Dr. Odette Russell, also known as SiDaGoo, has a Ph.D. in Health Psychology. She is a 9th Degree with over 40 years of martial arts training and over 30 years of teaching experience. She is a native New Yorker who within the 1980s competed in semi-contact karate tournaments in both katas and Kumite women’s division; 75% of her wins were in 1st place. Dr. Russell has received multiple accomplishment awards which include Women of the Year for 2016, Grandmaster of the Year 2017 and 2019, Inspirational Martial Arts Example 2018, and 2019 AWMAI 30+ years Hall of Fame Inductee, to name a few. Sidagoo, which means “Mother of SWAM”, is responsible for customizing an aspect of the SWAM Martial Arts system targeted at women and has taught this system to hundreds of females.