Penny Crichton Art

"OUR KARATE VIDEO": What you will see in this American Tang Soo Do Karate Video/Slideshow shown below, are a few Photographic moments that my son, Christopher William (1989-2013), and I experienced together during the many years of training in American Tang Soo Do Karate we had at the T.O. Westlake Karate Studio in Los Angeles, California. Under the Instruction of 10th Dan Black Belt, Great Grand Master Dennis Ichikawa, I earned my 3rd Dan (Degree) Black Belt. Included here is a video clip of my son earning his 1st Dan Black Belt in 2009. During the Pandemic Lockdown in 2020…in our small little spaces wherever we could find room enough to practice, you will see a short video clip of me in Canada and GGM Dennis Ichikawa & his son/Instructor GM Justin Ichikawa in Los Angeles, leading a large Zoom Meeting Online performing a Karate Workshop of Forms (Katas) for their Students & Instructors - one student was as far away as Australia. In the video, I’m watching them present a new Black Belt Form. Later I practiced all the Forms with them like we used to do after class every Wednesday in LA. One shot was taken of GGM D. Ichikawa and I with students when we performed with our ATSD Alliance Schools at a half-time Basketball game at the Staples Centre in LA. Awesome Fun!

PHOTOGRAPHS AT THE T.O. WESTLAKE KARATE STUDIO: During training, I created 4 Annual American Tang Soo Do Karate Association (ATSDA) Karate School Plaques of the Students and Instructors at T.O. Westlake. Thank you to the students and families for their support in allowing me to do so. Not only was I learning the Art of Self Defence, but also the Art of posing Martial Artists in photos. Many more important Photographic & Security positions of employment were granted me later in life as a result of my years of Karate training at the T.O. Westlake Karate Studio. Of these, posing Hollywood Stars & their Families after Movie Premiers at Universal Studios for Kodak was the most thrilling for me - Specifically, posing Stars & their Families in a Martial Arts style after the Premier of “The Mummy, Tomb of the Dragon Emperor” in 2008 with Jet Li’s Stunt Crew - though admittedly they taught me a few poses on that shoot! My Kodak photo partner on this shoot and I made a test shot as seen in the picture below the Video.

THANK YOU:  I’m fortunate and I’m grateful for the many, many opportunities and life lessons Great Grand Master Dennis Ichikawa has afforded me. This video is for you & your son, from me, Mrs. P. Crichton, (ATSDA) Black Belt #500, and on behalf of my son, Mr. C.W. Crichton, ATSDA Black Belt #754 ~ Thank you.

2024 - Since the following Video was uploaded to the site, GGMD Ichikawa has received his 10th Dan ATSDA Black Belt! Congratulations!

NEWS - November 21, 2025 ~ It is with the greatest sadness and heartbreak that I report on this day the passing of our 10th Dan Black Belt Martial Arts Instructor, Great Grandmaster Dennis Ichikawa. Condolences to GGMI's Family and the thousands of American Tang Soo Do Students, Black Belts, ATSDA Instructors and Alliance Schools. His legacy will live on forever in the hearts & minds of all that knew him and trained in the Martial Art of American Tang Soo Do at the TO Westlake Karate Studio in Thousand Oaks, (Los Angeles) California. GGMD Ichikawa's son, Justin is now the Head Instructor at TO Westlake Karate Studio, and had been training with his Father since he was a young lad. GM Justin brings his outstanding Tang Soo Do talent to the world of Martial Arts.

Slideshow/Video with audio