A Legacy of Power and Community
Welcome to Karate-Do Ken Wa Kan! We are an independent Karate NYC dojo, founded in 1998, with a commitment to empowering people to discover and ultimately master themselves.
Our dojo was born from a desire to maintain the rigor of traditional Japanese karate instruction while creating a supportive, family-oriented environment. We are proud to be a leader in Martial Arts New York, providing a professional and rewarding program that fosters respect, love, and fierce karate spirit.
Meet Our Founders: Shihan Michelle Gay
Grounded in both competitive success and advanced education, Shihan Michelle is the visionary leader of Ken Wa Kan.
Shihan Michelle, CMA, RSME, is a 6th Degree Black Belt and a 6-time karate Champion, holding many North American Open Tournament Championship titles. She proved her resilience in the historic 2004 event, "A Woman’s Right To Fight," completing 61 consecutive fights with multiple opponents.
Shihan Michelle is a uniquely qualified instructor, blending her competitive experience with her deep knowledge of movement. Her expertise includes Somatic Education, Anatomy, and Kinesiology. This passion ensures that every student develops grace and power through consistent, professional practice.
Sensei Diane
Adult/Teen Program Instructor
A 3rd Degree Black Belt who began her training in Full Contact Karate at World Oyama Karate Headquarters in 2001. After Soshu Oyama retired, she continued to train with Shihan Michelle and develop herself as a teacher. She began assisting as an instructor in 2008 and in 2011 was awarded the title of Sensei.
She maintains her own consistent, rigorous training schedule and teaches several classes a week. She has also completed The Society for Martial Arts Instruction’s Level One and Two Somatic Based Instructor Training.
Sensei Diane continues to train and teach into her 70s and is a living example that it is never too late to begin martial arts. Becoming an instructor at Karate-Do Ken Wa Kan has been a wonderful experience to explore the precision and intention of our basic techniques, especially Kata and how they are ultimately utilized in sparring.
Sensei David
Adult/Teen & Juniors Program Instructor
A 3rd degree Black Belt at Karate-Do Ken Wa Kan. He began his study of Full Contact Karate in 1994 under Soshu Shigeru Oyama at World Oyama Karate Headquarters in New York City where he received his Shodan Rank (Black Belt.) He continued his training at World Oyama Headquarters until Soshu retired in 2004.
Emboldened by the need to continue to learn and grow, he began his study with Shihan Michelle Gay. After a few years of study, she asked him to begin teaching, and with that, he truly began to learn.
Senpai Khaing
Adult/Teen & Juniors Program Instructor
Immigrated to New York from Myanmar (Burma) in 2017. She has been a member of Ken Wa Kan since 2021 and has assisted and taught classes for adults, teens and children since 2023.
She received her First Degree Black Belt in December 2024. Since she was 4 years old, Senpai Khaing has dreamed of becoming a karate martial artist. She practiced karate for a few months in Myanmar after high school but lost the chance to continue when she went to college.
Senpai Khaing’s childhood dream of becoming a Karateka was fulfilled gratefully again at Ken Wa Kan.
She competed in Ken Wa Kan’s Inaugural Gotham City Invitational Tournament in 2023 and medaled in both Kata and Kumite. Senpai Khaing graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy in Myanmar and is currently pursuing her second bachelor’s degree in Computer Science in New York. Senpai Khaing’s commitment as an instructor is to encourage everyone at Ken Wa Kan to go beyond a “casual practice” to approach Karate with passion, intention, discipline, and to honor tradition
Sensei Zelda
Program Director, Adult/Teen Program & Juniors Program Instructor
A 4th Degree Black Belt at Karate-do Ken Wa Kan and began training in Full Contact Karate at World Oyama Karate Headquarters in 1997 at the age of five.
She obtained her Black Belt in 2006 under the guidance and direction of her mother, Shihan Michelle Gay. Karate-Do Ken Wa Kan is a family owned and run business and Karate is a lifelong family love affair!
Though she took a hiatus during high school, she returned to training and teaching during her summers home from Emerson College, where she studied Acting & Fight Choreography.
After graduating, Sensei Zelda returned to rigorously developing herself as a Martial Artist. Since 2010, she developed herself as a Knockdown Fighter & International Karate competitor. She earned the title of Sensei when her first students became Black Belts in 2019. When not teaching at Ken Wa Kan, she lives and trains remotely from Los Angeles and works as the C.E.O of Self Offense, a company she owns with Shihan Michelle that is working to end sexual assault and harassment in the world.
Senpai D’Angela
Assistant Program Director & Assistant Juniors Program Instructor
First Degre Black Belt in March of 2025. She began training at Karate-Do Ken Wa Kan in 2022 after finding Shihan Michelle & Sensei Zelda through Self Offense.
She is a survivor of domestic violence and sexual abuse and an advocate for survivors.She has a background in meditation & yoga, energy healing, trauma informed coaching, and is a Certified Health & Wellness Coach
Senpai D’Angela holds a BS in Criminal Justice from New England Institute of Technology and is a graduate of Self Offense and a Self Offense Instructor in Training. She is also a proud solo parent to three young children.
Senpai George
Assistant Juniors Program Instructor
a brown belt that began training at Ken Wa Kan in 2022 and became an assistant instructor in September 2024.
He is a native of Long Island. He loves getting to pass on the traditions and lessons of full contact karate to others. When not training or teaching, George takes care of his beloved dog and works as a sommelier.
Senpai Maria
Adult/Teen Program Instructor
Senpai Maria Chang began her karate journey after watching her sons earn their black belts — an experience that inspired her to understand the discipline and confidence she saw in them. On October 31, 2009, she chose Halloween as the perfect day to face a fear and step onto the mat. That single leap quickly grew into a lifelong passion.
Maria earned her Shodan (first degree black belt) in 2012, Nidan (second degree) in 2014, and Sandan (third degree) in 2022, discovering her own strength, resilience, and voice along the way. She teaches with warmth, clarity, and a deep respect for personal growth, believing it’s never too late to begin.
She loves training with Shihan Michelle at Ken Wa Kan, where martial arts mastery, detailed knowledge of anatomy and movement, and a generous sense of humor make every class rich, inspiring, and fun.
