LYNN APONTE

GODAN
(5th Degree Black Belt)
SHOTOKAN KARATEDO

Sensei Lynn Aponte began her karate training in 1982, soon after her 18th birthday, at the United States Karate League in Upland under Sensei Ty Aponte. Her original style was Shorin Ryu and she reached the rank of Shodan (first degree black belt) in 1985. While going to school at Cal State University Northridge she began training in Shotokan (SKIF) under Sensei Fujishima, and later received her shodan under him as well, with special guest 9th dan Hirokazu Kanazawa overseeing the examination

During her time away at school she remained active with the USKL dojo, training and teaching both kids and adult classes, as well as several special classes on rape prevention and women's self defense.

Lynn has a love of martial arts and has dabbled in many different styles such as judo, aikido, Shito Ryu karate, kendo and escrima and holds a black belt rank in kobudo (Okinawan weaponry) under Kyoshi Anthony Marquez. She enjoys attending seminars and through them has had the opportunity to train with a variety of masters from around the world. Throughout the 1980's and early 90's Lynn has been an avid and successful competitor in both kumite (fighting) and kata (forms).

Lynn took some time off from her karate training to have kids and later to recover from an illness (cancer survivor), but has come back with enthusiasm and received her 5th Degree Black Belt in October 2015 in Shotokan with the Upland Shotokan Karate League. She has been teaching the beginning and intermediate adult classes for 3 years, as well as a small group of middle school students at the California School for the Deaf where she works in Riverside.

Sensei Lynn continues her martial art studies through self study and attending seminars with some of the best Shotokan instructors in the world. In addition to tarining at the DAC dojo she suplements her training with Hiroyasu Fujishima, Hanshi, an 8th dan, with the Shotokan Karate International Federation (SKIF)  at the Cal State University Northridge karate club. 

Aside from the warm USKL dojo family, Sensei Lynn is joined by her husband Ty and their two children, Kieran and Keelan Aponte, both of whom are black belts and have been successful athletes, as well as honor roll students, displaying excellent citizenship in and out of school.

Timeline

Started   1982
Shodan   1985
Nidan      1991
Sandan   1995
Yondan 2008
Godan    2015 - Sensei Aponte/Whiteside, Shihan Pickard and George Sasano (JKA)

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