James L. Guinan Sensei joined the OKCD in July 1988. After a short leave to finish law school, he started training full time with the OKCD in September 1989 and has remained with the dojo ever since. He currently holds the rank of Sandan  (3rd degree black) in Shorin Ryu and Sandan in Shudokan  and teaches the Wednesday night open class.  His favorite kata is Sanchin, followed by Kusanku Sho. His favorite weapon is the bo.  In addition to Shorin Ryu karate, Jim practices Kendo and Iaido with the Dallas/Fort Worth Kendo & Iaido Kyokai. He is also a Sandan in these styles. Before Shorin Ryu, he practiced Pun Gai Non Ryu with Nishiuchi sensei in Omaha, Nebraska, where he is ranked as yonkyu (4th degree student rank). He has a straightforward martial arts philosophy: Everyone is your teacher but yourself.

Jim is an attorney and partner with the law firm of Guinan & Guinan. He's a trial attorney whose primary area of practice is criminal defense cases. You can reach Jim at jgu364@airmail.net .

Frederic, who has been training since 23 years, holds the rank of Sandan, 3th dan black belt, given to him by Sensei JC Vitrac 6^th Dan Shito-Ryu in the European  Shito-Ryu system (also ranked in Judo, Aikido and Iai-do). Frederic also holds the rank of Nidan, 2nd dan black belt, in the all Ryu Jury official World Karate-Do Federation ranking (WKF)

He began his martial arts training in Paris, in 1978 instructed by Tade Halwcezick, 5^th Dan Shotokan Ryu and Kobudo under supervision of Taiji Kase Sensei, 9th dan black belt Japan Karate Association . Frederic prepared and obtained Shodan, 1st dan black belt, thanks to Gerard Guerrero 5th Dan Shotokan Ryu in Arles France and Sensei JP Lavorato 7^th Dan Shotokan Ryu. Frederic prepared and obtained Nidan, 2nd dan world federation black belt thanks to Sensei JC Vitrac 6^th Dan Shito-Ryu and Frederique Vitrac 4th Dan Shito-Ryu in Paris. He worked in France under supervision of Sensei Nakahashi 7^th Dan Shito-Ryu and K.Mabuni Sensei 10^th Dan, head of Shito-Ryu . Same time he was trained in Chi-Kong and Kobudo basis. Frederic got the chance to prepare  kata (technical) and kumite (fighting) competition sparring with champions such as Jacques Tapol winner of heavy category in 1986 world championship, 6th Dan Yosekan-budo and Wado-Ryu Karate-do.

Frederic is in addition on request of Sensei Vitrac, studying Kumdo (Kendo) and Iai-do in Irving with Sohyun Michelle Johnson, Black-Belt 7^th  Dan in Iaido and 6^th Dan in Kumdo, in Irving, Texas.

Frederic has joined the dojo in 2000 being here on business from France.  He teaches on Tuesday  nights and specializing in teaching precision with a focus on energy management (development and saving) for long term practice and upper efficiency.

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.

Michele Elefante began studying at OKCD in Feb.'99. Prior to that, while in Europe she studied the Lung Fa (Dragon Fist) system under Kelvin Covington Sensei for 3 1/2 years where she was the primary instructor for the children's class, as well as Wing Chun, Jui-Jitsu, under George Ordonio Sensei. She is also privileged to have trained with the late Walter Todd Sensei.

Michele cites Smoger Sensei's dedication to the arts and her students as a driving factor in obtaining her Shodan, which she was honored to have received directly from Grand Master Shimabukuro, completing a childhood dream. In 2003 she was honored to have received the rank of Nidan.

She used to teach  the youth program at OKCD where she was  very proud of the younger karateka’s spirit. It is a constant reminder that karate should be studied with enthusiasm, an open mind & heart and never in anger or arrogance.  You can reach Michele at maelefante@yahoo.com.

We are waiting for Michele to find Bay Area Okinawan Karate dojo.

