Mr. Matthew Evans began his training as a white belt on February 1997. He studied several martial arts prior to finding Isshinryu. In 1999, Mr. Evans won the IWKA World Championships for Kata in McAfee, New Jersey. He won Grand Champion for Kata in November of 2004 at the Annual Benefit Tournament held by Texas Isshinryu Karate Kai. In 2005, he placed first in all divisons (Kata, Kumite and Weapons) and competed for Grand Champion in Kata and Kumite at the IWKA World Championships in Akron, Ohio. In 2007, he placed first in Weapons and Kata and competed in Grand Champion for both, winning in Weapons. He has been a consistent top three finisher in every tournament that he has participated in around the country.

Mr. Evans earned his Sho-Dan on December 2nd of 2000 and his Ni-Dan on December 6th of 2003. In the April Gasshuku in 2007, Mr. Evans received his San-Dan.

Currently, he is the head instructor at the Southlake dojo and serves his country protecting commercial aircraft from terrorism. Mr. Evans has a long athletic history using strength, endurance and agility training to help his Isshinryu and continues to learn at the Coppell dojo.

Mrs. Tina Palos began her training in 1985 in Corpus Christi under Sensei Paul Bystedt. After moving to Denton to pursue her music degree, she resumed her training at TIKK in July 1998. Mrs. Palos earned her Sho-Dan March 30.2003 at the Gasshuku along with Mrs. Rupp and Mr. Gellman. This was the first time three people were tested at once. Mrs. Palos was also honored as Most Outstanding Female Karateka of the Gasshuku by the Black Belts. In June 2003 at the IWKA tournament, Mrs. Palos took 3rd in Kata and Kumite in her first tournament as a Sho-Dan. In May 2004, Mrs. Palos received a Recognition Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Martial Arts from her teacher, Kyoshi Kristensen, at the Texas Martial Arts Hall of Fame. Mrs. Palos was promoted to Ni-Dan February 18, 2006 at a Black Belt workout. She continues to train at the Coppell Dojo and assists Mr. Palos in Denton and Mr. Evans in Southlake.

Mrs. Carol Gue began her training in New Jersey in April 1994 with American Budo Kai and achieved rank of brown belt. When her career transferred her to Plano in 1998, she quickly joined TIKK and began her training with Kyoshi Kristensen. Mrs. Gue recieved her Sho-Dan on April 22, 2001 at the Gasshuku & Shiai. At her first tournament as a Black Belt, the Isshinryu World Karate Association Championships, she placed 3rd in kata. Mrs. Gue was promoted to Ni-Dan April 2006 at the Gasshuku & Shiai. Mrs. Gue continues to train at the Coppell Dojo.

Mrs. Jeannie Rupp started her karate training in California in February, 1996 with American Karate. Her husband’s career transferred them to Dallas in October 1999. Prior to the move she had contacted Shihan Kristensen and started training with TIKK in January 2000. Mrs. Rupp recieved her Sho-Dan in March 2003. Mrs. Rupp placed 2nd in kata at the Isshinryu World Karate Championship tournament in June 2003. This was her first tournament as a new Sho-Dan. Mrs. Rupp was promoted to Ni-Dan April 2006 at the Gasshuku & Shiai. Mrs. Rupp continues to train at the Coppell Dojo.

Mr. Steve Gellman M.D., F.A.A.F.P began his training in 1993 in a Junior class with his children, then 3-1/2 and 4-1/2 years old. He is a physician at the Coppell Family Medical Center in Coppell, Texas. His wife, Robbie, and children, Rosie and Russell, were all students at TIKK. As a brown belt, Mr. Gellman earned 2nd place at 2001 Isshinryu Karate World Association tournament in Indianapolis. Mr. Gellman was awarded his Sho-Dan at the 2003 Gasshuku on March 30, 2003 and his Ni-Dan April 15, 2007 at the Gasshuku & Shiai. He continues to train at the Coppell Dojo.

Mr. Clement Caracciolo started training with Shihan Dale Jenkins’ Jersey Judo Karate Kai on October 22, 1979. Despite having to discontinue training due major knee surgery, he returned to train with Sensei’s Joe Sianni and Marvin Carmona and was promoted to Sho-Dan on June 28, 1987. After relocating to Texas in 1989, he briefly studied Kosho-Ryu Kenpo with Sensei Jack Smith before global work assignments forced him to abandon formal training. He returned to Isshinryu karate training in March of 2007 at the Flower Mound dojo under Renshi Kristensen. Mr. Caracciolo’s son and two grand daughters study Isshinryu Karate at Keoshi Carmona’s New Jersey Martial Arts Academy.

