In 1969, Dr. Clarke began also studying Kobayashi Shorin-ryu under Robert Herten, a student of Master Nakazato Shugoro, who had recently returned from a tour with the US Air Force on Okinawa. He received his first degree black belt in Shorin-ryu in 1970 and was awarded an instructor's certificate by the Beikoku Karate Renmei in 1971. He graduated from Fairleigh Dickinson University in 1971 with a degree in international studies.

In September 1971, Dr. Clarke entered active duty in the US Air Force. He was stationed in Ohio and on Guam. In 1972, he visited Okinawa, where he trained with Master Nakazato and visited a number of other top karate schools. Upon his return, he joined the American Shorin-ryu Karate Association and the Okinawan Karate Federation. He was promoted to third degree black belt in karate in 1974 and third degree in weaponry by Master Glenn Premru later the same year. In 1975, Dr. Clarke was awarded a fourth degree in karate. He was discharged from the Air Force in 1975 and began attending graduate school at the Ohio State University, where he received an M.A. in 1979, and a Ph.D. in 1980, both in political science.

From 1973 to 1977, Dr. Clarke trained under Dr. Kotaka Sadao, fifth degree black belt in Nihon Kendo (Japanese fencing) and Kogen Ittoryu Iaido (the art of drawing and cutting with the Japanese sword). He was awarded black belt ranking in both arts by the American Kendo Federation in 1976.

On January 1, 1980, Dr. Clarke was awarded promotion to fifth degree black belt in karate and fourth degree in weaponry. He received his sixth degree in 1983, seventh degree in 1990, and eighth degree in February 2000. Dr. Clarke was also promoted to fifth degree in weaponry in 1985 and sixth degree in 1990. From 1980-2004, he was vice president, member of the executive board, and chief instructor of the American Shorin-ryu Karate Association. In early 2005, Dr. Clarke helped found the Shorin-ryu Karatedo and Kobudo Association of America (SKKAA) and serves as its Chairman of the Board, President, and Chief Instructor.

Since 1980, Dr. Clarke has worked in Washington, DC, and lived in the Maryland suburbs. From 1980-1984, he worked at the US-China Business Council. Since 1984, he has been a senior China analyst in the US State Department's Bureau of Intelligence and Research. He has visited China eight times, where he pursued research into T'ai Chi Ch'uan (Taijiquan) and other Chinese martial arts. He and his wife, Meredith, have two children: Jennifer Mohler, a sandan, and Colin.

In addition to a number of books and articles on China, Dr. Clarke has written or edited nearly two dozen books on the martial arts and edits the SKKAA's "Beisho Bulletin." Among his publications are Samurai, Scoundrels, and Saints: Stories from the Martial Arts (1997), Warriors and Wisemen: More Stories from the Martial Arts (1998), Monks, Madmen, and Martial Masters (2004), Honorary Samurai (2003), I Remember When (2004), I Remember II (2004), Nyumonsha: A Handbook for SKKAA Students from Beginner to Purple Belt (2000), Seito: A Handbook for SKKAA Students from Gokyu to Ikkyu (2001), Sensei: A Handbook for SKKAA Instructors and Their Students (2001), Yudansha: A Handbook for SKKAA Black Belts (2002), Kobudo: A Handbook for SKKAA Weaponry Students (2002), Little Dragons and Tigers: A Handbook for SKKAA Youth Students, Their Instructors, and Parents (2001), Fledgling Sparrows: An Activity Book for Young SKKAA Students (2004), and Chasing Dragonflies: An Activity Book for Young SKKAA Students (2004),

Dr. Clarke is a member of the Calvert County Heritage Committee and has served as a judge at various local, state and national History Day competitions. He is a member of the steering committee for the Patuxent River Institute of Teaching and a past member of the Calvert County Heritage Committee.

Shihan Jim True was born in Boston, Ma. in 1958, and raised in Waltham, Ma. He attended Bentley College and received his B.A. in Education and Behavioral Sciences in 1980. Currently he holds a seventh degree black belt in Shorin-ryu karate, a fifth degree Black Belt in Okinawan kobudo, and certification as an SKKAA Senior Instructor. He began his training in 1975 at the Waltham YMCA under the instruction of Thomas A. Wirtanen, a student of Paul Keller. Shihan True is also a Shodan in Small Circle Jujitsu having trained with nationally known instructor, Dave Castoldi, 7th degree black belt, and has trained since the mid-1990s in Shorinji-ryu karate and weaponry with Sensei Brian Ricci, a senior student of Master Richard Kim. Mr. True has also trained with Hanshi Kim. Mr. True has also studied Iaido (the Japanese art of drawing and cutting with the sword) and T'ai Chi Ch'uan (Taijiquan).

