Sempai Ivan Harchenko Sempai Ivan Harchenko began his studying at the age of 14 under Branch Chief Sensei Volodymyr Snyegir'ov. After a hard and purposeful year of training with Sensei Volodymyr, Sempai Ivan continued his Phoenix training under Sensei Natalya Snyegir'ova. After a difficult transition from the non-contact Shotokan karate to hard-style Kyokushin Karate, he began to understand Karatedo as a way of life. He received his Shodan during Fall Gashuku 2001 under Shihandai Cathy Melanson's leadership in Nikopol, Ukraine. He teaches classes in Nikopol's Phoenix organization. Now he is studying in the University. He, together with his parents, has a family business. In free time his hobbies include working with computers.