Ilene J. Smoger Sensei, the director of training for the Club, who has been training since 1975, holds the rank of Shichidan, 7th dan black belt, given to her directly by Eizo Shimabukuro O'Sensei in the Shorin Ryu Karate system. O'Sensei also awarded her the rank of Sandan, 3rd dan black belt, in Toei Jujutsu. Smoger Sensei also holds the rank of Shichidan, 7th dan black belt, in Shudokan Karate, under the late Shibucho Walter Todd.

Smoger Sensei began her martial arts training in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in 1975 under Garrick Hu Sensei, the Director of Training at the Asian Martial Arts Studio.  She was also instructed there by Karl Scott III Sensei, who is currently Co-Shibucho in the U.S. Shudokan Karatedo system.  Smoger Sensei continued her training with Barbara Christensen Sensei from Ann Arbor, Michigan. Smoger Sensei was Christensen Sensei's first student.  Barbara Christensen Sensei, who holds the rank of Shichidan, 7th dan black belt by Shimabukuro O'Sensei, Yondan, 4th dan black belt, by Todd Sensei and the rank of Shodan, 1st dan black belt, in Aikido, continues to be Smoger Sensei's primary instructor.

Smoger Sensei teaches martial arts all over the country. She has instructed at Pacific Association of Women Martial Artists (PAWMA), National Women's Martial Arts Federation (NWMAF), Association of Women Martial Arts Instructor's (AWMAI) conferences (in 2007, she was co-coordinator of the AWMAI conference) and all of the Okinawan Karate Club national seminars.  She has been  honored by the World Martial Arts Hall of Fame as "The Woman of the Year in the Martial Arts".  Additionally, she received the Sensei of Merit award at the International Martial Arts Symposium in South Carolina.

Under Smoger Sensei's leadership, OKCD is one of Dallas' oldest traditional dojos and the Club has promoted over 54 black belts throughout the years.  Additionally, there are four active affiliated dojos with OKCD in the cities of Atlanta, Arlington, Lantana  and San Francisco.

Smoger Sensei is a personal injury attorney at the Smoger Law Firm and an independent real estate agent.  She can be reached at  ilene - at - okinawankarateclub.com.

Donna Mullett Sensei graduated from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst with B.A.'s in Japanese and Art.  Following graduation, Mullett Sensei moved to Japan to improve her language skills. From 1986-1989 she lived in Sapporo, Japan teaching English. She began her karate training in 1986 by joining a Wado-kai dojo. At the same time she also trained in a style that was similar to Goju Ryu. The school was called Ryukookan. Just as she left Japan she achieved the rank of Shodan in both styles. After receiving her M.A. from Yale in East Asian Studies, Mullett Sensei moved to Dallas to teach Japanese at St. Mark's School of Texas. This brought her to the Okinawan Karate Club of Dallas where she has trained and taught since 1991. After starting over as a white belt she is now a Rokudan, 6th degree black belt, in both Shorin Ryu and Shudokan and a Sandan, 3rd degree black belt, in Toei Jujutsu.  Mullett Sensei teaches the Monday night open class and coordinates youth and adult mudansha testing.

Sean Deuby Sensei has practiced and taught Okinawan Shorin Ryu karate for over 30 years. He holds the rank of Rokudan (6th degree black belt) in Shobayashi Shorin Ryu. The late Walter Todd personally conferred the rank of yondan in his Shudokan style to Deuby Sensei in 1998. He also studies under hanshi (10th dan) Seikichi Iha, Director, North American Beikoku Shido-kan Association (Shorin Ryu), whenever possible. Hanshi Iha was Deuby Sensei's original instructor in 1979 until the rank of nidan (2nd degree), which he granted in 1984.  He is co-founder of the Okinawan Karate Club of Dallas, where he has taught since its inception.  Sean currently teaches the  Tuesday night adult class.

