Sensei Sally Johnson Van Wright

Head teacher
 

Since 1987 Sally has cultivated health, kindness, and strength through martial arts training. At the end of 2020, Sally and others joyfully launched The Leopard School of Martial Arts, which is both continuation of and evolution from rich journeys at Valley Women’s Martial Arts / Heron’s Bridge. With the goal of creating classes for womenx and girls full of fun, sweat, and skill, she believes hard work leads to execution that is beautiful, easy, and effective. Sally attained advanced Shuri Ryu black belt rank and 4th Degree in Modern Arnis at VWMA / HB and Empowerment Self Defense Instructor certification through the National Women’s Martial Arts Federation, for which she served as Chair for four years. In 1996, she founded the dynamic program called Power Girls, which she continues to deliver, now in integrated adult/youth format. On December 12, 2020, Sally was honored to accept promotion to 7th degree Black Belt in Shuri Ryu Karate by Grandmaster Wendi Dragonfire, longtime mentor and inspiration who now guides and consults her in dojo leadership.

Sally holds a doctorate in education (adult teaching and learning) and licenses in both clinical social work and substance use disorder counseling; she works full time as Head of Research for the Hampden County Sheriff’s Office, “Evidence drives Excellence, where she and colleagues pursue the best and most progressive practices for corrections and reentry in the U.S. Sally and her spouse Dr. CJ Van Wright offer consultation on racial equity, trauma-informed practice, and other topics through their consultancy “Empowering Justice.” Sally has long served as adjunct faculty for graduate social work students at Springfield College, practiced Yin Yoga as taught by Lynn Kingston, and sat in regular meditation as cultivated at the Insight Meditation Society. A three-time cancer survivor, Sally urges all to get regular cancer screenings and treasure each day to the fullest. Gratitude is her most important skill.

black belt teaching team

Sensei Cynthia Bleil

Sensei Deb Friedman

Sensei Tera Friedman

Sensei Cynthia Bleil (she/her) shares:

I have been training in Shuri-Ryu Okinawan Karate, Modern Arnis, and a feminist model of empowerment self-defense since January of 1993.  It was the best new year’s resolution I ever made and kept!  I earned my Black Belt on May 1, 2010.  It took me 17 years, which is unusually long but I have always traveled at my own speed.  Due to illnesses (neuropathy and arthritis) I was unable to train between 2015 and 2023.  I resumed training and teaching, this time with the Leopards, in September of 2023.  My expertise is in early childhood education.  I have a master’s degree and decades of experience working with children and absolutely love teaching young people in the dojo.  I have experience teaching self-defense and martial arts to girls and women ages 18 months to 88 years.  I have worked with people of all ages with physical and mental disabilities. I encourage folx of all sizes, ages, and abilities to train with us!

Wendi Dragonfire, 9th degree Black Belt, Advising and Consulting Teacher for The Leopard School. We are honored to have guidance, love, passion, wisdom, technique knowledge, and support from Sensei, who brings 50+ years in the arts and a lifetime of anti-violence and anti-racism activism to her mentoring of The Leopard School. We regularly connect with sensei across the miles to her home in Nederland (nijmegan). It is thanks to WD that Professor Remy Amador Presas came to New England to share Modern Arnis and thanks to WD that Shuri Ryu and ESD launched in Western Massachusetts in 1977 when she founded Valley Women’s Martial Arts. Much more info available online—just search “Wendi Dragonfire” or reach out directly today!