Dena has been involved in martial arts since age 3 and has been studying with Master Pearson since she was 6. In addition to Taekwondo, she has also had the privilege of practicing Kyudo, Kali, Iaido, Judo, Aikido, Tai-Chi, and other meditative arts almost exclusively under Master Pearson’s tutelage. Though perhaps known in our association more for her “sense of humor” (yeah…we’ll call it that!) rather than her inherent skill, Dena is actually very serious about her pursuit of martial arts and considers it a tremendous honor to partake in something as potentially life-changing as Hagsaeng Naebu.

In her “other life,” Dena is beginning her second year as a working Rabbi. She spent her first year “in the field” working with students at Cornell University and now serves as the assistant Rabbi at Congregation Beth Israel in West Hartford, Connecticut.  There she has combined her passion and her work by initiating “JEWdo” a program designed to teach young people Jewish and universal values through martial arts instruction.   Email her personally at rabbishaffer@gmail.com!