Shihan Gene Dunn

Gene Dunn is a lifelong martial arts practitioner, and has dedicated his life to propagation of traditional martial arts to students through safe, effective, non competitive methods. His influence as an instructor and educator now reaches from his home base in Brooklyn – where he has taught for over 20 years – to as far away as Melbourne, Australia.  He began his martial arts training in Shotokan Karate at the age of 11 and has gone on to achieve the rank of Black Belt in karate under Mr. Toyotaro Miyazaki and Mr. Kai Leung; in judo under Mr. Kyoshi Shiina; and in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Mr. Renzo Gracie. He also holds the rank of double-black Pra Jiad in Muay Thai under Mr. Jamie Crowder.  In addition to working in boxing and wrestling throughout New York City, he has practiced extensively in the art of Kung Fu with Mr. Paul Vizzio and in Tae Kwon Do with Mr. Herb Perez and Mr. Kevin Padilla.

 Brenda Ferrara

Brenda Ferrara is both a third degree black belt in Karate and a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Shihan Dunn. As the Program Director at Gene Dunn’s Karate, she is responsible for helping to improve the lives of hundreds and hundreds of students through the Martial Arts. Her ongoing commitment to student service helps everyone regardless of age or stage – to build long-lasting, positive relationships in the dojo. In the course of managing the administrative side of GDSK, she communicates her enthusiasm and love for training to every student on a daily basis. She continues to train alongside her husband (who is a black belt), and her two sons (who have both achieved their black belts under Shihan Dunn).

Angela Becker

Angela Becker is currently a black belt in Shotokan karate and a blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Shihan Dunn. Angela earned her BA in health and nutrition from Brooklyn College and believes that health is one of the most important gifts that you give yourself and others. She enjoys training with her husband and son, who both are fourth degree black belts at our dojo. She states that martial arts, and our dojo in particular, has kept her family healthy and close together.