Marilyn Hassell started training in Shotokan Karate in 1980 in a small club in New Haven Missouri. Marilyn earned her black belt in 1984 and moved to St. Louis in 1985. Marilyn is one of 3 graduates of the Long Island University Karate Instructor Certificate Program in the St. Louis area. In 2005 Marilyn earned her Godan (5th Dan). In 1986 Marilyn and Randall Hassell wed and opened their first dojo together. Sensei Hassell was the Founder and Chief Instructor of the American Shotokan Karate Alliance (ASKA). He was also the author of many books and magazine articles on the art of Shotokan Karate and created and ran a publishing company devoted to quality martial arts books and DVD’s. Together they worked at their publishing company and consistently taught together in the St. Louis area until he passed away in August of 2015. She continued operating the dojo for three more years before closing it and focusing on the ASKA organization.