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.

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. He continues to train in Greensboro, NC where he has started two new dojo locations. Check out the website here.

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.

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Mr. Tyler Murray received his Sho-Dan rank on August 23, 2008. He continues to train at the Coppell dojo. (more info coming soon)

Mr. Greg Midkiff started training at the Denton dojo in October 2002 in Sensei Tina Palos¹s self defense class just prior to her testing for Black Belt. Mr. Midkiff achieved Sho-Dan on August 23, 2008 after training in the Denton dojo for almost 6 years with Sensei Tony Palos and Sensei Tina Palos. Mr. Midkiff is the first person to go from white belt to Sho-Dan at the Denton dojo. Although he has moved 300 miles south, Mr. Midkiff continues training on his own, as well as meeting with his Senseis and with Kyoshi Kristensen once a month in Denton and Coppell. Mr. Midkiff placed first in kata at the 2003 and 2005 IWKA World Champonships. In 2008 Mr. Midkiff was also awarded Spirit of Isshinryu and Most Outstanding Male Karateka at the Spring Gasshuku. He was also nominated for Spirit of Isshinryu at the 2008 Isshinryu Hall of Fame in Tennessee.

Mrs. Jennifer Wiederkehr started training in Goju-Ryu before moving to Texas and beginning her training in Isshinryu March 2003 after the delivery of her first set of twins. She has continued to train in Coppell and Flower Mound with only brief interruptions to deliver three more children. At the IWKA World Championships in 2003, she took 2nd in kumite and in 2006 she took 1st in kumite at the Texas State Championships. At the 2007 Gasshuku she was voted Most Outstanding Karateka. Later that year she was honored as Senior Karateka of the Year. In 2008, she shared the honor of Karateka of the Year with Tracey Dickey. She earned the rank of Sho-Dan March 29, 2009.

Mrs. Tracy Dickey started her martial arts training at TIKK June 3, 2003 at the Plano dojo. She earned her Sho-Dan on March 29, 2009. At the Isshinryu World Karate Association Championships she placed first in kata and third in kumite in 2005 and third in kata and second in kumite in 2007. At the 2006 Gasshuku she was awarded Outstanding Karateka Female Student with Laura Murray. She was also named Outstanding Karateka of the Year in 2008 with Jennifer Wiederkehr. Mrs. Dickey continues to train in Plano and Coppell with her husband and two sons.

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Mr. Dennis Przybyla started studying Martial Arts at the YMCA in January under Sensei Chuck Maynard. He trained for three years and earned the rank of san-kyu under Sensei Maynard before taking a three year break from the martial arts due to work and family obligations. In January 2007, he once again began training under Sensei Maynard at the Boys & Girls Club of the Truckee Meadows.. In August 2007 he recieved the rank of ni-kyu from Sensei Maynard at the Summer Shiai. After the announcement of Sensei Maynard’s retirement from teaching, he took on the challenge of taking over teaching classes at the Boys & Girls Club. Mr. Przybyla recieved the rank of Sho-Dan from Kyoshi Robert Kristensen on March 29, 2009 at the 2009 Gasshuku/Sprin Shiai. Mr. Przybyla is currently the head instructor for the Nevada Isshinryu Karate Kai. He continues his growth by training with Kyoshi Kristensen when he can and regularly competes in tournamaments.