Shihan Martin R. Petrovich
Born April 27th, 1964 in Melrose Park, Illinios. My
interest in the martial arts started at a very young age. In
1975, as a gift, I recieved my first introduction into the
martial arts. The gift was the book Modern Karate, by none
other than Kyokushin great Steve Arneil. Little did I know
that I would one day train in Kyokushin and meet the great
Hanshi Arneil. My formal training did not start until 1976.
In 1981 I enlisted in the Navy. My first tour of duty was
aboard the aircraft carrier USS Midway (CV-41)
homeported in Yokusuka Japan from 1982 to 1985. It was
not until my reenlistment and my next assignment that I
started training in Kyokushin in 1985 under the
instruction of Sensei James R. Swanson (died 2005).
Training with Sensei in Orlando Florida, I recieved my
Kyokushin black belt in 1988 and I am currently ranked as
a Godan (5th degree black belt).
I had the honor of representing the United States on two
different occassions in the World Open. I've been fortunate
to teach Kyokushin karate full time for over 11 years. With
my wife Liesha, in 1995 we established the first
Kyokushin school in the great state of Maine. While there
are many volumes of which a black belt can write about
themselves I would like to focus only on the following;
1. I started karate in 1976
2. I started Kyokushin in 1985
3. I was promoted to Shodan in 1988
4. I recieved my Branch Chief Certificate in 1996
5. I was promoted to Godan in 2004 by Kancho Matsushima
6. I have the greatest students in the world. Some have
been with me the entire 11 plus years. They are my family.
They are the blood that flows through my veins. They are
the air that fills my lungs. They are my lifeline. Without
them I would not be.
7. I will train Kyokushin and I will be Kyokushin for as
long as my soul allows.
8. Last, but most important, I have been blessed with a
great wife. If you are just reading this in passing you may
read and think "yeah, yeah, eveyone has to say that stuff
about their wife". But those who actually know my wife and
me, knows that she should be Sainted for putting up with
me and my all or nothing attitude towards Kyokushin
Karate for all these years.
Sempai Liesha Petrovich
Liesha, along with her husband Martin, opened Maine
Kyokushin Karate in 1995. She is a 2nd Degree Kyokushin
Karate Black Belt and has been training for over 11 years.
She is the Chief Instructor for both the Little Ninjas program
and the Cardio Kickboxing program.
She is certified by the National Association of Professional
Martial Artists for both programs. As part of her continuing
education, she has trained with such notable masters as
Jhoon Ree, Ernie Reyes Sr., Jim Graden and Frank
Shamrock.
Liesha graduated from Gardiner Area High School in 1988.
From there she joined the Navy Reserve as an Equipment
Operator in the Seabees. She moved to Florida when she
was 19 and went to college in Daytona Beach. While living in
Florida, she met Martin, who was also in the Navy. Liesha
and Martin married on New Year's Eve, 1994. Liesha is the
proud step-mom of James and Thomas Petrovich and the
proud mom of Alex and Katie Petrovich.
Liesha is currently working on a business degree and hopes
to earn her Master's Degree by her 40th Birthday!
Born April 27th, 1964 in Melrose Park, Illinios. My
interest in the martial arts started at a very young age. In
1975, as a gift, I recieved my first introduction into the
martial arts. The gift was the book Modern Karate, by none
other than Kyokushin great Steve Arneil. Little did I know
that I would one day train in Kyokushin and meet the great
Hanshi Arneil. My formal training did not start until 1976.
In 1981 I enlisted in the Navy. My first tour of duty was
aboard the aircraft carrier USS Midway (CV-41)
homeported in Yokusuka Japan from 1982 to 1985. It was
not until my reenlistment and my next assignment that I
started training in Kyokushin in 1985 under the
instruction of Sensei James R. Swanson (died 2005).
Training with Sensei in Orlando Florida, I recieved my
Kyokushin black belt in 1988 and I am currently ranked as
a Godan (5th degree black belt).
I had the honor of representing the United States on two
different occassions in the World Open. I've been fortunate
to teach Kyokushin karate full time for over 11 years. With
my wife Liesha, in 1995 we established the first
Kyokushin school in the great state of Maine. While there
are many volumes of which a black belt can write about
themselves I would like to focus only on the following;
1. I started karate in 1976
2. I started Kyokushin in 1985
3. I was promoted to Shodan in 1988
4. I recieved my Branch Chief Certificate in 1996
5. I was promoted to Godan in 2004 by Kancho Matsushima
6. I have the greatest students in the world. Some have
been with me the entire 11 plus years. They are my family.
They are the blood that flows through my veins. They are
the air that fills my lungs. They are my lifeline. Without
them I would not be.
7. I will train Kyokushin and I will be Kyokushin for as
long as my soul allows.
8. Last, but most important, I have been blessed with a
great wife. If you are just reading this in passing you may
read and think "yeah, yeah, eveyone has to say that stuff
about their wife". But those who actually know my wife and
me, knows that she should be Sainted for putting up with
me and my all or nothing attitude towards Kyokushin
Karate for all these years.
Sempai Liesha Petrovich
Liesha, along with her husband Martin, opened Maine
Kyokushin Karate in 1995. She is a 2nd Degree Kyokushin
Karate Black Belt and has been training for over 11 years.
She is the Chief Instructor for both the Little Ninjas program
and the Cardio Kickboxing program.
She is certified by the National Association of Professional
Martial Artists for both programs. As part of her continuing
education, she has trained with such notable masters as
Jhoon Ree, Ernie Reyes Sr., Jim Graden and Frank
Shamrock.
Liesha graduated from Gardiner Area High School in 1988.
From there she joined the Navy Reserve as an Equipment
Operator in the Seabees. She moved to Florida when she
was 19 and went to college in Daytona Beach. While living in
Florida, she met Martin, who was also in the Navy. Liesha
and Martin married on New Year's Eve, 1994. Liesha is the
proud step-mom of James and Thomas Petrovich and the
proud mom of Alex and Katie Petrovich.
Liesha is currently working on a business degree and hopes
to earn her Master's Degree by her 40th Birthday!
| About Us |
Find Out Why Maine Kyokushin Karate is the Premier
Karate School in the Oxford Hills!
Karate School in the Oxford Hills!
- Proudly Serving the Oxford Hills for over 14 years!
- Experienced instructors with over 45 Combined Years of
Experience! - Programs are age appropriate and designed for
maximum benefits! - MKK is involved in Continuous Education. That means
that MKK is always has the newest training techniques
and cutting edge martial arts information! - MKK is a Proud Member of the Premier Kyokushin Karate
Organization in the World. That means that when you earn
a Black Belt from MKK, you Black Belt is Recognized
Worldwide!
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