Sensei Ricki Kay

Ricki Jerilyn Augen was born in North Miami Beach on April 28, 1953. She was the first born of a set of twin girls. Early on Ricki got involved in sports. Throughout elementary school she was on the school track team. Growing up in South Florida everyone had to know how to swim. For eight years she swam on a competitive team. Rising at 6 am, swimming for 2 1/2 hours every morning and then again 2 hours every afternoon Ricki started her discipline. In 1971 Ricki graduated High School. She attended Miami Dade Community College. In 1972 she transferred to the University of Florida. In 1975 Ricki graduated with her Masters Degree in Education. She pursued her career in various positions as an instructor and education coordinator.

Ricki was always very focused. But in 1973 her father died suddenly of a massive coronary. In her senior year at college she needed something to pull her out of an enormous depression. In January of 1974 she found Master Ngo Dong.  A small man who talked of love, perseverance and personal potentials. After witnessing her first Black Belt test where 3 people of very differing sizes and abilities were promoted, she began her karate training. At the hand of fate, she took her first green stripe test at the same quarterly testing that her future husband, John Kay was taking his Black Belt test. After a few months she decided to transfer her Cuong Nhu training to the new "DragonGate Dojo" (run by John Kay and John Benson in downtown Gainesville, Florida.) The training atmosphere there was more intense and with smaller classes, suited her personality. (Ricki's first class at the University of Florida had 80 people in it. DragonGate dojo had less than 20.) Her martial arts training was combined with a daily running routine, of 2-4 miles.

Karate was not easy for Ricki. Mentally she was always focused and the necessary discipline was always present. But physically, the kicks she had to 'perfect' were very difficult. After 8 years of swimming, her hips were not suited for the rigors of the martial arts. In 1978 Ricki had another personal challenge; her mother died of cancer, and 4 months later her grandmother also passed away. In between, she attempted her first Black Belt test and failed. (her mind and spirit were not focused.) After another unsuccessful try she finally passed. (only 4 out of the original 80 took their Black Belts, only 2 are still training today). Through hours of practice each day Ricki excelled in KATA and sparring competitions. Her physical conditioning was exceptional.

Ricki and John Kay were married in June 1980. Moving out to Seattle, Washington, Ricki almost immediately opened up her own Karate Dojo, at the 'G and G Health Club'. She named her dojo, Komokuten Dojo. Ricki continued to pursue her personal career on a very limited basis. She had three children over the next 8 years. For the next 10 years she devoted her self to her children. She pursued martial arts part time. Ricki taught part time classes in the south King County area through the 80's and 90's. In 1995 she and her husband opened Fairwood Martial Arts.