CHRISTENSEN, Barbara

Okinwan Karate Club of Ann Arbor

Barbara L. Christensen Sensei has a very diverse martial arts background. She has trained in Tae Kwon Do, Aikido and Shudokan Karate, but she currently restricts her training and teaching to Shorin Ryu karate, traditional Okinawan Kobudo and Toei Torite Jujitsu. Christensen Sensei's training and rank of Nanadan (7th Dan) comes directly from Shimabukuro Eizo O'Sensei, Judan (10th Dan) of Okinawa, Japan.

As a freshman in college, she enrolled in a self- defense course. After the course completed, she began attending Tae Kwon Do classes with the instructor. After a few years, she migrated to Shorin Ryu because she liked the completeness of the style. Christensen Sensei was the first female in her
dojo to be awarded her Shodan (1st Dan) in 1978 and the 3rd female in the entire style of Grandmaster Shimabukuro. In addition to starting the Okinawan Karate Club of Ann Arbor, she has several dojos that she supervises and supports, including the Okinawan Karate Club of Dallas.

Christensen Sensei is also one of the founders of the National Women's Martial Arts Federation (NWMAF). The yearly special training that the NWMAF sponsors attracts over 500 female martial artists worldwide. In 2012, Christensen Sensei was honored by Association of Women Martial Arts Instructors for over 40 years of teaching.

Source

Okinawan Karate Club of Ann Arbor