Sean is an Enterprise Solutions Strategist with Advaiya, a small consulting firm of highly experienced IT professionals that works closely with Microsoft in a trusted advisor role. He is a MVP (Most Valuable Professional) for directory services, a distinction awarded by Microsoft to only 70 professionals in the world.  He is also a Contributing Editor for Windows IT Pro Magazine, the author of articles and a book on Microsoft's Windows Server operating systems, and speaks at conferences both nationally and internationally on the topic. He is also the primary webmaster of this site.

You can reach Sean at     sean - at - okinawankarateclub.com

A careful observer will also notice he's married to Sharon Knox Deuby.

Brian McCauley, Sempai of the dojo, joined the Okinawan Karate Club of Dallas in 1986, where he began his training in the martial arts. McCauley Sensei was awarded the rank of shodan in Shorin Ryu and Shudokan karate in 1989. Since then, he has taught the adult classes at Okinawan Karate Club of Dallas and currently teaches an intermediate class. He also gives special seminars at the club with a particular interest in teaching bunkai.  McCauley Sensei currently holds the rank of Rokudan in Shobayashi Shorin Ryu and  Shudokan karatedo.

Brian is an account executive for Anchor Industries, which is the largest manufacturer of fabric and temporary structures in the United States.

Brian can be reached at brian - at - okinawankarateclub.com.

John Mascio Sensei began studying the martial arts while an undergraduate at Kent State University in 1982. John's first style was Isshin ryu, which he studied in Ohio under Senseis Cerny and Pittak.   Relocating to Dallas, John began training at OKCD, and was overjoyed to find another school with the same supportive atmosphere and love of learning that his original school had.  He was awarded his Shodan in Shudokan by Shibucho Walter Todd and his Shodan in Shorin Ryu from Smoger Sensei in 1994. On March 24, 2001, John earned the rank of Nidan in both Shorin Ryu and Shudokan karate.  He currently holds the rank of Sandan Toei Jujutsu and yondan in Shorin Ryu Karate and Shudokan Karate.  John has also studied other martial arts styles, including Isshin Ryu, Kung Fu, Tae Kwon Doe, Jujitsu, Aikido, Aiki-jujitsu, Tai Chi, Judo, Jeet Kune Doe, and Wing Chun.  John teaches the 9AM Saturday morning adult class.

John is an IT professional and a college professor.  He attributes much of  his success in life to the discipline and training he has received in the martial arts, as well as the support of his wife and family, who encourage his studies.

He lives with his wife, Charrie, another yudansha at OKCD, and their five cats.   You can reach John at  john - at - okinawankarateclub.com

Izaddoust Sensei originally studied Shorin Ryu Kobayashi under Jerry Wroblewski Sensei, a student of Yamashita Sensei.  After moving to Dallas, he joined our dojo.  He currently holds the rank of  of Sandan (3rd degree black) in Shorin Ryu and Sandan (3rd degree black belt) in Shudokan.  

He instructs the Sunday class which emphasizes sparring.  Izaddoust Sensei is usually referred to as "Fast Al".

He graduated from Baylor University Dental School and now he is President of All Dental where he is a practicing dentist.  You can reach Al at al - at - okinawankarateclub.com.

Todd Sherry Sensei joined the Okinawan Karate Club of Dallas, along with his son Cale in 1995. Todd was exposed to karate in his teens, when he trained in Shito-Ryu Karate under Sensei Fred Givens.

He earned his Shodan in 1999 in both Shorin Ryu Karatedo and Shudokan Karatedo and is currently a Sandan.  He was given one of the last Shodan certificates under the late Shibucho Walter Todd.  Todd's son Cale is a shodan at OKCD.  Todd currently teaches the Tuesday night advanced youth class. 

Todd enjoys karate as a source of personal energy and balance in his life. Todd instructs the advanced youth karate classes where he enjoys seeing the growth of body, mind, and spirit within his students.

Todd is an aircraft maintenance technician and crew chief for Hewlett Packard Corp. He and his wife Christine live in Richardson, Texas. 

