Arizona Karate Instructor Awarded 'Best Instructor' in Phoenix

Soke with tonfa

Soke is the world head of Seiyo Kai Shorin-Ryu Karate and Kobudo and has been presented dozens of international, national and regional awards for excellence in martial arts and in science. Soke's martial arts interest began in 1964 at the Black Eagle Federation kyokushinkai dojo when a member of a teenage rock n' roll band. Since then, he has trained in martial arts nearly every day over the past 50+ years - even while working the outback of Alaska, Australia, Wyoming and elsewhere in the US, as a research geologist.

While at the University of Wyoming, he taught karate, kobudo, self-defense and samurai arts in various classes and clinics while searching for gold, gemstones and diamonds.

In 2017, Soke was selected to the AMAA Who's Who in Martial Arts Hall-of-Fame, presented the Who's Who Martial Arts Legend Award, the Albert Nelson Marquis Who's Who for Lifetime Achievements Award.  

The Hall-of-Fame martial artist taught at four universities prior to opening the Arizona Hombu dojo in Mesa. Inducted into 18 Halls-of-Fame since 1998 as well as 'Meijin wa jutsu' in 2013.