Our Dojo

Sensei Michael A. Farren

Sensei Michael A. Farren began martial arts training in his early teenage years, studying Taekwondo alongside his brother John. As life progressed, he found that inconsistent training no longer fit the active lifestyle he wanted, and eventually found his way to Seidokan while living in Colorado.

While working as a head chef for a large campus and campground, Sensei Mike began studying at Cedaredge Seidokan Karate under Sensei Rodney Grantham. He quickly found Seidokan to be the right fit. During those years he competed in and judged numerous tournaments, a role he continues to take part in today. He also served for several years as Director of the Western Colorado Karate League.

After hearing a call to ministry, Sensei Mike completed multiple graduate degrees and moved to Southwest Colorado, where he served as pastor of a large Baptist church for nearly ten years. In 2004 he combined his background in martial arts and ministry by opening his first dojo.

As an instructor, Sensei Mike taught students ranging from age six to more than sixty years old. He particularly enjoyed the energy of younger students while also valuing the challenge of training with experienced martial artists who helped him continue refining his own skills. Programs such as Little Dragons were used to help introduce younger students to structured martial arts training.

He organized fundraisers and formed a travelling demonstration team that represented the dojo across multiple states for causes and community organizations including cancer patients, Boys & Girls Clubs, 4-H programs, and women's self-defense classes. Through the reach of the Dove Creek Karate Dojo, he was also able to host and sponsor tournaments and seminars attended by multiple clubs.

Sensei Mike has taught as a guest instructor in dojos across the United States and was inducted into the Martial Arts Hall of Fame in 2008. In late 2010 he joined the military as an officer chaplain, a capacity in which he continues to serve. During deployments to the Middle East, he has continued teaching both his faith and karate.

After decades of study, teaching, competition, service, and continued practice, Sensei Mike earned the rank of Godan, Fifth Degree Black Belt, and is progressing toward his sixth degree. Several of his students have gone on to become national champions and receive invitations to world-level competition.

Sensei Kaitlyn M. Toy

Sensei Kaitlyn M. Toy began her Seidokan journey in late 2002 at nine years old. Motivated to learn — and helped along by the fact that she was allowed to wear a blue gi — she trained under Sensei Rodney Grantham for two years.

In 2004, when the family moved to Dove Creek, Colorado, she continued her training under her father, Sensei Mike Farren. After seven years of hard work and dedication, she earned her Black Belt at age sixteen.

Sensei Kaitlyn became a fierce competitor, earning numerous awards at local tournaments. After taking first place in both Kata and Weapons forms at the state level, she was contacted by the United States Karate Association to compete at the Nationals Tournament. There, she placed third in each of her brackets and earned an invitation to the World Tournament.

During her years in Colorado, she was also part of the travelling demonstration team organized by Sensei Mike. In 2010 she left Colorado to attend cosmetology school in Pennsylvania. While attending college full time, she owned and managed her own dojo for three years.

Sensei Kaitlyn has since earned the rank of Yondan, Fourth Degree Black Belt. She has taught numerous self-defense seminars for women of varying ages, driven by a simple goal: that every woman should have the ability and confidence to protect herself.