You can reach Todd at  todd - at - okinawankarateclub.com.

Michael Hartfield Sensei began his formal training in the martial arts at the age of 5. When he was 10 years old, he was the first young person at OKCD to achieve the rank of Shodan in Shorin Ryu Karatedo and Shudokan Karatedo. He is currently a Sandan in both styles. He also holds the rank of third degree black belt in American Karate, as well as second degree black belts in American Kenjiukai and Chinese Kenpo.  Michael has had the pleasure of training with Shimabukuro O'Sensei on three separate occasions and is an instructor of the OKCD youth classes.  Michael is currently in college at UT Arlington. 

The secret of Michael’s success is his dedication and commitment to daily practice.  Michael also values the positive life lessons karate provides and strives to be the best teacher and role model he can possibly be.  Michael's hobbies include playing bass and classical guitar and flying radio controlled airplanes.

Wayne Murphy Sensei was first introduced into the Martial Arts at a young age by his father John Murphy, a seventh Dan in Shorin Ryu Okinawa Karate Do, as well as a direct student of Grand Master Eizo Shimabukuro.

In 1989 Wayne became involved with an organization known as Ampgard. Within this  organization, Wayne became familiar with the principals of close quarter combat. He spent the next ten years actively practicing with many different types of melee weapons and weapon combinations through full speed one on one and multiple opponent combat using simulated weapons in an effort to understand how each weapon could be effectively applied.

In January of 1999, wanting to further his understanding of martial arts, Wayne came to the Okinawan Karate Club of Dallas to study the original Shobayashi system. Wayne became an avid student and received his Shodan in June 2001 directly from Shimabukuro O'Sensei, his Nidan in July 2003 and his Sandan in 2008. Additionally, through his association with Ilene Smoger, Sensei and the OKCD, Wayne has been fortunate to have trained with many world-renowned instructors and martial arts practitioners. He continues to study the Martial Arts and its associated principles.  

Wayne teaches the youth and adult classes on Wednesday nights.  He is also the head instructor of a new club called Okinawan Karate Club of Lantana.

Greg Chesley Sensei began his training with OKCD in January of 1999. His first induction into the martial arts began in the late 1980’s studying Goshin Jitsu in Erie, PA.  He holds the rank of Sandan in Shorin Ryu Karate, Shudokan Karate and a Sandan in Toei Jujutsu.

He attributes any of his success to his valued Sensei at OKCD and special thanks to:

Deuby Sensei: For being there in the beginning and showing me a path to walk;

Mullett Sensei: For the support and encouragement to never give up;

Smoger Sensei: For letting me know that “family" can mean more than just a genetic relationship.   

Greg is also referred to as "juice man" by the younger members of our dojo because he buys them their juice.  Additionally, he has organized with Mullett Sensei the production of the new OKCD rank certificates.  Greg teaches the adult Jujutsu class and assists in teaching the children and the other adult classes at OKCD. 

Greg graduated from Mercyhurst College in Erie, PA with a B.A. double major of Finance and Marketing and a minor in Business Administration.  In 1996 he relocated to Dallas and began his career in the healthcare field as a staff accountant. He currently works for Texas Cardiac Associates as the Chief Executive Officer.

Greg can be reached at  greg - at - okinawankarateclub.com.

Marcus Guthery Sensei joined the OKCD in August 2002. He began martial arts training at the age of 6 and continued throughout high school. Marcus was awarded the rank of Shodan in Shito Ryu karate in 1994, under Sensei Robert Zepecki 5th Dan. He has had the honor to train under Ricky Adams, 6th Dan Seito Shito Ryu and the late Richard Ballargeon, 8th Dan Shito Ryu. After an extended layoff from karate while attending college, he felt the desire to resume his martial arts training and came to the OKCD.  In 2005, Marcus earned his Shodan in Shorin Ryu and Shudokan Karatedo.and his Nidan in 2009.

