The Philadelphia SKA Dojo started in the early ‘80’s when Dan Gzesh was a medical student at Jefferson University. Dan led practices along with Mike Erisman. Dan originally trained while at the University in Pittsburgh and Mike trained while attending college in both California and Chapel Hill, NC. Joel Heller found the dojo after having trained with Marion Taylor at Hampshire College.

After Dan became a very busy neurologist, Mike led the dojo and it grew with his work colleagues. Joanne Peterson, who trained with Carl Jacobson, was the next dojo leader and we practiced at the Germantown Friends School gym. During this time Joel Heller became a black belt and Theresa Preziosi discovered us while we were practicing outdoors one summer. Joel and Joanne helped Theresa make it to Shodan level. Joel then made Nidan and became Dojo leader when Joanne moved out of Phila. Sebastienne brought us to a better location in a community center. She reached Shodan level while training with us. Ik-kyu and Professor Charles Tenney moved up from North Carolina to teach at a medical university and provided us with a larger target for kumite. He has since moved to the West coast.

A successful businessman from France, Shodan Francois Leger, arrived in the area. Under Joel’s guidance, Francois made solid Nidan.

Francois has moved to Georgia where his business is located.  Nidan Dennis Sandusky from Delaware, another student of Carl Jacobson, has also lead practices and he brings his experience of realistic situations as a law enforcement officer. Recently Oded Schor has joined our group, adding yet another seasoned Nidan to the mix. He originally trained very hard in Israel and he is a tough partner for kumite. We have a small group of dedicated juniors, including our brown belts Lilya and Paul.