🐉 The Martial Arts Leading Power Couple

Gary J. Melick, Kyoshi

🥋 Martial Arts Profile

• Style: Matsumura Shorin Ryu
• Training Experience: 35+ years
• Current Rank: Hachidan (8th Degree Black Belt), Kyoshi (Awarded June 2020 by Kaicho Frank Williams)
• Okinawa Training: Studied under Master Yoshimatsu Akamine from 2006 to 2019. Honored with Shihan Memkyo in July 2014.

🌟 Career Highlights & History

• Early Training: Began Judo at age 12, followed by H.S. wrestling and Olympic-style weight-lifting (AAU ranked in the top ten in the 132lb class).
• Military Service: Served in the U.S. Army as a crew chief on a UH1B Helicopter, flying border patrol on the Berlin Wall.
• Karate History: Started training under Shihan Al Smith until 2002.
• Dojo Founding: Co-opened Golden Dragon Karate School, LLC with Polly in 2002.
• Advanced Ranks:
  • January 2006: Sho-dan in Jujitsu (Soke Michael DePasquale)
  • July 2009: Ni-dan (Yoshimatsu Akamine in Okinawa)
• Key Titles & Honors:
  • 2014: Shihan title (Kaicho Matthew Molineux)
  • July 2017: Inducted into S.O.B.B.A (Society of Black Belts of America)
  • June 2021: Presented the Order of Emerald Dragon Award

🏆 Selected Awards & Hall of Fame Induction

Polly (Paulette) B. Melick

🥋 Martial Arts Profile

• Style: Matsumura Shorin Ryu
• Training Experience: Over 35+ years
• Current Rank: Hachidan (8th Degree Black Belt) (Awarded June 2020 by Kaicho Frank Williams, UMAA)
• Okinawa Training: Trained in Matsumura Shorin Ryu with Yoshimatsu Akamine from 2009 to 2019.

🌟 Career Highlights & History

• Early Inspiration: As a youth, she watched classes through the dojo window and used those informal techniques to successfully defend herself as a teenager.
• Formal Training: Began formal training with Shihan Al Smith when her daughter was being bullied, joining as a family until 2002.
• Dojo Founding: Co-opened Golden Dragon Karate School, LLC with her husband Gary in 2002.
• Instructional Role: Teaches the two children’s classes while Gary teaches the teens & adults.
• Administrative Role: UMAA New Jersey State representative & member of the advisory board of directors.
• Resilience: Has undergone 48 surgeries & procedures, but never stopped training or teaching, even while wearing casts or boots, stating, “My doctor told me the karate saved my life.”
• Key Titles & Honors:
  • 2011: Kyoshi title (Yoshimatsu Akamine)
  • 2014: Shihan title (Kaicho Matthew Molineux)
  • 2016: Life membership in I.O.B.K.A.
  • 2017: Inducted into the Society of Black Belts Association
  • 2021: Presented the Order of Emerald Dragon (The only woman honored with this award so far)

🏅 Recognition & Competition

• Recognitions: Honored with various recognition awards from organizations including Action Martial Arts Magazine, AMAA, IFOJJ, IAMA, WKU, and Legends of the Martial Arts.
• Competition: Competed in tournaments until her mid-60’s, earning many trophies.

🤝 Joint Philosophy

“We look forward to guiding our students to follow the right path in the martial arts in their life. We feel it is important for all ages to learn the way of karate, they learn respect, discipline much more.”