Marcus characterizes his time at OKCD as most fulfilling.  He believes that his success in training at OKCD is centered on the wealth of knowledge possessed by the OKCD instructors and their desire to share that knowledge.  Marcus believes that Karate is not only a supplement to one’s daily life, but is a blueprint for how daily life should be approached.  He attributes all personal success to hard work, focus, determination, and the pursuit of perfection.  Marcus instructs the Monday night adult classes.

Marcus was born in northeast Arkansas and lived there until going to the University of Missouri.  Marcus moved to the Dallas area in 2001 when he began working as a financial analyst for Arbor Commercial Mortgage, LLC. He currently works in the same industry for Amerisphere Multifamily Finance, LLC. Ariel Guthery, Marcus’s wife, has also been training at OKCD since late 2002.   She is currently a Brown Belt and fully supports her husband’s Karate training.

You can reach Marcus at  marcus - at - okinawankarateclub.com.

Ryan Stone Sensei started his Karate training in August of 1996 at the age of five. He attended St. Mark Catholic School of Plano and Jesuit College Preparatory.  Ryan received his Shodan in July of 2003 and his Nidan in 2009.  Ryan assists in teaching the Saturday and Tuesday youth classes.

Ryan will be attending Austin College in Sherman focusing on pre-med studies. Ryan is currently doing research at Medical City as a Medical Assistant. 

Ryan has an older sister, Ashley, a student at the University of Southern California, and a younger brother, Dylan, who attends Jesuit College Preparatory.  Dylan is following in Ryan’s footsteps in Karate as a student at the dojo. 

Ryan has learned self-discipline, steady work habits, and the value of hard work as a direct result of his participation in Karate.  He is teaching at the dojo to help others learn these traits. 

You can reach Ryan at ryan - at - okinawankarateclub.com.

Constance An Sensei joined OKCD in January 2001. Prior to joining, she worked part time for 5 years as a Personal Trainer and Spin Instructor for the YMCA and a private gym. She had always wanted to do martial arts since elementary school but was not allowed. Throughout her youth, any martial arts was forbidden so she secretly checked out Karate books at her school library. As a New Years resolution she enrolled at OKCD and learned that no karate book can compare to having actual OKCD instructors show you the way. Satisfying a long yearning for martial arts, she has found her home here at the OKCD. Constance received her Shodan in Shorin Ryu and Shudokan Karatedo in March, 2005 and her Nidan in 2009.  Having a mechanical engineering and fitness background, Constance enjoys breaking down karate into basic physics for powerfully efficient movements.  Constance teaches the Monday night adult classes and assists with the youth classes.

Constance works at a global telecommunications company.  When she is not practicing karate, she enjoys spending time with her family, weight lifting and running.

You can reach Constance at  constance - at - okinawankarateclub.com.

Charrie Mascio Sensei, after taking a Karate Aerobics class for a couple of months, finally decided to join OKCD in May 2001.  Growing up in a Philippine community with a large number of Chinese, she became fascinated with the martial arts.  During her anesthesiology residency, she was recruited to move to the U.S. as a physical therapist, and eventually met her husband, John, who exposed her to Judo and Okinawan Karate.  In 2006, Charrie earned her Shodan and in 2010 she earned her Nidan in both Shorin Ryu and Shudokan Karatedo.

Since becoming a brown belt, she has developed an interest in weapons, with the bo being her favorite, especially bo kumite.  She wants to expand on her knowledge of the bo, as well as some other weapons not practiced currently at OKCD.  Charrie also has some background in Judo.  Charrie teaches the 9AM Saturday morning adult class and the Sunday Yoga class.

Her other interests include exercising, especially Pilates and yoga; languages; old TV series and reading.  She attributes much of her power to the core strength that Pilates develops.

Charrie is a physical therapist and works in various facilities around the D/FW metroplex.  She is also a registered massage therapist.

Charrie is married to John, who is also a black belt at OKCD; and lives with him and their five cats in a north Dallas suburb.

