-- Sweat more in training to bleed less in battle --

I have studied and trained in Shotokan Karate for several years. My initial training was under Peter Rabbitt, Irv Ploke, and Tak Kaida with the Pacific Coast Shotokan Karate Club (http://www.daskc.org), a group based in the California "Silicon Valley" out of Foothill, De Anza, and West Valley College. When I moved from the San Francisco Bay Area, I was testing for 5th Kyu (of 10).

My primary interests in karate are the personal aspects of it. I enjoy the focus and application of will, along with the learning of technique and kata. Its use as a form of self-defense is ancillary to me, my interest being more in the pure form and personal physical refinement rather than in application through kumite.

In Fall 2002 I began training in earnest again after almost two years off. I began with Dallas Sensei at Shasta College and through him learned of the local Shotokan Karate of America class at Sun Oaks Fitness Gym, where I have since trainined with several instructing black belts including Hiroko Mori, and Brad Marsh (http://www.reddingshotokan.org). More recently, I transferred to the Portland SKA dojo where I have continued my training (https://portland.ska.org).

I have been fortunate to recieve instruction in seminars and special classes from Hidetaka Nishiyama Sensei and Tsutomu Ohshima Sensei, as well as training with several other highly ranked sensei.