JM Martial Arts¶
Shotokan karate dōjō tracked for membership and Kyu / Dan rank. Canon name is JM Martial Arts (not “JK”). Not a company — see Companies/.
Last updated through AWLL3.6 ch 069.
Description¶
- Name: JM Martial Arts (Hyde Park / near Steve’s apartment, Chicago)
- Instructor: Sensei Jim Miller (James Miller; US Army retired / ex–Green Beret in text)
- Style: Shōtōkan karate
- Schedule (Steve era): Tue & Thu evenings + Sat morning (approx.)
- First seen: AWLL1.6 ch 2 (scout) / ch 5 (first lesson)
Members¶
| Name | Role | Kyu / Dan | As of (date) | Notes | Biography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sensei Jim Miller | Instructor | 5th Dan on-page (AWLL2.1); Notes claim 7th Dan | ongoing | Issues dōgi, tests ranks | — |
| Stephen Mark Adams (Steve) | Student | White belt | Aug 1981 | First lesson ch 5 | Adams_Stephen.md |
| Stephen Mark Adams (Steve) | Student | White belt with yellow tips | Oct 1981 | Test ch 16 | |
| Stephen Mark Adams (Steve) | Student | Yellow belt | Dec 1981 | Board break; Dec off planned ch 29 | |
| Stephen Mark Adams (Steve) | Student | Orange belt | Apr/May 1982 | Test passed “with flying colors” AWLL1.6 ch 56 | |
| Stephen Mark Adams (Steve) | Student | Green belt | Fall 1982 | Test with Stephie AWLL1.7 ch 38 | |
| Stephen Mark Adams (Steve) | Student | Working toward purple then brown | 1983 | Purple kata practice AWLL1.8 | |
| Stephen Mark Adams (Steve) | Student | Brown belt (stated) | Nov 1984 | AWLL1.9 ch 75 — “I was brown”; after private refresher restart (ch 69–70) | |
| Stephen Mark Adams (Steve) | Student | Brown belt | April 1985 | Test Sensei Jim AWLL1.10 ch 38 (also stated ch 24–30 prep) | |
| Stephen Mark Adams (Steve) | Student | 1st Dan black belt | June–July 1986 | Sparring/kata/weapons sequence AWLL1.6–2.1 path; AWLL2.1 ch 18–19 | |
| Stephen Mark Adams (Steve) | Student / Sensei | 2nd Dan | Sept 19, 1987 | Belt ceremony; leads Tue evenings; white-belt instructor Sensei Steve (June 1988) | |
| Stephen Mark Adams (Steve) | Student / Sensei | 3rd Dan | Sept 9, 1989 | First 3rd Dan Sensei Jim ever awarded; Jim returns 6th Dan | |
| Stephen Mark Adams (Steve) | Shihan / Renshi | 5th Dan (godan) | July 19, 1994 | Oguni under Sensei Hiro Hisakawa; gold stripe; double promotion 3rd→5th | |
| Jolene Baxter | Student / junior instructor | 2nd Dan | Sept 9, 1989 | Promoted with Steve | |
| Kara Anne Blanchard | Student | White belt | late Nov 1984 | Beginner class under Sensei Jim’s black belts AWLL1.9 ch 75 | |
| Kara Anne Blanchard | Student | Green belt | 1985 | AWLL1.10 ch 46 | |
| Kara Anne Blanchard | Student | 5th Kyu (blue) | mid-1986 | AWLL2.1 ch 18 | |
| Kara Anne Blanchard | Student | Brown belt | ~May 1987 | With Sofia AWLL2.1 ch 52 | |
| Kara Anne Blanchard | Student | Black belt (1 white stripe) | May 23, 1992 | Sensei Ichirō / Sharon test AWLL2.5 ch 80 | |
| Sofia Katsaros | Student | White belt | late Nov 1984 | Same beginner class as Kara AWLL1.9 ch 75 | |
| Sofia Katsaros | Student | Green belt | 1985 | AWLL1.10 ch 44–46 | |
| Sofia Katsaros | Student | Brown belt | ~May 1987 | With Kara AWLL2.1 ch 52 | |
| Stephie Grant | Student | White belt | Jan 1982 | Joins AWLL1.6 ch 40 | Grant_Stephie.md |
| Stephie Grant | Student | Yellow belt | Apr 1982 | Test AWLL1.6 ch 53 | |
| Stephie Grant | Student | Orange belt | Fall 1982 | Test AWLL1.7 ch 38 | |
