Elaine Vance
Elaine Vance was born in Fulton, Missouri. She lived several places growing up, settling in Maryland when she married in 1978. Elaine is currently a human resources director at Gallaudet University.
Elaine has more than thirty years of martial arts experience which began by studying Shudo Kan Karate in college. Later she earned a Black Belt in Ishinryu Karate, a Second Degree Black Belt in American Hapkido. She studied Danzan-ryu Jujitsu, Tai Chi, and Aikido while looking for a new martial arts school. Elaine found Sheya's Hapkido in the yellow pages after receiving a recommendation from a friend, and began studying in the summer of 1988. She tested for first brown belt while six months pregnant, and took a little time off after giving birth. Elaine is a Master Instructor. Of all the arts she has studied, Elaine prefers Hapkido. "I like the fact that a smaller person can overcome a larger person without using strength."