Instructors: Pam Jepperson
Pamela
Jepperson, Shodan
Children’s Program Director and Instructor
Jepperson Karate Dojos, Park City and Sandy, Utah
Pam is our top children’s instructor and Director of the kid’s karate program and has been teaching karate for seven years. She loves to teach kids karate because it’s amazing to see how much the kids can learn. They are so enthusiastic. This is a sport that a child can succeed in, and at their own pace. Each class is formatted to learn and practice new skills, encourage maximum effort on their own part and respect for the efforts of others.
She often remarks that the best part of her day is teaching the kids classes. Rarely does a day pass that she does not find herself smiling, either at a child’s accomplishment or something they’ve said. It’s great fun sharing the stories with their parents, who are often quite surprised by what’s been said. Pam often relies upon a phrase from an old Ann Lander’s column wherein the teacher said to the parents ‘I will believe half of what your kids say happens at home, if you believe half of what they say happens in class.’
While living in Tennessee, Pam was an aerobics instructor, heading the pre-natal classes for Sumner Memorial Hospital. She trained other instructors in class structure and the importance of teaching the students, NOT performing for them.
Pam looks at each child as an individual. No one single teaching method works for everyone, adults or children. In the kids program, we reward sincere effort, not just athletic achievement. Her goal is to help students reach their best level and feel good about their accomplishment. Everyone who enters a class – karate, dance, whatever – may not have the ability, or the desire, to become professional, they do, however, deserve the opportunity to see how far they can go and see what they can achieve when given the chance.
Pam began studying Wado Ryu in 1985. She has since trained under Tatsuo Suzuki, 8th Degree Hanshi, the most senior instructor in Wado. In addition, she has attended special seminars around the world. Pam earned her Black Belt in 1989 from Tatsuo Suzuki.
Pam has a bachelor’s degree in Graphic Arts and works as a professional freelance graphic artist. Pam was born in Montana, but has spent most of her life in Salt Lake City. She is an amateur (slow) runner, finishing several 5-K races and a few half marathons over the last decade. Her motto for races, borrowed from a former student’s mother is, ‘I train to complete – not to compete.’