MOUNTAIN BIKING: I've recently decided to live the dream and am moving to Tucson AZ!

I love to ride bike, mostly my mountain bike, Mattie -- yah, I name my bikes! Mattie is my dream bike -- she's a grey Santa Cruz - Blur.   I love this bike!  Check out our (yes, Mattie and my) 2006 vacation photos! I also have a Cannondale R600 Sport road bike (Clara), a Cannondale Caffiene 29er (Cleopatra), and a Marin B-17 dirt jumper called Cassie.

 
 MARTIAL ARTS
AND SELF DEFENSE:

I hold a third degree black belt with the International Taekwon-do Union and a second degree black belt with the Association of Women Martial Arts Instructors. I am extremely grateful to have the opportunity to achieve both of these honors.

My practice is my base. All of the other things I do would suffer without it.

The tenets of Tae Kwon Do sum up what it's about for me. (Courtesy * Integrity * Perseverance * Self - Control * Indomitable Spirit) It's not about kicking butt or venting anger, but finding peace within myself and my surroundings.

I draw many lessons from my practice of Tae Kwon Do. I learn to punch and kick, but more importantly... I learn when not to punch and kick.


TEACHING TAE KWON DO AND SELF DEFENSE FOR WOMEN

I teach a traditional martial arts program with an emphasis on women's specific needs and concerns in self defense. Kicks Martial Arts for Women is a member of the Association of Women Martial Arts Instructors, the National Women's Martial Arts Federation, and the  International Taekwon-do Union.

A special thanks to my mentor Karin Sundstrom for offering me so much love, guidance and support over the past few, very rocky, years, and also to my taekwondo instructor Master Tom Merritt for his support and help during some difficult transitions.

I also created Empower! Self-Defense for Women and teach self defense seminars for women in the community. This has become my passion and I don't think I'd be happier doing anything else. I only hope I can give back as much as I've gained from learning and practicing martial arts and self defense.

Check out my first book Training Women in the Martial Arts: A Special Journey, which I co-wrote with Sabum Nim Jennifer Lawler. 

On March 1, 2001 I officially opened the doors to my women's only dojang, "Kicks Martial Arts For Women." Due to some very complicated life circumstances Kicks closed in 2008. To all of my former students: I miss you very much and wish you the best in all you do. Please stay in touch!

  and CardioKicks!:

I love to dance and I love to train, so I combined the two to teach CardioKicks! I have been certified by the National Association of Professional Martial Artists as a group fitness kickboxing instructor. (I do some personal training on the side too.)

Thanks to all of my aerobics / CardioKicks! class participants and clients who have dedicated themselves to letting me help them achieve their fitness goals. Thank you to the instructors and staff of Crunch Fitness New York who are a constant source of inspiration for me. Also a thank you to my favorite instructors--Jennifer Mills, Gilad, Sue Hitzman and Janice Saffel.

Philosophers have only interpreted the world in various ways. The point is to change it.
-- Karl Marx --

PHILOSOPHY:

I hold a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania (thus the tartan background.) My main interests are political philosophy and logic.

After a twenty year hiatus, I'm back in school. I have begun graduate studies in philosophy at West Chester University of Pennsylvania.

A few more thoughts...

A special thank you to James Munro, my teacher, mentor and dear friend. You set a standard for teaching that I strive to achieve every day. Thank you for that! An extra special thank you and "I love you" to my parents Richard and Jean Kamienski. Without them, I'd be someone else. Comments or questions about this site?

Some of my favorite links... Happy surfing! :) Choosing a Women's Self-Defense Course:Before enrolling in a self-defense course please read these NCASA guidelines. My NPD Blog: Recovering from a relationship with a Narcissist. I'm currently reading...: A Lion Among Men  Gregory Maguire Mohawk Memories by Richard Kamienski:The memoirs of a Mohawk Airlines Mechanic...my Dad. Vegies Unite: Did I mention I'm a vegetarian?