Diana McRae is a dedicated Kenpo Karate Black Belt with extensive experience in teaching martial arts to individuals with diverse abilities, particularly through her specialized program, “Parakarate.” Her teaching career began in 1996 in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, at TESH, an organization supporting individuals with disabilities, where her class received a Special Recognition Award.
In 2002, Ms. McRae opened her own studio in Post Falls, Idaho, and began teaching self-defense annually at the Special Needs Recreation’s Camp All-Stars. She has also been certified to teach “The Bully Buster System” through the Martial Arts for Peace Association.
A pioneer in the field, Ms. McRae created a yearly karate demonstration for Special Needs Recreation’s Talent Show, showcasing her students’ abilities. In 2003, her demonstration team, “The Flying Dragons,” performed throughout Kootenai County. That same year, she witnessed the transformative power of sparring for her students at the Possibilities Unlimited Tournament in Glendora, California, a pivotal experience that shaped her approach to teaching.
In 2004, Ms. McRae earned her Black Belt, with a thesis focused on “Teaching Martial Arts to People with a Disability” and a Black Belt form performed from a wheelchair. She has since continued to advocate for and expand her specialized program. In 2005, she was a special guest speaker and instructor at the UK Martial Arts Festival for People with Disabilities. In 2016, she helped establish a curriculum for Special Needs Recreation’s Life Skills program which incorporates karate. In 2017 she added sparring to her curriculum. In 2019 she began training assistant instructors from her students at Renewed Horizons.
Ms. McRae is currently developing an instruction manual to encourage other Kenpo instructors to teach individuals with disabilities. In 2024, she was awarded a grant from the Coeur d’Alene Tribe to support “Parakarate”, and in 2025, she will open a dedicated “Parakarate” studio in Post Falls, Idaho.