ABOUT STEWART SCHULMAN VICE-PRESIDENT MICHIGAN SUIBUKAN

Sensei Schulman grew up in Detroit, Michigan. Athletically inclined as a child, Sensei Schulman Started organized hockey at the age of ten. He played hockey for eight years and was offered a tryout with the Junior Wings, which was the farm club for the Detroit Red Wings. Schulman grew tired of organized sports and wanted something more. In March of 1972, at the age of 19, Schulman began his martial arts training in the Korean art of Tang Soo Do. For Sensei Schulman the martial arts became a moving meditation to unify mind, body and spirit.

He soon developed a reputation as an excellent fighter. He started teaching private students and also taught classes for the Jewish Community Center in Detroit. His first student to attain the rank of black belt was Keith Fishman. When Sensei Schulman moved to Ann Arbor, he turned his students and classes at the Jewish Community Center over to Mr. Fishman. After obtaining the rank of fourth degree black belt in Tang Soo Do, a restlessness with his martial arts training pushed him forward.

A very good friend and mentor, Sensei Bobby Polychronopolis introduced him to Master Tadashi Yamashita. Sensei Polychronopolis is a professional martial artist and runs a huge organization in Athens. Greece. He holds a sixth degree black belt under Master Yamashita. After Master Yamashita accepted Sensei Schulman as a student, Sensei Polychronopolis was given the responsibility of his initial supervision. The world of martial arts opened up to Sensei Schulman and under Master Yamashita's guidance, Sensei Schulman rapidly progressed. He currently holds a fifth degree black belt in Shorin ryu karate under Master Yamashita.

Sensei Schulman maintains a full schedule. He is the father of two daughters and works for Washtenaw County running a Day Treatment and Foster Care program for at-risk youth. Most evenings and week-ends he is involved in his practice of martial arts.

Sensei Schulman currently teaches Karate classes for the Ann Arbor Jewish Community Center and runs a Martial Arts club at the University of Michigan which is called the U of M Suibukan. He also is a well known expert in self-defense and teaches self-defense classes and seminars at the University of Michigan, and throughout the Ann Arbor area.