| Stephie Grant | Student | Purple belt | Fall 1983 | Test passed AWLL1.8 ch 74; continues near Georgia Tech after transfer | |
| Stephie Grant | Student | Black belt → 2nd Dan | by Jan 1987 | Earned black before Steve; 2nd Dan stated AWLL2.1 ch 40; dies Oct 2, 1987 | |
| Stephanie Adams (sister) | Student | Toward blue belt | 1987 | Test soon AWLL2.1 ch 52 | |
| Jolene Baxter | Student / junior instructor | 1st Dan | 1987–88 | Leapfrogged by Steve; Japan co-run while Jim abroad 1989 | |
| Jessica Lee Wilton | Student | White → yellow belt | July 2, 1988 | Yellow test passed AWLL2.2 ch 51 | |
| Melody Marvel | Student | White → yellow | June–Aug 1988 | White belt June 11; yellow by Aug 6 | |
| Jacquelyn Vickers | Student | White belt | June 1988+ | Running/weight program with Steve | |
| Marcia Ingles | Student | Toward 3rd Kyu | May–June 1995 | Memorial Day age-group win; test planned before Labor Day | — |
| Molly Kraus | Instructor (Racine) → Steve’s student / Assistant Instructor path | 4th Dan | June 1995 – 1996 | Released by Sensei Matt late Dec 1995; Steve «Shihan» at Racine Jan 1996 | — |
| Birgit Adams | Student (early kata) | White / yellow-level skill | 1995–96 | Demonstrations at new dōjō blessing | Adams_Birgit.md |
| Felipe | Student | Yellow / 9th Kyu | Sept 9, 1995 | Test passed | — |
| Stephie Adams | Student | Beginner | Jan 13, 1996 | New gi; Will teaches kids | — |
| Therese | Student / coach track | Toward shidōin (needs 3rd Dan) | May 1996 | Coaching prep with Steve | — |
| Marcia Ingles | Student | Toward 3rd Kyu | 1995–96 | Custody limits unsupervised Steve until Jan 12, 1996; tournament strong; Will lifetime path (Epi) | — |
| Niki Shelton | Student | White belt trial | Sep 1996 | Racine under Molly | — |
| Ally Smith | Student | Beginner | Mar 1997 | Enrolls; free trial | — |
| Will Webber | Asst. instructor | 3rd Dan | 1997 | Japan ~3 months; returns (Epi) | — |
| Therese Kells | Instructor / coach | shidōin path | 1996–97 | — | |
| Miyu | Student | White belt / 10th Kyu restart | Aug 1997 | Strict program under Steve | — |
| Birgit Adams | Student | Green belt | 1997 | Adams_Birgit.md | |
| Jacquelyn Vickers | Student / helper | Black belt | 1997 | Self-defense class help | — |
| Miyu | Student | Black belt | Mar 4, 2000 | Steve as «Shihan» presents | — |
| Misty Graves | Student | Beginner | Mar 2000 | Signs forms; lessons after dalliance | — |
| Jesse Block | Student | 2nd Kyu brown | 2000 | ||
| Stephie Adams | Student | Purple 4th Kyu | 2000 | ||
| Ashley Adams | Student | Blue 5th Kyu | 2000 | ||
| Jessica Lee Wilton | Student | 3rd Kyu brown | 2000 | ||
| Kara Anne Blanchard | Student | 1st Dan | 2000 | ||
| Stephen Mark Adams | Sensei / acting Shihan path | 6th Dan «Kyōshi» | 2000 | Jim Japan 2001–retire 2002 plan | |
| Leigh Renwick | Student | Green belt | 2000 | Sensei Ichirō’s | — |
| Darla | Student | Toward black belt | 2000 | Molly third examiner | — |
| Will Webber | Asst. → future Shihan | 3rd Dan+ | 2000–01 | Marry Marcia in Japan; Jim leases house to them | — |
| Miyu | Student / BB | 3rd Dan | Jan 24, 2001 | Embroidered belt; afterschool teaching path | — |
| Birgit Adams | Student | Under-18 Kyu champion path | May 2001 | Memorial Day tournament category win | |
| Felipe | Student | Category win | May 2001 | Memorial Day tournament | — |
| Niki Shelton | Student | Finalist under-18 | May 2001 | Loses to Birgit | — |
