Florida Budokan
Staff, Instructors and Board of Advisors
Staff
Sabastian Velilla- Chief Instructor (Shihan)
- Renshi, Godan- Toyama Ryu Iaido
- Renshi, Godan- Battodo Iaido
- Renshi, Godan- Kyudo
- Renshi, Yondan- Gima-ha Shotokan Karatedo
- Mayumi Soeda- Japanese Outreach Coordinator
- Shihan, Godan- Shodo
Assistant Instructors:
Iaido
Basil Maroney
- Sandan, Toyama Ryu Iaido
- Sandan, Battodo Iaido
- Shodan, Kyudo
Trevor Payne
- Nidan, Toyama Ryu Iaido
- Nidan, Battodo Iaido
Kyudo
Chelsey Velilla
- Sandan
Kenneth Wofford
- Nidan
Deidra Maroney
- Nidan
Karatedo
Robert Gerzanic
- Shodan Candidate
Kat Principe
- Lateral Shodan Candidate
Board Members and Advisors
Sabastian Velilla- President
Chelsey Velilla- Vice President
Charlie Matza; Esquire- Legal Advisor
Chelsey Velilla- Vice President
Charlie Matza; Esquire- Legal Advisor
Ronda Maseman- Secretary
Ronda is a graduate from Florida State University. As an art connoisseur all her life, she received a bachelor's of Arts Degree in Children's Book Illustrations with a minor in Asian Art. She worked as a draftsman for many years and is an avid history lover and reader. She is a currently sought after artist for the Mount Dora Center of the Arts and creates props, sculpture and design which can be seen at a major theme park in Orlando.
Ronda is a graduate from Florida State University. As an art connoisseur all her life, she received a bachelor's of Arts Degree in Children's Book Illustrations with a minor in Asian Art. She worked as a draftsman for many years and is an avid history lover and reader. She is a currently sought after artist for the Mount Dora Center of the Arts and creates props, sculpture and design which can be seen at a major theme park in Orlando.
Jonathan Forrester- Board member
Jonathan Forrester is a former US Navy submariner Non Commissioned Officer with a Master's Degree in Mathematics Education from Georgia State University and a Bachelors Degree in Computer Science from the University of Tennessee. He worked for over 18 years at Texas Instruments / Siemens Energy and Automation as a Software Engineer, a Marketing Manager and a Product Manager. Mr. Forrester recently retired from the Sumter County School System where he was the Math Chair at a county high school. He has been studying martial arts since 1972 and holds a 4th Dan in Shuriryu Karate, a Shodan in Shurite Jiujitsu, and a Shodan in Kobudo. He is currently studying Iaido and Kyudo at the Florida Budokan. He is married and has 1 daughter.
Jonathan Forrester is a former US Navy submariner Non Commissioned Officer with a Master's Degree in Mathematics Education from Georgia State University and a Bachelors Degree in Computer Science from the University of Tennessee. He worked for over 18 years at Texas Instruments / Siemens Energy and Automation as a Software Engineer, a Marketing Manager and a Product Manager. Mr. Forrester recently retired from the Sumter County School System where he was the Math Chair at a county high school. He has been studying martial arts since 1972 and holds a 4th Dan in Shuriryu Karate, a Shodan in Shurite Jiujitsu, and a Shodan in Kobudo. He is currently studying Iaido and Kyudo at the Florida Budokan. He is married and has 1 daughter.
Wendy Smith-Wood- Board Member
Born in UK, Wendy Smith-Wood graduated with a degree in English and a post-grad in business studies. She attended Sandhurst Royal Military Academy and served four years as a commissioned officer in Her Majesty’s Armed Forces. She served in Germany and England, during which time she led caving expeditions to Peru, Sardinia and Crete. Following her dreams, she went to Alaska and spent 12 winters as a professional musher training dogs for the Iditarod sled dog race. In 1997 she crossed the American continent, coast to coast on a sled dog team, raising money for cancer charities. Mrs. Smith-Wood completed a 4,600 mile world record journey. The rest of her time was spent as a mountaineer in Central Asia and Africa leading expeditions and guiding adventures. In 2001 she met her husband and married in Alaska, settling on a remote homestead, working as a glacier specialist and developing a career as a textile artist specializing in Japanese shibori. In 2006 she established a tour company leading tours for artists all over the world and now she resides in Central Florida and Alaska. She took up Karate at the age of 60 and is also teaching traditional Japanese silk dyeing at that facility.