David Porter Sensei started his martial arts training as a young man studying Traditional Tae Kwon Do. In the fall of 1998 he joined OKC of Dallas. In June of 2001 he received his shodan directly from Shimabukuro O’Sensei. He now holds the rank of Sandan in both Shorin Ryu Karatedo and Shudokan under the late Shibucho Walter Todd.

As Vice President of Field Services for Bank of America, David travels extensively. Currently on sabbatical from OKC of Dallas (and hopefully will return in the summer of 2011), David is working throughout the country with government officials in several major cities developing Neighborhood Stabilization Programs in areas that have been most adversely impacted by the economic downturn. Associated with this endeavor David has also developed a program providing low cost turnkey housing for disabled Veterans.

David can be reached at
david - at - okinawankarateclub.com

Sharon Knox Deuby's interest in martial arts was sparked by watching Sean Deuby (above) train and then by attending a self-defense class taught by Smoger Sensei in 1984.  She is the sole remaining student from that self-defense class (which naturally transitioned into the Okinawan Karate Club of Dallas) and is the longest practicing student at OKCD.  In 1990, she achieved the rank of  Shodan in Shorin-ryu and Shodan in Shudokan, which were awarded by Shibucho Walter Todd.   Sharon was promoted to Nidan in Shorin-ryu by O'Sensei Shimabukuro in 1993 -  perhaps the only student to achieve this while entering her ninth month of pregnancy!  Although the majority of her training has been at OKCD under Senseis Smoger and Deuby, she has been greatly and gratefully influenced by their teachers, Senseis Barbara Christensen, Walter Todd, Kirt Butler and Hanshi Seikichi Iha.  

Sharon is an active professional clarinetist who performs with the Dallas Wind Symphony (www.DWS.org),  Arlington Philharmonic, Texas Winds and Plano Chamber Winds.  She has recorded fourteen compact discs with the Dallas Wind Symphony on Reference Recordings and can be heard live with these various ensembles in concerts throughout the Metroplex.  She often notes to karate students the similarities in the hard work and discipline that are required to build and maintain your skills in both the musical and martial arts.  You can reach Sharon at
sharon - at - okinawankarateclub.com

Arrash grew up an admirer of the martial arts. As a child, he trained with  his father, who holds four black belts, learning techniques from  Kanzen-ryu, Shotokan, Taekwondo, and Judo, as well as boxing. Later, Arrash took an interest in Taekwondo, and trained privately with a Taiwanese expert. It was not until December of 1996, when Arrash joined  OKC, that he began to focus his efforts toward cultivating his martial arts training in Okinawan Shorin Ryu.  Arrash earned a 1st degree black belt in this style in May of 1999. He was awarded his Nidan in 2002.  Arrash was honored to receive this rank from Grandmaster Shimabukuro directly. 

 In addition to the training that he has received at OKC, he also  notes that he has had the honor to train under the late Master Walter  Todd, Master Iha, Shihan Nick Chamberlain, Sensei Reza Pirasteh, and  Sensei David Chen. Arrash also trains privately with Sensei Yousef in  Brazilian Jujitsu to broaden his scope. 

You can reach Arrash at "arrash99 at hotmail.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.

"Karate is like a creative and intense dance. It is a movement of energy that is beyond thought. A place in time where you can be completely present in the moment." (Eric)

Steven Ragsdale began his martial arts training at OKCD in 1999 after graduating from college and moving back to Dallas. He first learned of the Okinawan Karate Club while practicing Kendo and Iaido with Jim Guinan Sensei who is a member of both OKCD and the Dallas / Fort Worth Kendo & Iaido Kyokai. Steven has attended many martial arts seminars including one in North Carolina led by O’Sensei Shimabukuru and one by Grandmaster Kise.

Steven graduated from Texas A&M University in 1999 with a degree in Management of Information Systems. He worked as a consultant for Grant Thornton LLP (now re-named Experio Solutions) for two years before switching to his current position of ERP software developer for Aviall. Steven and his wife Cassandra live in Fort Worth with their son Jason who was born in July 2002. 

