Sensei Mike Sonia

	Sensei Mike is a police officer of 10 years, a certified EMT, and holds a Master's Degree in Criminal Justice from Fitchburg State College. He began his training in Shotokan Karate in 1988 at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. After college he became a student of Shihan Wayne Mello. He is now Shihan's highest ranking student at 4th degree black belt (Yan Dan). Along the way he has also trained in Aikido and full contact kickboxing. Sensei has spent his time not only training and teaching but competing as well. He has competed in both the Amateur and Professional Karate Leagues, and was ranked both regionally and nationally in forms, fighting, and weapons. He was also inducted into the PKL Hall of Fame. In recent years he has competed on the IPPONE circuit, and has won numerous tournament grand championships in black belt kata, weapons, and fighting as well as winning Black Belt Weapons Competitor of the Year.
Sensei Sue Sonia Sensei Sue is a licensed Physical Therapist and a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist. She began her martial arts career in 1994 with Shihan Wayne Mello. In January 1998, she became the first woman to climb the entire ranking system and achieve a black belt with Shihan Mello. She is now a Sandan (3rd degree), and the highest ranking female in AIKA. During her time as an under black belt, she was ranked first in women's kata and sparring each year on the IPPONE tournament circuit. As a black belt, she has been ranked first in kata, and in the top 3 in weapons and sparring each year. She has continued to compete and in January 2000 was inducted into the IPPONE Hall of Fame. Sensei also trained in full contact kickboxing, and in 1999 retired as the NSKBA Women's Light Weight State Champion.
...as a Team! They attended the University of Massachusetts together, where each year they attended and taught at leadership training camps. Both are certified instructors in RAD Systems for Women's Self-Defense and radKIDS Personal Safety and Self Empowerment. These classes have become a new love for them, as they focus on empowering women and children in their own safety. Most importantly, they are proud parents of 2 future black belts.