Born in UK, Wendy Smith-Wood graduated with a degree in English and a post-grad in business studies. She attended Sandhurst Royal Military Academy and served four years as a commissioned officer in Her Majesty’s Armed Forces. She served in Germany and England, during which time she led caving expeditions to Peru, Sardinia and Crete. Following her dreams, she went to Alaska and spent 12 winters as a professional musher training dogs for the Iditarod sled dog race. In 1997 she crossed the American continent, coast to coast on a sled dog team, raising money for cancer charities. Mrs. Smith-Wood completed a 4,600 mile world record journey. The rest of her time was spent as a mountaineer in Central Asia and Africa leading expeditions and guiding adventures. In 2001 she met her husband and married in Alaska, settling on a remote homestead, working as a glacier specialist and developing a career as a textile artist specializing in Japanese shibori. In 2006 she established a tour company leading tours for artists all over the world and now she resides in Central Florida and Alaska. She took up Karate at the age of 60 and is also teaching traditional Japanese silk dyeing at that facility.
Kannushi Kato- Dojo Shinto Advisor
Taishi Kato is a graduate from the masters program at the University of London SOAS school of Religion. He is the 22nd member of his family to become a Shinto priest. Currently his family operates Ikuta Shine in Kobe, Japan and the 1000 year old Hattori Tenjingu Shrine in Osaka, Japan. Taishi Kato has dedicated himself to continuing the family tradition by spreading Shinto concepts to the English speaking world. In 2020 he conducted a Shinto Purification ceremony at the Morikami Museum in south Florida and in conjunction with the Florida Budokan, He has co-written a book a called "Shinto Moments" with Sabastian Velilla.
Taishi Kato is a graduate from the masters program at the University of London SOAS school of Religion. He is the 22nd member of his family to become a Shinto priest. Currently his family operates Ikuta Shine in Kobe, Japan and the 1000 year old Hattori Tenjingu Shrine in Osaka, Japan. Taishi Kato has dedicated himself to continuing the family tradition by spreading Shinto concepts to the English speaking world. In 2020 he conducted a Shinto Purification ceremony at the Morikami Museum in south Florida and in conjunction with the Florida Budokan, He has co-written a book a called "Shinto Moments" with Sabastian Velilla.
Ryushin Sensei- Dojo Zen Advisor
Konrad Ryushin Marchaj, Sensei is a Zen priest in the tradition of Zen Buddhism, and a Dharma heir of the late John Daido Loori, Roshi. Ryushin Sensei was the Abbot of Zen Mountain Monastery from 2009-2015. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from Yale University in 1976. He received his Medical Degree from Albany Medical College in 1980, working first as a pediatrician in Portland, Maine, and then serving in the US Navy as a physician for three years. He then returned to Albany for postgraduate training in Psychiatry. After completing his residency, he served as Medical Director for a community psychiatric outreach program. He left all this to enter full-time residential training at Zen Mountain Monastery in 1992 and is currently teaching independently.
Konrad Ryushin Marchaj, Sensei is a Zen priest in the tradition of Zen Buddhism, and a Dharma heir of the late John Daido Loori, Roshi. Ryushin Sensei was the Abbot of Zen Mountain Monastery from 2009-2015. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from Yale University in 1976. He received his Medical Degree from Albany Medical College in 1980, working first as a pediatrician in Portland, Maine, and then serving in the US Navy as a physician for three years. He then returned to Albany for postgraduate training in Psychiatry. After completing his residency, he served as Medical Director for a community psychiatric outreach program. He left all this to enter full-time residential training at Zen Mountain Monastery in 1992 and is currently teaching independently.