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Instructors
Sifu Sonya Richardson
Co-Head instructor
5th Degree Black Belt
sifusonya@handtohandkajukenbo.com
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Sifu Jen Resnick
Co-Head instructor
5th Degree Black Belt
sifujen@handtohandkajukenbo.com
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Sifu Sonya Richardson has been training in the martial arts since 1990 and began practicing as a licensed physical therapist in 1988. She received her 3rd degree Black Belt in Kajukenbo under Professor Coleen Gragen and was promoted to 5th degree Black Belt by her current teacher Professor Barbara Bones. Sifu Sonya is also a Sandan in Kenpo Karate under Professor Gloria Boldizar. Her knowledge of biomechanics, combined with a positive motivational teaching style, provides a safe and physically well-rounded learning experience for students of all skill levels and abilities. Classes are guaranteed to be challenging and inspiring.
Sifu Sonya has competed in three Gay Games, medaling in each for forms, weapons, sparring and self defense divisions. She taught at three national martial arts camps: PAWMA (Pacific Association of Women Martial Artists), NWMAF (National Women’s Martial Arts Federation, and AWMAI (Association of Women Martial Arts Instructors). She currently serves on the Diversity Advisory Committee for NWMAF.
Sifu Sonya took on the role of Co-Head instructor in April 2007. “My passion for training and teaching is fueled by my respect and love for our wonderful student body. I am truly honored to serve Hand to Hand. I believe that as each of us, students and instructors alike, is given space enough to root and reach, we will, no doubt, positively affect an even greater portion of our community, of our world.”
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Sifu Jen Resnick began training in the Chinese martial arts in 1983. In 1991, upon returning from training in China and Taiwan, she had the good fortune to discover Hand To Hand and Destiny Arts Center where she found a martial arts environment which also insisted that the warrior's path be devoted to creating a just and peaceful self and society. She began training in Kajukenbo and soon after devoted herself to teaching at both Hand To Hand and Destiny.
She is drawn to the eclecticism of Kajukenbo that allows each student to develop creatively, and is grateful to have been blessed with a teacher, Professor Coleen Gragen, who always encouraged her to expand herself into new ways of being in the world. She has competed nationally and internationally to great success. In addition to Kajukenbo she also trains in the arts of Shaolin Kung Fu, Tai Chi, Qi Gong, Ba Gua and Xing Yi. She is a licensed acupuncturist and nationally certified herbalist in Traditional Chinese Medicine and practices Zheng Gu Tui Na, Martial Arts Therapeutic Massage.
Sifu Jen became the Head Instructor of Hand To Hand in 2002 at the request of Professor Coleen Gragen. She is currently on leave from teaching at Hand To Hand while she continues her training in traditional Chinese Medicine in New York. |
Sifu Vanessa Wilson
sifuv@handtohandkajukenbo.com
 Vanessa
Wilson received her black belt in April 2001 and her second degree
in April 2002, both under Sifu Coleen Gragen. She was promoted to third degree black belt in 2007 by both Sifu Jen Resnick and Sifu Sonya Richardson. Sifu Vanessa joined Hand to
Hand in 1993 and has acquired a well-rounded repertoire
of self-defense and martial arts skills. She is a past Acting Head
Instructor at Hand to Hand and is currently teaching Women's Self
Defense and Martial Arts at Mills College in Oakland. She has also
taught self-defense at SF State, Tri-State Homeless Shelter and
several workshops on-site at the school. She is a regular attendee
of the Brown and Black Belt classes run by Grandmaster Gaylord
and has participated in numerous martial arts camps and performances
throughout the Bay Area and beyond, including the Gay Games '94
in NYC where she took home two silver medals.She
continues to enjoy the journey of self-exploration through the
martial arts and looks forward to a long and healthy life in the
practice.
Sifu Joyce Mende Wong
sifujoyce@handtohandkajukenbo.com
Sifu Joyce Mende Wong began training at Hand to Hand in 1993 after first taking a 10-week self-defense class with Sifu Coleen Gragen. She received her student black belt promotion from Sifu Coleen, her 1st degree black belt from Sifu Jen Resnick, and her 2nd degree black belt from Co-Head Instructors, Sifu Jen Resnick and Sifu Sonya Richardson and is grateful for all their teachings. As a white belt she was a member of Hand to Hand’s 1994 Gay Games team in New York where she won a silver medal in sparring. She has participated in Hand to Hand performances, martial arts camps, and Sifu Coleen’s Black Belt Leadership classes. Sifu Joyce’s support of the Self-Defense program remains strong. She has assisted at many classes and workshops and will continue as a teacher and Co-Director of Hand to Hand’s Self-Defense Center. She also practices yoga; studies tai chi, sword, and saber with Sifu Michelle Dwyer; and trains in arnis with Sifu Ann Killeen.
Sifu Aarin Burch
sifuaarin@handtohandkajukenbo.com
Bio forthcoming...
Sifu Christine Schoefer
sifuchristine@handtohandkajukenbo.com
 Sifu Christine Schoefer first walked through the door of Hand to Hand in 1993. From the beginning, she has experienced her Kajukenbo training as physical conditioning, mental discipline and spiritual practice. She has participated in Hand to Hand performances, martial arts camps, and Professor Coleen Gragen’s Black Belt Leadership classes. In 2000, she began studying Tai Chi. In the spring of 2002, she was promoted to Student Black Belt by Professor Gragen. She was tested for and received her Black Belt from Sifu Jen Resnick in June, 2006 and was promoted to First Degree Black Belt by Sifus Jen Resnick and Sonya Richardson in May 2007. Raising three daughters has deepened Christine’s interest in self defense; she has taught workshops to different age groups in the Bay Area as well as in Germany and is currently Co-Director of Hand to Hand’s Self-Defense Center.
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