Mother Mel's Isshin-Ryu Karate

12/10/2025

12/05/2025

I have some sad news for you all. Mother Mel, Melvin Dean Sims, has passed away on Wednesday, December 3rd, 2025. A visitation will be held on Tuesday, December 9th from 10:00-11:00 am at Calvary Lutheran Church, 1314 N. Michigan Street, Plymouth, IN.

Sensei was not just a karate instructor for me and my daughter, raising us both to black belts and beyond, but a dear friend to me and my family. His amazing talent to teach brought his students skill, encouraged their passion for martial arts, and gave us some of our best memories, and his unique sense of humor, unwavering generosity, and spirit made anyone feel better just for knowing him. If he enriched your life as he did mine, and as he did for so many others, please keep him in your heart.

- Mike Murphy, Sandan, Mother Mel's Isshinryu

View Melvin Dean Sims's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

01/27/2023

05/15/2021

It's great to be in the dojo with vaccines and no masks!

We worked up a sweat today with a back to basics session, and still managed to have a lot of fun. Thanks to all our karateka for their hard work. Join us on Friday evenings (6:30-8:30pm, 425 W. Washington, Monticello) and Saturday mornings (10am-12:30, 111 Holden St., Tolono).