Laurinda Marcello Sensei has been the lead instructor for Kenwa Karate of Sitka since 2013 and holds a 3rd Dan. She started taking karate as a child in Sitka. She later continued her karate education in Juneau where she also served as an assistant instructor. She had the opportunity to travel and train with world-renowned instructor Katsutaka Tanaka Sensei who awarded her first black belt. She believes learning karate should be life-long. She continues to train under her very first instructor, Michael Taylor Sensei, who now resides in Wasilla. Marcello Sensei has also served as a judge for state, regional, and national karate tournaments.

Outside of the dojo Laurinda holds an M.S. in Fisheries. She works as the Bookkeeping Manager for the Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association. She enjoys exploring the outdoors around Sitka with her family.

Rianna Senpai started as an assistant instructor with Kenwa Karate of Sitka in 2022. She continues to teach during the summer when home from college.

Rianna has traveled to several regional tournaments and hold trophies in kumite (sparring) as well as a bronze medal in team kata from the 2020 Amateur Athletic Union Virtual Nationals. She earned her black belt in May 2024.

Rianna is a rising junior at Western Washington University. In addition to karate she enjoys speed cubing.

Liam Senpai started as an assistant instructor with Kenwa Karate of Sitka in 2022.

Liam was part of our third place kata team at the Amateur Athletic Union Virtual Nationals in 2020. Liam often assists with karate camps for children and particularly enjoys bo kata and taught summer weapons class in 2024 & 2025.

He participates in other activities in high school including mock trial and also plays the piano.

Assistant Instructor Jade is co-teaching Little Dragons classes for the second time during the 2025-2026 school year.

She has studied karate since 2018 and attends level 2 classes. At high school, she is part of the drama debate team.

Kenwa Karate of Sitka is governed by a volunteer board of directors. Our board members work behind the scenes to keep the program running and also review new student scholarship applications.

Willow Moore - President

Brooke Rivera - Treasurer

Tram Laybourn - Position TBA

Heidi Horner Raffaelle - Position TBA