Jon Paul is a senior student at Jesuit College Preparatory (High School) in Dallas.  He is the Senior Class President.  He is member of the school's Student Council and Jesuit President's Round Table.  He was awarded 2003 and 2004 Community Service and Social Justice Award. He plays for the Jesuit Varsity Football Team and Jesuit Lacrosse Team.  He plans to go to college and major in Business Administration.  You can reach Jon Paul at
jonpaul - at - okinawankarateclub.com

Cale Sherry started Karate at the Okinawan Karate Club of Dallas when he was 6 years old. He studied under Ruben Garza Sensei, and a few months later his father Todd also joined. In January 2002, at the age of 13, Cale earned his black belt in Shorin Ryu Karatedo and Shudokan Karatedo under the instruction of  Ilene Smoger Sensei. At this time, Cale is currently unable to attend Karate regularly because of band and other extra curricular activities.

Cale attends R.L Turner High school where he plays the bassoon, is enrolled in the chess club, and is part of the class counsel. In 2002, Cale was invited to play in the all region district band. Cale likes to build models, play cards and video games.

Ronne Peterson began her martial arts training with OKCD in 1991 with the encouragement of her sister, who is a shodan in Shudokan Karate in Lewiston, Idaho. Ms. Peterson holds the rank of Shodan and is currently on a leave of absence.  Ms. Peterson works in the field of real estate, as an independent abstractor. She and her husband, Charles, buy, refurbish and sell houses in Dallas and surrounding areas.

Susan joined the OKCD in 1993. She is currently a Shodan.  She began practicing karate because she thought martial arts would be interesting. Her brother, currently a shodan, was also practicing karate in Lubbock, Texas. She continued practicing because karate is fun, interesting and good self-defense training. Ms. Bartol grew up in Lubbock and moved to Dallas to attend Southern Methodist University (SMU). She has a BBA degree in MIS and a Masters in Business Administration from SMU. She was a business systems analyst with Freddie Mac. Prior to Freddie Mac, she worked for CompUSA in the corporate information systems department. Ms. Bartol and her husband, Doug, live in Plano and have been married for several years and just had their second child.  Susan is presently on a leave of absence.  .

(Susan is showing the result of seiken against armor.)

Tammy, a native Texan, began her martial arts training with OKCD in March of 1993. She became interested in martial arts as a way to work the body, as well as engage the mind. She has found that the personal benefits have far exceeded her initial expectations. Since becoming a brown belt in September 1996, she has participated in instructing lower ranking classes. Tammy is currently a Shodan in Shorin Ryu and Shudokan.  She is presently on a leave of absence.  Tammy is a degreed accountant working with Panda Energy International, Inc. since spring 1994. She is the Financial Manager for all operational domestic projects for this independent energy company.

David Fulton (lviving in Austin)

David ( left) and Patrick

Patrick  McGehearty, Ph.D.    (in Austin)

Patrick McGehearty, Ph.D. began his OKCD martial arts training in 1994 to share an interesting     activity with his (then) teenage son Eric McGehearty.   John Mascio was his first sensei.  Classes met at the fitness center of Convex in Richardson, Texas.  After a time, John changed jobs and Patrick and Eric started attending the main OKCD dojo.  Patrick has attended several Michigan martial arts weekends, including one led by O'Sensei in 1999.  He received his Shodan March 24, 2001. 

Patrick also participates in IFGS, a live action role-playing group that uses padded weapons to simulate combat.  While role-play is not true martial arts, some of that experience transfers in a sense of the footwork and timing required for self-defense.  Interestingly, he finds that martial arts training has greatly improved his padded weapons skills as well.  Patrick has worked for Hewlett Packard (and Convex before it was bought by HP) as a performance consultant since 1987.  Patrick and his wife have one son, Eric.  Eric is a brown belt at OKCD and has started a martial arts club at the University of the Ozarks in Clarksville, Arkansas

Edi Peterson began her martial arts training at OKCD in April of 2001..  She had been looking for a fitness activity that would fulfill several criteria:  first, it had to have both strength and cardio aspects; secondly, it had to be mentally and intellectually stimulating. It also had to have practical applications and, lastly,  it had to offer some respite from daily stress.  Martial arts certainly seemed to fit, and OKCD turned out to be the perfect match for her. In March 2005, she was awarded the rank of Shodan in both Shorin Ryu and Shudokan Karatedo.