Shihan True began teaching martial arts part-time for the Waltham YMCA in 1979. In the spring of 1980 he opened the Shorin-ryu Karate Academy in a small garage, teaching on a part-time basis with about twenty students. Today the Academy has grown to over three hundred active students, with off-site programs at numerous public and private schools. Among these are the Waltham YMCA, Bentley College and the New Jewish High School of Waltham.

Shihan True has helped to develop youth programs such as the "Bully Buster," "Stranger Danger," and "Women Aware" an adult women's self-defense program. In 2000, Shihan True formed Safety Skills Development Group, a company that teaches safety awareness and character development programs for youths, adults, schools, and businesses in the greater Boston area. Thirty years of training and teaching have built his commitment to providing educational martial arts and safety-awareness programs for the SKKAA and community to continue to grow in a positive direction.

Mr. True is Vice President and Vice Chairman of the Board of the SKKAA, a member of its Executive Committee, and the SKKAA's Assistant Chief Instructor.

Mr. True is a contributor to Sensei: A Handbook for SKKAA Instructors and Their Students (2001) and I Remember When (2004) and is co-author of Little Dragons and Tigers: A Handbook for SKKAA Youth Students, Their Instructors, and Parents (2002).

Shihan Jayne Butram was born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1954 and graduated from Maple Heights High School in 1972. She studied German in Salzburg, Austria from 1972-1973 in an exchange program sponsored by Slippery Rock College in Pennsylvania. From 1974-1994, Ms Butram worked as an accountant. Aside from the martial arts, her interests include calligraphy, gardening, Celtic music, crocheting, target shooting, reading and travel. She has studied Japanese since 1997.

Shihan Butram began training in Isshin-ryu karate in August 1974 and received her first degree black belt under Sensei Harry Acklin in 1976. She began training in Shorin- ryu in 1975, receiving a sixth degree black belt in karate in 2005 and a fourth degree black belt in Okinawan weaponry in 1997. She was named as one of two dai sempai (or "senior elders" and assistants to the directors) in 1999. She is certified by the SKKAA as a Senior Instructor. She has also trained extensively in T'ai Chi Ch'uan (Taijiquan).

Ms Butram, a member of the Chesterland, Ohio Chamber of Commerce, has taught karate at the Fairmont Fine Arts since 1976 and opened her own school, the Okinawan Karate Center, in Chesterland, Ohio in 1993. She gives frequent seminars in women's self-defense and teaches on-site corporate safety and personal protection programs.

Ms Butram has a special interest in children's programs and teaches courses at local elementary schools on dealing with bullies, strangers, peer pressure and anger management. The children in her classes are strongly encouraged to perform at least one community service project each year, and her school usually adopts a needy family at Christmas. Ms Butram several times has chaperoned trips to Japan for the Hawken School, as part of and exchange program with Haibara Middle School in Haibara, Japan.

Ms Butram received the rank of Rokudan, 6th degree black belt, in February 2005. She is a Vice Chair and Vice President of the SKKAA and its Assistant Chief Instructor.

Ms Butram is a student of Japanese language and both Western and Japanese calligraphy. She is a contributor to Sensei: A Handbook for SKKAA Instructors and Their Students (2001), Little Dragons and Tigers: A Handbook for SKKAA Youth Students, Their Instructors, and Parents (2002), and I Remember When (2004).

Shihan-dai Michael Pepe was born in 1956 and grew up in Watertown, Massachusetts. He began karate training under the direction of Thomas A. Wirtanen in 1976 and received his black belt in 1981 under Sensei James A. True. At the 1991 Winter Budo Camp, Mr. Pepe received the prestigious Spirit Award, which is given to one student at each camp for their spirit and enthusiasm while in pursuit of training. In 1993, the Shorin-ryu Karate Academy honored Mr. Pepe with the "teacher of the year" award.

In 2007, Mr. Pepe was awarded the rank of sixth degree black belt. Mr. Pepe also hold the rank of fourth degree black belt in Okinawan kobudo. He has formally studied kyudo (Japanese archery) and has won tournaments in kendo (Japanese sword fighting). He studies and teaches jujitsu ground fighting, giving clinics and demonstrations around the country. In January 2002, Mr. Pepe accomplished the incredible feat of completing 101 consecutive Jiu-jitsu matches, over three hours of continuous grappling at the age of 46. In 2004, Mr. Pepe had the opportunity to spend several weeks in Brazil training with members of the famous Gracie Jiu jitsu family under the direction of Rilion Gracie. Mr. Pepe currently holds the rank of Blue Belt in Gracie Jujitsu

Mr. Pepe runs the Sessa Kai dojo in Watertown, MA, where he is also employed full- time as a firefighter. His wife, Kristen, holds the rank of third degree black belt in karate, and has studied naginata (the Japanese art of the halberd). They have a daughter, Morgan and a son, Nicholas. Mr. Pepe holds the title of Shihan Dai, or assistant to the directors of the SKKAA, and is a member of its Board of Directors. He is a contributor to Sensei: A Handbook for SKKAA Instructors and Their Students (2001) and I Remember When (2004), and is a frequent on-line commentator in his column "Warrior Ramblings."

