Dojo Tansei Arts Martiaux

Sempai Marisa Leone started karate in January, 2002 and participated in her first competition three months later at the Gold Cup where she won 3rd place in both kata and kumite.  Since then, she continues to participate in competitions and ranks among the top three in her category. She also participates in numerous activities organized by FKCO which include competitions, tameshiwari, demonstrations, summer camp training, Mont-Tremblant hikes, and teaching karate.  Sempai Marisa received her shodan (first degree black belt), on May 4, 2008 under the direction of Shihan Camille Ohan and Shihan Kenji Midori. Sempai Marisa has been assisting her lifetime partner, Sensei Luciano Paparella, in teaching at their Dojo since 2006.

Sempai Marisa enjoys working with children. She is a respiratory therapist by profession, and has worked at the Montreal Children’s Hospital since 1989.  She is certified in CPR and First-Aid, as well as paediatric advanced life support.  She enjoys sharing her knowledge and teaching at all levels, from children to physicians.

Sempai Marisa’s dedication to children is also demonstrated through her voluntary work for Honore Mercier Home and School Association for which she chaired for two years.

Sempai believes that Karate is a way of life.  Training the heart, the body and the mind brings health, and inner peace.  She continuously trains every week to improve her skills, and always give 100% effort.  “There’s no gain if you don’t give your 100% every single time”, is something Sempai tells herself as well as the students of Dojo Tansei.