Events¶
| Series | Book | Chapter | Date (in-story) | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 | 2 | Aug 1981 | Steve scouts karate with Jim for fitness/self-defense |
| 1 | 6 | 5 | Aug 1981 | First lesson; white belt + dōgi; Shotokan basics |
| 1 | 6 | 16 | Oct 1981 | White belt with yellow tips |
| 1 | 6 | 29 | Dec 1981 | Yellow belt |
| 1 | 6 | 40 | Jan 1982 | Stephie joins (white belt) |
| 1 | 6 | 53 | Apr 1982 | Stephie yellow belt |
| 1 | 6 | 56 | Apr/May 1982 | Steve orange belt |
| 1 | 7 | 38 | Nov 1982 | Steve green belt; Stephie orange belt (same test Saturday) |
| 1 | 8 | 18 | Mar 1983 | Both closing in on purple; brown/black hard |
| 1 | 8 | 57 | Aug 1983 | Steve works purple kata; rusty after summer |
| 1 | 8 | 74 | Fall 1983 | Stephie purple belt test passed; Steve still working toward brown |
| 1 | 9 | 7–24 | Jan–Apr 1984 | Saturdays only → stops for semester; rusty toward brown |
| 1 | 9 | 69–70 | Nov 1984 | Private refresher with Sensei Jim; belt permission; rejoins Saturday class |
| 1 | 9 | 75 | late Nov 1984 | Kara & Sofia white belts (beginners); Steve states brown belt |
| 1 | 10 | 24–30 | March 1985 | Steve brown-belt prep; test date April 20 planned |
| 1 | 10 | 38 | April 1985 | Steve brown belt |
| 2 | 1 | 7–12 | Mar–May 1986 | Black-belt qualification path; leads class 2×/week |
| 2 | 1 | 18 | June 28 – July 1986 | Sparring test pass; kata; weapons → 1st Dan |
| 2 | 1 | 40 | Jan 1987 | Stephie 2nd Dan stated |
| 2 | 1 | 52 | May 1987 | Kara & Sofia brown belts; sister Stephanie near blue test |
| 2 | 2 | 15–16 | Sept 1987 | Steve 2nd Dan announced; belt ceremony Sept 19; Sensei title |
| 2 | 2 | 18 | Oct 1987 | Sensei Jim at Stephie funeral; Jolene covers |
| 2 | 2 | 42 | Apr 17, 1988 | Private training with Jolene Baxter |
| 2 | 2 | 49–50 | June 1988 | Sensei Steve teaches white belts |
| 2 | 2 | 51 | July 2, 1988 | Jessica yellow belt |
| 2 | 2 | 77 | Nov 5, 1988 | Sensei Jim focus warning after near-kick |
| 2 | 3 | 8–37 | Dec 1988 – Mar 1989 | Jim leaves Japan ~March 7; Steve + Jolene run dōjō ~6 months |
| 2 | 3 | 65 | Sept 9, 1989 | Jim returns 6th Dan; Steve 3rd Dan; Jolene 2nd Dan |
| 2 | 4 | 17 | June 2, 1990 | Sensei Jim suspends Stephanie pending counselor clearance |
| 2 | 5 | 80 | May 23, 1992 | Kara black belt |
| 2 | 6 | 32–33 | Nov–Dec 1992 | Steve first sanctioned tournament judge |
| 2 | 7 | 54–64 | June–July 1994 | Japan Oguni under Sensei Hiro Hisakawa; 5th Dan July 19; Renshi/Shihan |
| 2 | 8 | 35–37 | Dec 16–20, 1994 | Parent dōjō Oguni; Hiro-san dies during Steve visit |
| 2 | 8 | 60, 66 | May–June 1995 | Marcia Ingles Memorial Day age-group win; plan 3rd Kyu before Labor Day |
| 2 | 8 | 62, 66–67 | June 1995 | Molly Kraus (4th Dan, Racine); Steve teaches Sat June 17 |
| 2 | 8 | 66–67 | June 17–29, 1995 | New dōjō / LLC plan — building ~6 blocks away (ex-grocery); showers remodel; partners Jim, Steve/Jess/Kara, black belts, Will’s parents, Jolene & Mickey; Alec guarantor |
| 2 | 9 | 7 | Sept 9, 1995 | Felipe → yellow / 9th Kyu |
| 2 | 9 | 8 | Sept 16, 1995 | New Hyde Park dōjō blessed (Kaito; Hiro ashes); demos |
| 2 | 9 | 17 | Oct 20, 1995 | Marcia custody: no unsupervised Steve until Jan 12, 1996 |
| 2 | 9 | 31–35 | Dec 1995 – Jan 1996 | Molly released to Steve’s school; Steve «Shihan» Racine; ranks freeze undeserved promotions |
| 2 | 9 | 36 | Jan 13, 1996 | Stephie Adams begins; Molly warm-ups at Hyde Park |
