participation as a teacher at training camps, and her "behind-the-scenes" service as a role model to many women martial artists...

Sifu Michelle exemplifies what it means to be a martial artist—in mind, body and spirit.

Sifu McVadon was also honored in 2003 by the International Martial Arts Council of America, which inducted her into the United States Martial Arts Hall of Fame.

See the Photos page for more pictures of Sifu Michelle in action, including pictures from her Jujitsu Shodan test.

Name:	Michele Miller
Rank:	3rd degree black belt in Kajukenbo

Michele Miller is a third degree black belt under Sifu Michelle McVadon. She has been training for 13 years at Seven Star Women's Kung Fu. A movement instructor for over 20 years, Michele has taught kung fu at Seven Star, Velocity Dance Center, and Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle; Bates Dance Festival in Maine; and recently at PAWMA Camp in 2005. In addition to Kajukenbo, Michele studies Sil Lum Kung Fu and Koo Style Tai Chi under Sifu Cheung Yui Shing in Hong Kong, adding the traditional Chinese weapons of Spear, Saber, Chinese Sword, and Fan to her empty-hand training. Training in these weapons is offered at Seven Star to current students in addition to the regular Kajukenbo curriculum. Michele also teaches modern dance and Pilates.

Name:	Allyson Riley
Rank:	3rd degree black belt in Kajukenbo

Allyson started training at Seven Star in 1993 and holds the rank of third degree black belt in Kajukenbo. In addition to teaching at Seven Star, she works as a licensed aesthetician and has the joy of being mom to daughter Charlotte. In her free time (ha ha), Allyson goes to yoga class, walks her Welsh corgi and enjoys a glass of red wine with her husband John.

Name:	Michelle Pleasant
Rank:	2nd degree black belt in Kajukenbo

Michelle Pleasant started training in Kajukenbo in 1992, and received her first degree black belt in 1997. While training at Seven Star she also trained in Aikido at Emerald City Aikido, where she taught kids' classes. From 1999 to 2003 she took a break from Kajukenbo to pursue the internal arts of Chen Tai Chi, Jade Body Chi Gung, and 18 Hands of Lo Han.

Returning to Kajukenbo in 2003, Michelle has resumed teaching, and has assumed the role of blue belt mentor. She also tested for and received her 2nd degree black belt in October 2005. Starting in November 2004, she started training in Northern Shaolin Kung Fu in Olympia, Washington, and loves it.

Name:	Jordan Blair
Rank:	1st degree black belt in Kajukenbo

Jordan Blair started training at Seven Star in 2000. Her desire to move her body with strength and knowledge led her to kung fu. The joy those challenges bring has kept her training and sparked curiosity to learn more about the mechanics of body movement. She is the purple belt mentor and has been teaching at Seven Star since 2003. In January of 2005 Jordan started training in Traditional Northern Shaolin Kung Fu from Sifu Debbie Leung. She received her first degree black belt in Kajukenbo in August of 2005.

Name:	Esther Howard
Rank:	1st degree black belt in Kajukenbo

Esther Howard earned her first degree black belt in 2002. She has been teaching at Seven Star since 1995 and is committed to the school for how it helps women to become physically fit, find and develop their power, and enjoy a sense of community. Esther's involvement in the martial arts extends beyond the walls of Seven Star. She was on the board of the Pacific Association of Women Martial Artists from 2005 to 2008 and served as its president for 2 years.