Dai Ni Sempai Jo McCulty began karate training with the Ohio State University Karate Club in 1980. She continued to train and fill Club officer roles at Ohio State while also training at the American Karate Academy, a dojo owned and operated by Paul Keller from 1983- 1991. She married Richard McCulty in 1991 and helped him start the Seishin Karate Club, in addition to teaching at the OSU Club. From 1990-1994, Sensei McCulty taught karate and self-defense for the OSU physical education department.

In 1995, Sensei McCulty won the title of women's Grand Champion at a regional Four Seasons Open tournament. The following year, she was recognized with the "spirit award" at the Summer Budo Camp. She holds a fifth degree black belt in karate and a third degree black belt in Okinawan weaponry. She is certified as an SKKAA Head Instructor. In February 2002 was named one of two Dai Ni Sempai (or "elder" and assistant to the Directors), a position she now holds with the SKKAA. She is also a member of the SKKAA's Board of Directors.

She has been practicing T'ai Chi Ch'uan (Taijiquan) since 1983. She is a certified R.A.D. (Rape Aggression Defense) instructor, and has taught women's self-defense courses with the OSU police department. She is contributed an article on Tai Chi to Sensei: A Handbook for SKKAA Instructors and Their Students (2001) and I Remember When (2004).

Mrs. McCulty received a B.A. in journalism, with a minor in photography, and an M.A. in movement arts and somatic studies. She has been a staff photographer for OSU since 1985 and has been nationally recognized with seven awards for her work, including two silver awards in the University Photographer of the Year category (1992 and 1996). In 2000, Mrs. McCulty received Individual Artist Fellowships totaling $10,000 from the Ohio Arts Council and the Greater Columbus Arts Council. She attributes her success in photography to the diligence and discipline she learned through karate.

Dai Sempai Steven Tulimieri was born and raised in Waltham, MA. He attended Bentley College and received a B.S. in Accountancy in 1991, and an MBA from Bentley Graduate School in 1998.

He began training in Matsubayashi Shorin-Ryu in1984 under Sensei James True. After receiving his shodan in 1988, he taught karate for the Martial Arts Club at Bentley College. He was the Dai Ni Sempai of the association at that time and the Dai Sempai of the Shorin-Ryu Karate Academy, where he teaches, under Sensei James True. In February 2005, he was named Dai Sempai of the SKKAA.

Sensei Steven has experience in wrestling, submission ground fighting, kendo, and iaido. He is currently a Shodan in Small Circle Jujitsu under Professor Dave Castoldi. In 2004 he was promoted to the rank of Godan in Shorin-Ryu Karate and Yodan in Kobudo. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the SKKAA and a contributor to I Remember II (2004).

Fran Heidlage was born in Kansas City in 1949 and grew up in central Missouri. He attended the University of Missouri at Columbia, receiving a B.S. in physics in 1971 and a Ph.D. in physiology in 1978. He came to Duke University Medical Center in 1979, and has been a member of the research faculty since 1988.

Sensei Fran began his martial arts training with the Duke karate club in 1980. In the summer of 1982 he moved to the dojo of Jack and Michelle Davis, where he received his first degree black belt in 1985 and his second degree in 1986. In 1989 he was awarded the rank of first degree black belt in kobudo, the study of traditional Okinawan weapons.

During the period 1987 to 1990 Fran trained in aikido under Sensei Ned Danieley. From 1992 into 1997 he pursued his karate training under John Andrews, who had been the senior student in the Davis dojo. Fran was promoted to third degree black belt in 1993, and was awarded his fourth degree in 2002. His partner, Joan Walsh, also received her first degree black belt in the Davis dojo, and was promoted to second degree in 1995. She has also trained in t'ai chi ch'aun since 1993. Fran and Joan teach in their home dojo in Durham, North Carolina.







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Lance Morgan was born 1953 in Fallbrook, California and at age 13 his family moved to Oregon. He met his first karate instructor in 1971. Sensei Larry Thompson, a student of Masters Funakoshi and Nishiyama of JKA (Shotokan), provided Lance with his first exposure to traditional karate training until 1978. He graduated from Portland State University in 1975 with a B.S. in Biology and Oregon State University in 1978 with a B.S. in Animal Science. In 1980 he joined the United States Marine Corps and graduated Naval Aviator School in 1982.