| 2 | 9 | 52–54 | May 1996 | Black-belt dinner; Therese shidōin track; Jolene rank conflict; tournament; alderman Bloom PR flop |
| 2 | 10 | 15–16 | Sep 21, 1996 | Molly black belt gold stripe; Steve paper master of Racine; Molly actual master |
| 2 | 10 | 28 | Oct 1996 | Steve states 6th Dan (to Emmy) |
| 2 | 10 | 62 | Mar 1997 | Women’s self-defense class plan; Ally enrolls; Birgit green belt |
| 2 | 10 | 81 | Jun 1997 | Will leaves for Japan; Jacqui black belt help |
| 2 | 10 | 99 | Aug 1997 | Miyu restarts white belt / 10th Kyu |
| 2 | 10 | Epi | 1998+ | Dōjō prospers; Stephie/Ashley toward black belts |
| 3 | 1 | 5 | Mar 4, 2000 | Miyu black belt |
| 3 | 1 | 7 | Mar 25, 2000 | Misty signs; first lesson deferred after sex day |
| 3 | 1 | 16 | late May 2000 | Tournament Field House; Molly rivalry |
| 3 | 1 | 50 | Sep 2000 | Jim Japan Spring 2001 / retire June 2002; Steve acting «Shihan»; Will/Marcia Japan wedding plan; Darla promotions |
| 3 | 2 | 5 | Jan 2001 | Rick Shabbat vs Saturday testing accommodation |
| 3 | 2 | 10 | Jan 24, 2001 | Miyu → 3rd Dan |
| 3 | 2 | 25–32 | Feb–Mar 2001 | Steve covers dōjō while Jim Japan; Molly covers funeral day |
| 3 | 2 | 39 | Mar 26, 2001 | Jim home; ~1 year to Japan; POA to Steve; lease house to Will & Marcia |
| 3 | 2 | 50 | May 26–27, 2001 | Memorial Day tournament DePaul — Miyu overall; Birgit under-18 win |
| 3 | 2 | 50–52 | May–Jun 2001 | Saturday dōjō-kun / nijū-kun philosophy class plan (Will) |
| 3 | 3 | 7–16 | Sep–Oct 2001 | Private students (Suzanne, Neil, Miyu, Molly, Dyani); Saturday kun class live |
| 3 | 3 | 9 | Sep 18, 2001 | Felipe back; Birgit brown-belt attitude — Sensei Jim benches her |
| 3 | 3 | 14 | Oct 2001 | Molly: advance Ted to 3rd Dan board plan |
| 3 | 3 | 35 | late Nov 2001 | Birgit wants 1st Dan early; usual age ~16; deferred; board Jim/Will/Molly |
| 3 | 4 | 7 | Jan 28, 2002 | Jesse private talk with Sensei Jim |
| 3 | 4 | 21–22 | ~Feb 23, 2002 | Leigh × Kirk wedding at dōjō (Steve officiates); Japan orders |
| 3 | 4 | 22 | Mar 2, 2002 | Avanti joins as Steve personal student; Will → «shihan» June plan |
| 3 | 4 | 54–60 | May–Jun 2002 | Hideki shihan hierarchy; no partners who are karate students (self-defense exception) |
| 3 | 4 | 82 | Jul 2002 | Rachel Kealty full student; Miyu private weekly training |
| 3 | 5 | 9–12 | Aug 2002 | Birgit senior brown; Steve cleared to spar (Mayo) |
| 3 | 5 | 32 | Oct 2002 | Birgit states 1st Kyu; black belt within ~1 year |
| 3 | 5 | 52 | Nov 23, 2002 | Birgit 1st Dan — board Will/Molly/Ichirō; Miyu vouches; Steve presents belt |
| 3 | 5 | 55–56 | Nov 30, 2002 | Under-18 tournament champion (knee tactics); Jacquelyn open finals |
| 3 | 6 | 24–33 | Feb 2003 | Madalyn Fowler white-belt trial → first class; Birgit 1st Dan affirmed; Will Shihan |
| 3 | 6 | 31 | Feb 15, 2003 | Sharon vacation; Steve/Birgit cover Oak Park dōjō |
| 3 | 6 | 50–53 | late Mar 2003 | Steve covers Sharon’s dōjō while she travels Italy/Greece; John Driscoll opens |
| 3 | 6 | 51+ | Apr–May 2003 | Birgit courts Kevin at dōjō (waits for 15th birthday) |
Related¶
- Adams_Stephen.md · Hyde Park residence
- Author notes:
AWLL/Notes/JM Martial Arts.txt(Sensei Jim 7th Dan) — not canon over chapter text
Note on “JK Martial Arts”¶
StoryBible skill and early stubs used JK; chapter text and author notes use JM Martial Arts. Track under this file.