Michael Longfellow Sensei joined the Okinawan Karate Club of Dallas in April, 2003. He began martial arts training in 1989 in San Diego and trained under Grandmaster Jerry Devine. He trained and assisted junior classes in Wa Shin Ryu Karate until 1994. This school focused on philosophical and cultural aspects of Japanese arts. Training included classes in Cha no ryu (tea), Shodo (calligraphy), and Ikebana (flower arranging) as well as Japanese Shotokan and Aikdo techniques. He left San Diego as a ni kyu and moved to Sherman in 1995. In 1999, he began training in Tae Kwon Do with Rick Arnold, 6th dan in Sherman, Texas and was awarded a shodan in 2001. In 2008 he earned his Shodan in both Shorin Ryu and Shudokan Karatedo in September of 2008.

Since training in Dallas he has had the opportunity to train with Eizo Shimabukuro, Patrick McCarthy, Christian Bellini, Dometrich Sensei  to name a few of the martial arts masters that Smoger Sensei has brought to train with OKCD. He appreciates the dedication of the yudansha at OKCD to the martial arts and the maintaining of kata and traditions passed on by O'Sensei Eizo Shimabukuro and the late Shibucho Walter Todd.

Michael has a BS. Ed. from Abilene Christian University and works in the Dallas area with New Horizons Computer Learning Centers as a Principal Instructor and  teaches computer graphics and Internet applications. He has been married over 30 years to his wife Marcy and they have a daughter, Chanan in Sherman, Texas.  

Frank Gannon Sensei first studied martial arts in college, at the Vanderbilt University Tae Kwan Do Club in Nashville, Tennessee. Over the next several years, he "dabbled" in various martial arts, but did not take things seriously until coming to the Okinawan Karate Club of Dallas. As Frank puts it, "Before coming to OKCD, I had a very nice collection of yellow belts."

Frank first visited OKCD during a Tuesday night class in August 2002 and was sold immediately. The combination of serious martial arts training under skilled and experienced instructors in a fun and friendly environment was exactly what he was looking for. Frank has been training at OKCD ever since.

In addition to Karate, Frank also studies Toei Jujutsu with Sensei Greg Chesley and Sensei John Mascio, and studies Arnis with Guru Bruce Jenkins. Frank also assists with the kids’ classes.

Frank received his Shodan in Shobayashi Shorin Ryu and Shudokan Karate as well as Toei Jujutsu.  He also obtained the rank of  Technical Advisor in Arnis.

Frank’s favorite aspect of the study of martial arts is the way that it blends athletics, self defense, philosophy, and the arts all into one. Frank believes that the emphasis martial arts places on courtesy, hard work, and persistence in the face of adversity is a lesson of value to anyone that is willing to listen.

Outside of the dojo, Frank enjoys golfing, weight lifting, and playing guitar.

Frank is a licensed attorney practicing law in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

You can reach Frank  at  frank - at - okinawankarateclub.com.

Sean Robinson Sensei, with his interest in the arts peaking in late December of 2002 (and based on the explicit instruction of his father), sought out a school which taught the Shorin Ryu system of karate. He soon thereafter began training with OKCD on January 2, 2003. In the absence of any significant training, he received sporadic exposure and insight throughout his childhood, adolescent and young adult years, primarily through discussions with his father; who holds the rank of Yondan in the system of Goju Ryu Shoreikan, and is the direct student of Seikichi Toguchi (who himself leaned Goju Ryu under the direct guidance of the Goju Ryu founder, Chojun Miyagi).  In January of 2008, Sean received his Shodan in Shobayshi Shorin Ryu Karate and Shudokan Karate.

Prior to martial arts, Sean’s athletic yearnings were primarily expressed in his two other passions: football (where he was voted to the All-Central Texas 1st Team as a high school senior) and track (where he competed in the Texas High School State Track & Field Championships prior to training as a member of the University of Texas Track & Field squad as a college freshman). 

