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Instructor
Kris Vasquez-Davantes
Instructor: Kris Vasquez
“I’ve
been to a lot of schools, and every one has something different to offer.
What I love best about Four Winds is that the instructors care about the
students in a way I’d never seen at any other place. I never dreamed
that when I walked in these doors I’d find such a family. Admittedly,
it is a family that can teach you to do crazy things with sticks, or send
you to a world championship, or show you self-defense that really works.
But even if you aren’t able to train every day and learn it all, you’ll
still always feel like you belong here.”
Her competitive awards include:
- 1990 - 3rd place - International Hard Contact Karate Invitational in Kyoto, Japan
- 1996 - 2nd place - 4th World Eskrima Kali Arnis Federation World Championship
- 1998 - 1st place - WEKAF U.S. Nationals
- 2002 - 1st place - WEKAF U.S. Nationals
A Family Tradition
She married Four Winds instructor Jun Davantes in 1999. When the priest heard how they met, he thought they were kidding.
After several years away from the martial arts to rear her young sons (and her teenage daughter), Kris has returned to Four Winds to teach in the Little Dragons program.
Kris is also a psychology professor at Alverno College, and she incorporates her professional training, as well as over 10 years of teaching experience with children’s karate classes, to try to find ways to connect with students.
She has recently focused on developing a stranger awareness component for the Little Dragons classes that is developmentally appropriate for the students.
