Sensei Yelena began studying at Isshinryu Karate-do at MIT under Matthew Borthwick sensei (now of Isshinryu Karate-do of Hillsboro), Lisa Mcgill sensei, and Greg Banks sensei in 2003. She was promoted to Sho-dan in 2011 and Ni-dan in 2013. Her current teachers are Debbie Pittak, 8th dan, and Myo Shu Wren, 7th dan, of Pittak's Isshinryu Karate.