The WMMA Staff: Always Training!

Seminars, conferences and training camps

Carolyn and Kurt Schulenburg, along with Alan Dyson earned several Black Belts in Tang Soo Do under Master Young Hong. When the Schulenburg's decided to continue the Young Hong Karate Institute at the urging of a retiring Master Hong, Dyson embraced the new directions and ideas that the Schulenburgs had in mind..

Woodstock Mixed Martial Arts was created because the traditional martial arts were simply not performing in the real world, whether in international contests or on the street. The early days of the UFC and other mixed martial arts tournaments showed that karate was too specialized, too dependent on kicking and punching to take home trophies against the likes of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and other arts that incoporated ground techniques.

Clearly, the mixed martial arts were creating the most effective fighters on the planet, but could this sort of violence be tamed and taught safely?

Woodstock Mixed Martial Arts is one of the original Founding Members of Pro-Star Mixed Martial Arts, a curriculum designed to safely and effectively teach mixed martial arts to people of all ages and experience levels. The Schulenburgs and Dyson have been teaching a modified Pro-Star curriculum for several years, incorporating their ongoing training with nationally known trainers and athletes with their own backgrounds in TaeKwonDo, Tang Soo Do, judo and Jiu-Jitsu to create one of the safest and most effective martial arts programs in the world.

Master Carolyn Schulenburg

Focused on Family Fun and Fitness

Master Carolyn Schulenburg started her Martial Arts training in the 1980's in Park Ridge, IL. She earned her 4th Degree Black Belt in Tang Soo Do under Grandmaster Young Hong several years ago, has belts in Judo and Tae Kwon Do, and is currently a Black Belt Instructor of the Mixed Martial Arts. Working closely with Mr. Hong, Carolyn was chosen to be his successor and, together with her husband Kurt, the owners of the Young Hong Karate Institute.

Mrs. Schulenburg, a Registered Nurse, specializing in both cardiac and pediatric care, puts her knowledge to work in the design and overseeing of not only the Mixed Martial Arts program but all of the Fitness Classes as well. Keeping our students safe is the most important aspect of martial arts whether it's a great defensive front kick - or a better nutrition program for our BootCampers!

She is an MME Certified KickBoxing Trainer who regularly attends fitness and martial arts seminars and boot camps across the nation. She is also a full time mom, with 3 kids, 2 cats and 2 dogs 3 dogs to keep out of trouble.

Master Alan Dyson

How Can I Make A Difference?

Alan Dyson earned his first Black Belt in Tang-Soo-Do under Grandmaster Young Hong in 1998. That was the year he began teaching martial arts, influencing hundreds of students with his knowledge of the "hidden moves" contained within traditional forms.

Now a 5th Degree Black Belt and a Certified Mixed Martial Arts Instructor, Alan is a graduate of the American Academy of Art in Chicago. His art work has appeared in many fantasy role playing books, trading cards for the Bench Warmer series and many specialty pieces for clients such as the Wizard of Oz's munchkin Jerry Maren. Ray Park - you know him from Star Wars as Darth Maul! - is one of many celebrity fans of Dyson's incredibly detailed - almost photographic - style.

Master Dyson utilized his martial arts training to find work in the McHenry County Sheriff's Department as a Corrections Officer. His years with the department led him to understand that traditional martial arts were simply not as effective in crowd control and personal safety as the grappling and holding techniques of the mixed martial arts. Upon observing how the justice system seemed to be a revolving door for the same inmates making poor choices over and over again, Master Dyson rededicated himself to the teaching aspect of the Martial Arts, with an emphasis on personal responsibility, honesty, integrity - and effective techniques suitable for real world self-defense.

For the last 5 years, Master Dyson has been working for Woodstock Mixed Martial Arts, training at camps and seminars around the country in grappling, Muay Thai and the striking arts. He has been instrumental in the development of our MMA program, contributing not only his vast knowledge of traditional techniques but designing drills and curriculum goals for every age and experience level.

And, although he considers himself to be primarily a stand-up fighter, he's participated in every NAGA (North American Grappling Association) Tournament that has come through Chicago in the last 3 years!

Master Kurt Schulenburg

Renaissance Training - Studying EVERYTHING!

Mr. Kurt Schulenburg began his martial arts training nearly 30 years ago with the American Taekwondo Association. He joined Mr Hong in 1987, eventually earning several Black Belts under his tutelage. He has also earned belts in Judo and the Mixed Martial Arts, training with 7th Degree Master Black Belt John Graden, Master Black Belt Joe Brignoli and Grappling Specialist Black Belt Master Jerry Jones.

He holds a teaching degree in Music Education, having performed professionally on saxophone, trumpet and piano since the early 70's. He was an associate conductor, trumpet player and saxophone soloist with the Crystal Lake Community Band for 20 years. He's been featured on soprano sax, trumpet, and a whole lot of other instruments with the Sinful Saints Dixieland Band for more than a decade.

Mr. Schulenburg has been a Concrete Production Manager at Vollmar Clay Products since 1983 and along the way designed and built his own home where he lives with his wife, Carolyn and his 3 children (Karl, Calli and Kai), all of whom hold Black Belts.

Mr. Schulenburg has been a featured lecturer at national martial arts seminars on topics as diverse as curriculum design and Web 2.0 and continues to both lecture and train at martial arts and fitness camps across the country. Both Kurt and Carolyn are responsible for the design of our Fitness Classes, with Carolyn contributing most of the health and safety aspects while Kurt loves to bring in new "toys" to work out with. Medicine balls, kettle bells, weight sleds, giant ropes, suspension trainers, sandbags and fitness balls have quickly become the backbone of our Fitness BootCamp.

Mr. Schulenburg is also responsible for the design and creation of the Woodstock Mixed Martial Arts and Fitness Web pages, as well as all emails and newsletters.