Kyoshi Peter Ciećwierz Polander – 7th Degree Black Belt,
dojo owner, Shin Shu Ho member

Kyoshi Polander began his martial arts career as a student of Judo, Shotokan and Kyokushin Karate in his hometown Warsaw, Poland nearly 40 years ago. He traveled extensively winning numerous international competitions and earning 3rd Degree Black Belt in Judo. In 1984, he emigrated to the U.S. to continue his martial arts education. While studying, Kyoshi taught the martial arts team at Georgetown University, Naval Academy in Annapolis, National Institutes of Health and National Naval Medical Center. Subsequently he opened his own dojo in Bethesda and has been teaching RyuTe Kempo under the guidance of Taika Oyata since 1990.

Renshi Niamh Cawley – 6th Degree Black Belt Shin Shu Ho member

Niamh has studied, practiced and taught martial arts for over 20 years. He started his training in 1985 in Ireland studying Kung Fu and later Shotokan Karate, eventually earning his 1st degree black belt. He started training with Kyoshi Polander in 1994 and earned his black belt in 1997. He is a consument technician and is excellent with several weapons. Niamh is very happy to share his passion for martial arts with his wife, Helen, another senior instructor here at Polander Academy.
Come train in his Thursday class!

Renshi John Gannon – 6th Degree Black Belt Shin Shu Ho member

John began his martial arts training in 1994 with Kyoshi Polander and has been training with him ever since. He concentrates on practical techniques and using your body as efficiently and effectively as possible.

Come train in his Tuesday class!

Renshi Helen Cawley – 5th Degree Black Belt Shin Shu Ho member

Helen has studied, practiced and taught martial arts for over 20 years. She started her training in 1991 by studying Shotokan Karate, eventually earning her 1st degree black belt. She started training with Kyoshi Polander in 1994 and earned her black belt in 1996. Along with her husband, Niamh, Helen concentrates on proper execution of technique.

Renshi Ivan Black – 5th Degree Black Belt Shin Shu Ho member

Ivan has been studying and teaching martial arts for over 20 years. A 2nd degree black belt in Shudokan karate, Ivan believes that studying and perfecting ones footwork is key to martial arts. He often teaches martial arts history which he believes is essential in understanding how all styles relate. Along with his wife Taeko, Ivan loves to share his passion with every student he has a chance to work with.

Come train in his Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday classes!

Renshi Taeko Noguchi – 5th Degree Black Belt Shin Shu Ho member

Taeko was born and raised in Japan until she came to Washington DC for college. She began her training almost as soon as she arrived in 1996, earning her 1st degree black belt in Shudokan karate. She has been training and teaching for over 15 years and continues to teach a positive and focused attitude to studying martial arts. She and her husband Ivan enjoy teaching and training together and share a class on Saturday.

Sensei David Bush - 4th Degree Black Belt Shin Shu Ho member

David has been training with Kyoshi Polander since 1998 and earned his 3rd degree black belt in 2007. He is particularly interested in the technical aspects and depth of RyuTe and believes that with so much to learn, the training is always exciting and new.

Come train in his Wednesday class!

Sensei Jeffrey Pass – 1st Degree Black Belt

Jeff has been studying with Kyoshi Polander since 2000 and earned his black belt in 2007. His passion is teaching the children’s classes and he strives to make every child confident in themselves and enjoy martial arts as much as he does.

Come train in his Friday class!

Sensei Marwan Khayat - 2nd Degree Black Belt

Marwan began his martial arts education in Nazareth, Israel at age seven. He studied Ryukyu Kempo in Israel prior to him moving to U.S., where he came across Kyoshi Polander’s dojo and became his student. He received his First Degree Black Belt in 2009. Marwan says that there are few things in life that truly define us as human beings. It’s not what school you attended, what job you landed, or how much money you made, but who you truly are when everything else ceases to exist – and practicing martial arts is one of those things. It is challenging and relaxing, constant and ever-changing, and always rewarding. Come train in his Monday class!

Sensei Magdalena Zubek Ciećwierz – 1st Degree Black Belt

Magda started her training in 1994 by studying Shotokan Karate in her hometown of Warsaw, Poland. She emigrated to the U.S. in 2002 and continued her martial arts career by studying and teaching RyuTe Kempo Karate and earning her Black Belt in front of Taika Oyata in 2003. Magda believes that martial arts is the ultimate physical activity everyone will benefit from, no matter what your age, character or what shape you’re in. There is no right or wrong way in studying martial arts and your training should be “custom made” so you will stick to it for a lifetime. She’s been teaching Cardio Kickboxing for many years introducing a more fun, relaxed way to practice karate. To share her love for martial arts with her two young daughters, she designed the “Little Dragon” program for the youngest Martial Artists. Come train in her Wednesday class!