As a mental health professional, she was particularly drawn to the mental and psychological aspects of the training.  Attaining the rank of Shodan was not something she set out to do, in the beginning.  In fact, many times she wondered if she could do any of it at all. But, with the support, encouragement and guidance of all of the instructors and students at OKCD, reaching this goal has surpassed all other personal goals.

If you ask her what is her favorite part of training, asides from the people, it’s WEAPONS.
edi - at - okinawankarateclub.com

Karrie Walters began training in the martial arts in 1992.  She found her way the Okinawan Karate Club of Dallas in 1993 and spent a year and a half training there.  After going away to graduate school, Karrie continued to train off and on in Shorin-Ryu karate, earning her shodan in Mok-Ken Shorin Ryu in 1995, and in Kobayashi Shorin-Ryu in 1999.  

Blending her passions of psychology, education, and the martial arts, Karrie has kept herself busy over the years developing martial arts programs for a wide variety of special needs youth, including youth on probation and children on the autism spectrum, as well as incorporating bully-prevention and conflict education programs into martial arts curriculum.   Karrie is a member of NWMAF, AWMAI, and MAPP (www.martialartsforpeace.com), a non-profit organization promoting the concept of peaceful solutions to conflict. She is absolutely thrilled to once again be training at OKCD.

Noelle Barcenas began her martial arts training in 1994 along with her brother Jon-Paul. She trains with her brothers, Jon-Paul and Christian-Jude. She earned her black belt in Shorin Ryu Karatedo and Shudokan Karatedo last January 2002. She assisted with the youth classes.

She graduated with Magna Cum Laude honor from Ursuline Academy of Dallas (high school). At Ursuline, she was the Student Body Treasurer (2001 - 2002) and has served as her class treasurer (1999 - 2001). She was an Honor Roll Student, on the Academic Dean’s list and National Honor Society member. She was a member of the Ursuline Academy’s Varsity Swim Team for 4 years.

Noelle is currently at a university in the west coast, majoring in Biology (Pre-Med) and minor in Business.

Sachiko Matsumoto began her training at OKCD in June 2003.  Her original training started in 1985, when she was in Tottori, Japan. She was originally trained in Shotokan-style, and received her shodan in 1989.  She came to the US for college and graduate education, and it took her more than 10 years to find the right dojo. 

In addition to Karate, she also practiced Zen Archery (Kyudo) for 3 years. 

She received her Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology from the University of South Carolina, and now works at CitiGroup as a statistical modeler. 

She is very excited about being a part of OKCD and training in a new style.  She also enjoys practicing with her partner, who encourages her to further her training.

Sachiko can be reached at sachiko - at - okinawankarateclub.com

Kevin Guzman, has been studying and practicing karate at OKCD since he was 5 years old.  Kevin earned his Shodan (1st degree black belt) in two different sytles of Okinawan karate. Shorin Ryu as handed down by Grandmaster Eizo Shimabukuro, 10th dan and Shudokan as taught by the late Walter Todd, Shibhucho, 8th dan. He was the 6th student under the age of 18 to have obtain this ranking in the first 22 years that the OKCD has existed.

Kevin is the oldest of four boys (Brian, Jason and Sylvan). Brian and Jason are both students of OKCD as well. Sylvan, the youngest will begin karate as soon as he reaches 5 years of age. Kevin's parents, Jose & Sylvia Guzman are strong supporters of their sons' karate training and can often be seen in the dojo.

One of Kevin's favorite drills in karate is kicking.  You will often see him teaching kicking to the younger members of the dojo. 

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.  

You can reach Mike at mike - at - okinawankarateclub.com