About Goddess Martial Arts

 

Goddess Martial Arts Inc. offers group and individual coaching in:

Never-ending Self Defense™ and Empowerment

Effective Communication/De-escalation techniques

Modern Arnis/Escrima

Shotokan Karate

Shaolin Kung Fu

Tai Chi Chuan

Private, customized coaching for women executives and entrepreneurs.

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Goddess Martial Arts Inc.is affliated to these outstanding women's federations:

National Women's Martial Arts Federation

Association of Women Martial Arts Instructors

Click on these links to learn more, and be sure to check the related links for other great federations and organizations

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About the Founders

Karen Gray and Heather Turnbull bring a unique combination of business and martial arts achievements to their clients. With successful backgrounds in Adult Learning, Human Resources, Sales and Client Services, they easily relate to their audiences, many of whom are approaching martial arts for their first time.

Karen Gray

Karen’s first martial art is Tai Chi Chuan (Yang Style), which she has practiced for about 12 years. While Karen has taught Tai Chi for a number of years she is continuing her training in Tai Chi through the distance learning program at Doc Fai Wong’s school in San Francisco.

Karen started to study Kempo Karate in 1997 with the Black Belt Institute under Sensei Darrell Couchie and currently holds a Sandan (3nd degree) Black Belt. She has been teaching co-ed classes for adults and children and has been instructing Women’s Self Defense courses since 2002.

Through the years Karen has received training from many Black Belt Institute instructors, and has attended workshop sessions with Hanshi Alex Atkinson (karate and kick boxing), Sigong David Chong (kung fu and weapons), Hanshi George Dillman, and Shihan Evan Panzai (pressure point applications)

Karen has also taught advanced First Aid courses for more than 15 years and is a CPR Instructor with the Heart And Stroke Foundation of Ontario.

Member of the Black Belt Institute, National Women’s Martial Arts Federation and The Association of Women Martial Arts Instructors.

Heather F. Turnbull B.A. Hons

Following over 25 years of success (and enjoyment) in sales, communication, facilitation, and career development, Heather co-launched Goddess Martial Arts Inc., parlaying a part-time passion into fulfilling a need for celebrating women’s confidence and personal safety. Her clients consistently benefit from her extensive experience with Adult Learning principles and high-impact coaching techniques, developed within the retail, food and beverage, financial services, management consulting, IT, customer service, and non-profit sectors. Previous assignments have been with organizations such as Bain & Co., W.H. Smith (Canada) Ltd., Little Caesars Corp., CIBC, Progress Career Planning Institute, Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation, and Alterna Savings.

Heather began studying the martial arts in 1983, graduating from a WENDO (Women’s Self-Defense) program in Halifax. Following her relocation to Toronto she resumed her training with the Black Belt Institute, studying Kempo Karate, a unique martial art style incorporating Chinese Shaolin Chuan Fa Kung Fu and Japanese Shotokan Karate. Heather currently holds a third degree (Sandan) . Additionally, she cross-trains in Arnis (Philippino Martial Arts), as well as kick-boxing and Savate. Heather Sensei delivers group and individual martial arts instruction (with an emphasis on self-defense) at Bally’s/The Sports Clubs of Canada, as well as to corporate and non-profit clients. She is an active member of both the National Women’s Martial Arts Federation (NWMAF) and the Association of Women Martial Arts Instructors (AWMAI), regularly participating in their training and certification events in the United States.