Latest update March 24th, 2025 7:05 AM
Peaceful Woman Warrior- Sensei Celise Thomas
At age eight, she started martial arts in November of 1999 with Young Tigers Karate School located
Sensei Celise Thomas
at Cumuto Trinidad. Celise was influenced to join this sport by a good friend who at the time was a purple belt in the same dojo. On 6th May 2000, she tested and passed her first rank for yellow belt.
During her stay at that dojo, her main objective goal was to reach the rank of black belt which she obtained on 15th March 2003.
A while after, she was forced to take a break from martial arts because of exams and other commitments within the Trinidad and Tobago Cadet Force.
However, in March 2010, she resumed her martial arts journey with Peaceful Warriors Martial Arts International under the expert guidance of Master Michael Cromwell. She is currently one of the instructors at this school. She is also First Aid/CPR certified and as a clear police certificate of character. In addition to being an instructor she still gets time compete. She has won many first places on the national circuit in both forms and sparring.
On October 11th, 2010 Master Cromwell found it fit to put her before a panel of experience judges for a grading, where she was assessed in the areas of Discipline, endurance, technical ability, initiative, academic and spiritual knowledge. She went through rigorous testing of blocks, stances, kicks, punches, katas, weapons, rolls, breakfalls, gymnastics and Kumite. Having completed all requirements successfully, she was again, for the second time confirmed to the rank of 1st degree Black Belt. She was recently promoted to 2nd Degree Black Belt.
Celise continues to be an inspiration for women martial arts instructors in Trinidad and Tobago. She is also the Trinidad and Tobago Karate Federation (TTKF) athlete representative along with Nicholas Seebaran and Chennise Charles. Celise is pursuing her coaching credentials under the American Sport Education Program (ASEP). Her latest achievements was being awarded TTKF 2011Woman Freestyle athlete.
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