Mr. Mike Cohen began his training as a white belt in December 2000. In April of 2005 he was honored as the most outstanding karate ka at the Gasshuku. Two months later at the IWKA World Championships in Akron, OH, Mr. Cohen won first place in kumite and first place in kata. Mr. Cohen earned the rank of Sho-Dan on December 10th, 2005.

Mr. Kent Kirkpatrick started training as a white belt in February 2001 at the Plano dojo. In April 2003, shortly after earning the rank of purple belt, he also began training at the Coppell dojo. Later that same year he was named Texas Isshinryu Karate Kai “2003 Student of the Year.” In June 2005, Mr. Kirkpatrick won first place in kumite at the Isshinryu World Championships in Akron, Ohio. He earned the rank of Shodan on December 2, 2006, and on the same day received Texas Isshinryu Karate Kai “2006 Student of the Year.” He currently trains full time at the Coppell dojo, assists with instruction at the Plano dojo, and is head instructor at the Wylie dojo.

Mr. Kyle Murray started his training at TIKK in September 1997 as a seven-year-old white belt in the junior class. At the 2003 IWKA World Championships in Dallas he won 3rd place in kata. In April 2006 he was honored as the most outstanding karate ka at the Gasshuku. He became the first teenager to earn a Sho-Dan in TIKK history on April 15, 2007. He continues to train at the Coppell Dojo.

Mr. Michael Strickland began his karate training in 1985 in Tae Kwon Do. After a year of training he began searching for a traditional karate school which led to his introduction into Isshinryu in 1993 under the Christian Karate of America. In 1995 Mr. Strickland began training with TIKK after his previous school was absolved. After a layoff of nine years he resumed his training in 2005. Mr. Strickland earned his Sho-dan at the Gasshuku on April 13, 2008.

Mr. Mike Harper started his training in the Dallas area as a white belt in Isshinryu karate in November, 1999. He joined TIKK in September, 2004 as a san-kyu on the recommendation of his teacher to learn from Kyoshi Kristensen. In the Isshinryu World Karate Championship tournament in 2003, he won 3rd place in kumite, in 2005 won 2nd place in kumite and in 2007 won 1st place in kumite and 2nd place in kata. He has also placed in the top three in kumite in several North Texas tournaments as well as tournaments in Louisiana. Mr. Harper earned his Sho-Dan April 13, 2008 under Kyoshi Kristensen and continues his training in the Plano dojo.

Mr. Mark Hendrix Mr. Mark Hendrix started training as a white belt in August 2001 at the TIKK Plano dojo. He earned his Sho-Dan April 13, 2008 at the Gasshuku and continues to train at the Plano dojo. In June 2003, Mr. Hendrix placed first in kata at the Isshinryu World Karate Championship tournament. Mr. Hendrix is an engineering manager in the telecommunication industry and lives in Richardson with his wife Peggy and two sons Chris and Tim.

Mrs. Laura Murray started her martial arts training at TIKK in April 2002 after watching her three boys train at TIKK for nearly five years prior to that. She won first place in kata and second place in kumite at the 2003 Isshinryu World Karate Association World Championships in Dallas as a yellow belt. She also took second place in kata as a purple belt at the 2005 IWKA World Championships in Akron, Ohio. As an Ik Kyu, she won first place in kata and third place in kumite at the 2007 IWKA World Championships in Princeton, New Jersey. She was named outstanding karate-ka at the 2006 Gasshuku and also was named 2004 Senior Karate-ka of the Year. She earned her Sho Dan on April 13, 2008 along with Mr. Strickland, Mr. Harper, Mr. Hendrix, Mr. Gibbs and Mrs. Myers. She handles publicity for TIKK and is an editor of TIKK News. She continues to train at the Coppell dojo with her three teen-age sons.

Mr. Glenn Gibbs began his karate training in high school at a Shotokan dojo in Waco, TX. After a nearly 20 year break he began training at TIKK in April 2002 at the Coppell dojo. At the 2007 IWKA World Championship Tournament he placed 1st in kata and 2nd in kumite. Mr. Gibbs earned his Sho-Dan in April, 2008. He continues to train at the Coppell dojo.

Mrs. Margaret Myers began her training as a white belt at TIKK on May 28, 2002. She trained at the Coppell dojo and competed at the IWKA World Championships in 2003, 2005, and 2007, taking 1st in kata in her respective divisions all three years, as well as 2nd in kumite in 2005. Mrs. Myers received her Sho-Dan on April 13, 2008 at the Gasshuku and Shiai. This was the first time 6 people were tested at one time. She was also voted Most Outstanding Female Karateka of the Gasshuku 2008. She continues to train at the Coppell dojo.