Sensei Milada Kurucová (Branch 746 member) is Putting Slovakia on the Worldwide Martial Arts Map
Milada Kurucová, member of Branch 746 Linden, has recently been awarded the title of Shibu which makes her an official representative martial arts school for the Okinawa Goju Ryu Kenkyukai. Milada started her karate journey in her hometown of Stropkov, Slovakia when she was just at 17 years old and quickly fell in love with art. For more than three decades, she has studied the traditional Okinawan karate style known as goju ryu and continues to this day.
After leaving for The University of Economy in the city of Košice, Slovakia. Milada continued her studies with Sensei Valenta where she was a member of Metropol club. In 1998 received her rank of Shodan (first black belt) at a seminar in Amsterdam from the head of International Karatedo Gojukai Association (IKGA). This remarkable achievement is especially noteworthy as she received her degree from Shihan Goshi Yamaguchi (son of Gogen Yamaguchi, a direct student of Chojun Miyagi who founded the style around 1930 in Okinawa)
Milada’s success continued when came to United States in September of 2000 where was found a new Sensei in Chappaqua, New York. She rapidly advanced through her degrees and is currently a 4th degree black belt and is working toward her 5th degree next year. And most recently, she was awarded the title of Shibu from the Kenkyukai Organization headed by Sensei Taira Masaji Hanshi (“exemplary teacher” in Japanese), 9th Dan. Receiving the honorable title of shibu enables her to bring a new level of knowledge and resources to her dojo in Brewster NY that she opened in 2012. Milada has had the privilege of training many kids and adults over the years where she shares the traditions, values, and techniques of the original masters. Her two daughters Sarah and Isabel, also members of Branch 746, and are black belts! Sarah was recently awarded the FCSU Scholarship 2022 as well as the Jednota Branch 746 Scholarship. She is studying art at the University of Hartford in Connecticut.
Milada strives daily to perfect her own skills. In addition to her teaching responsibilities, she practices her technique, her kata (forms) and weapons daily. In addition, she attends seminars under the guidance of Hanshi Taira where she builds further on her already expansive knowledge of the art. We are proud to have Milada as one of our own from Slovakia and are confident that she will achieve even greater heights in the martial arts. This is not only because of what she has already accomplished but what we know she can still achieve as a result of her passion, hard work and dedication. Congratulations to Sensei Milada Kurucova on her recent title of Shibu and we look forward to hearing all about her future successes.
If you are interested, have any questions, or would like to join us for classes, Milada’s studio is located at 16 Mt. Ebo Rd. S, Brewster NY 10509 inside TapsNToes Dance studio. For questions email to: info@brewsterkarate.org or by text 914 760-3445.
Article written/submitted by: Milada Kurucová, Branch 746
