Sensei Polly Melick
Birthdate: July 22, 1952
2026 Belt rank: Kyudan (9th degree black belt) awarded from Kaicho Frank Williams UMAA
Martial arts style years of training Matsumura Shorin-Ryu, previous training was informal.
UMAA New Jersey State representative & member of the advisory board of directors
As a youth my family couldn’t afford actual karate lesson for me so I would simply watch classes through the window at the local dojo, occasionally I would go inside to watch their classes.I would practice the techniques I learned from watching them, which I found effective when a boy attacked me when I was a teenager, I was able to fend him off and he never bothered me ever again. This was the only time I ever had to use my karate to defend.
Previous formal training was with Shihan Al Smith Red Dragon Karate School Easton, PA. until 2002.
Sensei Gary and I decided to open our own karate school in 2002, and we named it Golden Dragon Karate School, LLC. the golden dragon was the honor dragon that sat on the top of the mountain.
I started my formal training with Shihan Smith Red Dragon Karate in Easton, PA. when our daughter was a young teen and she was bullied at
school, we wanted her to know how to defend herself if necessary. We joined as a family.
2005-2006 Japanese Ju-Jitsu training with Soke Michael DePasquale
2009-2019 Okinawa Matsumura Shorin Ryu training with Yoshimatsu Akamine Sensei we were not able to return to Okinawa due to Covid 19. Akamine Sensei has since retired from teaching.
We offer training for children from age 5 to adults of all ages.
I teach the two kid’s classes and Sensei Gary teaches the teens & adults class, we feel it is important for all ages to learn the way of karate, our students learn respect, discipline, and much more. Our students range from age 5 to 80 years old. Of course we help each other in all the classes.
2002 we opened Golden Dragon Karate LLC. in Alpha, NJ
At our karate school we teach kata, weapons, sparring, break-falling, board breaking, self-defense, Japanese Ju-Jitsu and more
2002 UMAA Life member
2005 Renshi teaching title from Kaicho Frankie Williams
2011 Kyoshi title presented by Yoshimatsu Akamine Sensei
2014 Shihan title presented by Kaicho Matthew Molineux
2016 Life member l.O.B.K.A. presented by Kaicho Matthew Molineux
2017 inducted into the Society of Black Belts Association Presented by Dr. Christopher Viggiano
2021 Order of Emerald Dragon for exceptional perseverance, determination and tenacious drive to train and learn.
I am one of only two women so far to be honored with this award presented by UMAA and Kaicho Frankie Williams
I have been honored with recognition awards in various organizations such as Action Martial Arts Magazine, AMAA, IFOJJ. IAMA.WKU, Legends of the martial arts, who’s who in the martial arts and more. I didn’t list all the dates, but most were the same dates as Sensei Gary’s awards.
I competed in tournaments from North Carolina to NJ, until my mid 60’s, having earned many trophies,
You are never too old to train; martial arts are not just for the young.
As of date I had over 50 surgeries & various procedures, I never stopped training or teaching karate, my
doctor told me the karate saved my life. I even taught classes wearing a cast, surgical boot & more over
the years. Karate is a way of life for me; I have no plans to stop. I do have limitations, but I find a way to
work around that, which I can also share with others that have limitations.