He considers his affiliation with OKCD to be valuable beyond concise expression, and he considers the overflowing and selfless generosity of its members (in and out of the dojo) to be a rare and true treasure. 

Sean earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Texas at Austin McCombs School of Business (Accounting), where he also earned his Masters degree from the university’s McCombs Graduate School of Business. He currently works for Cardiology Consultants of Texas as the Chief Financial Officer.

 You can reach Sean at  seanr - at - okinawankarateclub.com.

Al Alexander Sensei had his first exposure to martial arts at the age of eight when his parents enrolled him on Kodokan Judo classes on Randolph Air Force base in San Antonio, TX.  Shortly after his first promotion, Al’s father received transfer orders which ended his training in Judo, but the interest in martial arts had been seeded.  Some years later, while in high school he was first exposed to Okinawan Karate in the studying Uechi Ryu.  Graduation, and moving off to college cut short his training at Gokyu.  It took some twenty plus years to find his way to OKCD.  He has enjoyed his training at OKCD, learning a great many things.  Among those was the day he realized that Karate training is not truly an individual endeavor, and would like to thank all of his fellow karateka for their selfless contributions to his training.

Al has always enjoyed teaching, and believes that the best way to really learn something is to teach it.  Because of that belief, he has gravitated toward teaching the things he really enjoys.  For some years he was a skydiving instructor, and is currently a certified Motorcycle Safety Foundation certified instructor, and teaches novice riders to ride on weekends.  In September of 2006 Paul Klotz Sensei invited Al to be his assistant teacher in the 7:00 Thursday class.  Al has found it very rewarding to work with the class in that capacity, and considers it an honor to be there. In January 2010 he was awarded his Shodan in Shorin Ryu and Shudokan Karate.

Al has worked in purchasing, supply chain management, and project planning for most of his adult life, and when he’s not at work, or the dojo he has a wide array of interest.  He loves riding motorcycles of any sort, is a big movie buff, enjoys archery, photography, and just about anything that involves being outdoors.

Cody Rogers

アル・アレクサンダー

Cody Rogers came to the Okinawan Karate Club in the summer of 2004 with no experience in martial arts. He wanted more exercise and thought that a "martial art" would be interesting. He wanted to learn the one that was right for him, thus, he spent a few months reading as much as he could about different martial art styles and schools before leaning heavily toward Shorin Ryu and the Okinwan Karate Club of Dallas

Over the last few years, Cody has traveled out of town with OKCD multiple times and been exposed to highly skilled martial artists from all over the world. Most importantly, he values the friendships at the Club that can only develop between people who have struck, kicked, and thrown each other.

Cody received his Shodan in Shorin Ryu Karate and Shudokan Karate as well as Toei Jujutsu in June of 2010.  He assists in the youth and adult classes.  Cody also enjoys assisting with the kid’s classes (a few of whom are much older now and skilled karateka themselves)

Cody is currently employed with Cutchall Management Company working with Tinstar Restauraunt.  When not at the dojo, he enjoys spending time with his family and friends

You can reach Cody - at - okinawankarateclub.com.

Joe Rodriguez Sensei in 1987 Joe started as a white belt under Kyoshi Robert Herten in Totowa, NJ. Kyoshi Herten was a key student of Hanshi Nakazato’s Shorin Ryu Shorinkan Association until 1990 when he changed affiliations and joined Hanshi Iha’s Shorinryu Shido-kan association. In 2002 Kyoshi Herten returned to Hanshi Nazazato’s school.   Joe currently holds the rank of Yondan that he earned while studying in Hanshi Nakazato and Iha’s associations.  

Joe has lived throughout the US and travels the world for work; as a result he has had an opportunity to train with many martial artists in different styles. However he has remained true to his Shorin Ryu roots and has a keen interest in soft blocks, body shifting, and pressure points. He briefly trained with OKCD when he lived in Texas from 1994 to 1996, and returned in 2005.  

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