Sensei Smith is a 7th degree black belt (shichidan), certified instructor and examiner. Sensei Elaine Smith is a 7th degree black belt (shichidan) and began traditional karate–do training in the early 1970s while an undergraduate student in upstate New York. She studied traditional Goju Ryu, founded by Masters Kanryo Higaonna and Chojun Miyagi, before returning after college graduation to her native Philadelphia. She has continuously trained the martial arts to the present da