Tri-City Herald: Author, black belt offers karate class at Richland center

By Tri-City Herald staff September 30, 2011

Pam Logan, author of the 1996 book Among Warriors: A Woman Martial Artist in Tibet, will teach a karate class at the Richland Community Center, beginning Monday.

A fourth-degree black belt, Logan will bring her 30 years of teaching experience, and the wisdom she acquired in the Himalayas, to the twice-weekly class. It will meet at 7:30 p.m. Mondays and 10 a.m. Saturdays.

Logan, an engineer by training, got the travel bug after completing a doctorate in aeronautics. Her wanderings led her to eastern Tibet, a region known as Kham. There, she traveled extensively to study the traditions of the Khampa warriors, who defended Tibet against its Chinese invaders and who carried on a guerilla war against them for 17 years. She later started a charity, Kham Aid Foundation, to provide assistance to Tibetans in Kham.

Logan is a direct student of Japanese karate master Tsutomu Ohshima, founder of martial arts organizations in the U.S., Canada, Europe, Asia, South America and the Middle East. She received all of her black belt ranks directly from Ohshima. In 2000, she earned her fourth-degree black belt, or yodan. The highest black belt rank awarded by Shotokan Karate of America is fifth degree; Logan is the organization’s top female practitioner.

Besides karate, Logan has studied the Japanese art of aikido, and she has trained in Brazilian jujitsu.

Adults of all skill levels and ages may participate.

More information is available on the Richland Parks & Recreation website at www. Richlandparksandrec.com or by calling the community center at 942-7529. Cost is $35 for Richland residents and $45 for others.