Our Head Instructors
Sensei Amy L. E. Jones (she/they)
Sensei Amy is a licensed social worker and a 4th-degree black belt. She has been teaching empowerment-based violence prevention since 2003. Amy finished her MSW and became licensed in Illinois in 2013, having pursued the degree in order to deepen her knowledge about violence and the effects of trauma in people’s lives in order to be a more effective instructor. Recognizing that sexuality education is an important component of sexual violence prevention, Amy received training in the Our Whole Lives (OWL) sexuality curriculum in early 2020. Since then, she has facilitated OWL trainings for middle schoolers with Oak Park OWL, and independently at The Children’s School (also in Oak Park). Amy has taught self-defense workshops for people with cognitive, sensory, and mobility impairments; social workers and other helping professionals, insecurely-housed teens and young adults, older adults, the LGBTQI+ community, and college students. She currently trains in Jin Sei Ryu karate-do under the instruction of Kancho Ino Maquirang and Shuseki Shihan Mel Ramsey. She serves as co-chair of the National Women’s Martial Arts Federation (NWMAF).
Senpai Kyren E. Epperson (they/them)
Senpai Kyren has been training in karate since 2011 and teaching since 2013 and has been teaching empowerment-based violence prevention since 2012. Senpai Kyren is a third-degree black belt in Jin Sei Ryu Karate-Do, and has also practiced Aikido, Tai Chi, Kickboxing, and fencing. They currently train in Jin Sei Ryu Karate-Do under the instruction of Kancho Ino Maquirang and Sei Shihan Mel Ramsey. They teach meditation as part of the Samatha Foundation of North America. Senpai Kyren are also a licensed massage therapist and certified Shiatsu Bodywork therapist, specializing in bodywork for LGBTQIA+ folks and trauma survivors. Kyren routinely incorporates their deep understanding about the body and its healthy movements in all of their classes. In addition, Dr. Epperson has a PhD in Buddhist Studies from the University of Chicago, has been practicing meditation and mindfulness since they were a child, and has been teaching it in various forms for many years. They often introduce short guided meditations into their karate and self-defense classes as a way of helping their students re-regulate their nervous systems.
Other Instructors
Kyoshi Erin Marks (all pronouns), 5th degree Black belt
Sensei Yesica Barrera (she/her), 4rd degree Black Belt
Senpai Sam Boyer (he/they), 3rd degree Black Belt
Senpai Sophie Michals (she/her), 2nd degree Black Belt