Honoring Women in the Martial Arts

The NWMAF recognizes women martial artists with three different awards, with each award focusing on a different characteristic.

Award of Excellence – For women who have demonstrated martial arts technical expertise, a remarkable teaching career, inspirational leadership and meaningful contributions to the community.

Coleen Gragen Award of Inspiration – For NWMAF members who have inspired other women in the martial arts. This award was created in 2001 and formally named in 2002:

Last year NWMAF created the Award of Inspiration to honor Coleen Gragen. Considering the severity of her illness we were concerned we would not have the chance to offer this honor in the future. 

We decided on this particular, special award because of the many women martial artists Coleen inspired through her teaching, her martial arts skill, her philosophy, her vision, and her charisma.  But we had not formally named it after her.  We do so now, the Coleen Gragen Award of Inspiration, to remember the martial artist, teacher, and friend who inspired so many of us.

Founders’ Honors – For women who have made significant contributions to NWMAF over the years.

Award of Excellence Recipients
Keiko Fukuda Sensei 1986	Professor Wang Ju Rong 1991	Master Wen Mei Yu 1993	Sensei Bobbi Snyder 1995
Professor Helen Carollo 1998	Wendi Dragonfire Sensei 2001	Professor Coleen Gragen 2002	Master Bow Sim Mark 2004
Master Su Zifang 2007	Shihan Linda “Ramzy” Ransom 2010
Coleen Gragen Award of Inspiration Recipients
Professor Coleen Gragen 2001	Karen Brown 2003	Shihan Linda “Ramzy” Ransom 2010
Founders’ Honors Recipients
Nadia Telsey 2010