Our Instructors

Started with Hanshi at the rec center before the dojo was built October 26, 1993.

Achieved National Referee A license. She grew up a Preacher’s kid with 5 sisters and no brothers. 

I joined IMA Honbu dojo in 1996 and began teaching in 1997 while an orange belt. I liked IMA because when I first visited I could see the family atmosphere, but also (and maybe more importantly) the very high level at which karate-do was being practiced. I had trained in martial arts before and I knew high quality when I saw it. In learning karate the most important thing is to always try as hard as you can, karate is challenging. In teaching karate I try to find one or two things to focus on, for example one or two things as the focus for a section of a class; or if I am teaching one-on-one to focus on the one or two most important things for that person to improve their karate. Sometimes it is as simple as telling them to not look at the floor, which completely changes their posture and fixes several other problems they were having.

Sensei Deb has been studying with Hanshi since February of 1999. She started at the YMCA in Lafayette, Colorado. She started karate with her two sons and moved to Honbu dojo soon after joining the YMCA program.  She has a lifetime membership in the USA-WKF and has supported the sport of karate by judging and refereeing at many local tournaments including our very own Rocky Mountain Championship.  A fun fact about her is she met her Canadian husband while in Austria teaching high school. 

Started in IMA dojo in 2005 with her daughter who is also a black belt.  She was born in Russia and came to the US for graduate studies and loved Colorado so much that the family decided to make their home here.  Her daughter earned her black belt at age 16 at Honbu dojo. She holds a kata and kumite judges  license C for WKF.

Sensei  Miller has been studying martial arts since 1988 and started training with Hanshi Madani 23 years ago.  He is a 4^th Degree Black Belt and also enjoys playing the French Horn.  He holds an extra class ham radio license and enjoys renovating homes for fun.  His children also trained at IMA karate for a number of years until they went to college. 

Sensei Josh is the very first Black Belt under Hanshi Madani at the Honbu Dojo. He has continued his training and reached the rank of Sandan.  He works very hard as a captain and South Metro Fire to help people of our community.  He also coaches the competition team and his wife and two children are also members of IMA Karate. 

Sensei Nakasato has been training with Hanshi for 14 years.  His wife and two children also have black belts with IMA karate.  He is located in Dallas and joins the Black Belt classes via Zoom to continue his training with Hanshi Madani.  For fun he enjoyed SCCA autocross racing in his Honda Civic in the 90’s.

Current Rank Sandan

Sensei Kelara has been training at Honbu dojo since she was 4 years old.  She speaks three languages and is learning a fourth.  Her notable achievements include 6 national championships and a Jr. Pan American Bronze medal as well as a Series A Silver medal. She also coaches the IMA competition team who has been very successful at the national level. 

Senpai Phillipe joined IMA in 2011 with his daughter. He began his martial arts experience in France
where he grew up. He has been training with IMA karate for eleven years and enjoys teaching at the
dojo. In his spare time he enjoys cooking, skiing, gardening, and home repair. He developed a French
style mustard in his spare time and likes the movie Shakelton. He enjoys teaching the kids and being a
mentor as well as helping them learn and become leaders in our community.

Current rank is Sandan and a former member of the IMA competition team. She has three national level medals which she got with the excellent coaching and training at IMA.   Sensei Joy’s specialty is the Tiny Tigers program for 4-5 year old children.  She met Hanshi Madani in 2011 and moved from Minnesota in 2016 to be a permanent member of IMA.  She enjoys helping the students learn and become the best versions of themselves.  She loves to make dinner with friends and listen to music in her spare time.