InstructorsSensei Miyazaki Sensei Miyazaki, who was born in Tokyo, Japan, began his karate training at the age of 15 under Master Tomasaburo Okano at the Kenkojyuku Dojo. He trained in Shotokan Karate in Japan until his mid twenties before coming to the United States. Upon arriving in the United States he quickly achieved fame as one of the fiercest karate competitors in both Kata and Kumite. His skills brought him to be on the cover of Black Belt Magazine, Karate Illustrated, and Official Karate. In addition to being on the cover of these magazines he has been featured in these magazines in articles times over. In addition to being a great Karateka, Sensei Miyazaki
is most importantly a wonderful teacher. Having been established in Flushing
over 30 years, Sensei Miyazaki has taught thousands of students and has
produced hundreds of black belts, some of whom have become Instructors
at their own Karate Dojos. Sensei Miyazaki is also a former instructor of the Long Island University Karate Instructor's Certification program. He is currently Head of the International Shotokai Federation.
Sensei Ramos Sensei Ramos, who has been a member of The U.S. Shotokai for 15 years, began practicing Martial Arts at the age of Seven. He has trained with top Miyazaki Shotokan instructors, including Sensei Toyotaro Miyazaki and Sensei Kai Leung. He has also trained with and competed against some of the top athletes and coaches in the world. His tournament wins include many state and regional titles to complement several top five finishes at National Championships in Kata, Kumite and Kobudo. Among his highest achievements are 2001 NKF National Champion in Open Kata, and 2000 Las Vegas International Kumite Champion. These achievements have made him one of only a few competitors to achieve notable success in Kata, Kumite, and Kobudo. In addition to being a well rounded Karateka, Sensei Ramos' other accomplishments include a BS in Exercise Physiology from Long Island University, as well as being a Certified Personal Trainer by the National Strength and Conditioning Association and a Certified Karate Instructor by the International Karate Federation and L.I.U.
Sensei Loria Sensei Loria has been a member of the U.S. Shotokai for 12 years and will continue to be dedicated for many years to come. Throughout his career, he has studied and trained under many senseis. In addition to training with Sensei Miyazaki, he has trained with others instructors such as Sensei Trance, Sensei Kito, Sensei Campos and Sensei Ramos. While training, he has also competed in several tournaments and has placed in many of them. He is now an official judge and referee in the Annual Miyazaki Invitational. Along with instructing, he is also studying and training judo under the guidance of Sempai Dreifuss. In addition to his dedication to karate, he also serves the 109th Precinct Police Department in the Explorer Program where he helps out his community. He is also licensed by the Federal Aviation Administration. He is currently furthering his education enrolled at Queens College where he plans to complete his B.S. in Psychology.
Sensei Rubio Sensei Rubio, a member of The U.S. Shotokai, started training under Sensei Toyotaro Miyazaki at the age of 9. In 1998, he started training with Team U.S. Shotokai. The team exposed him to the tournament realm, leading him to compete in numerous local and state tournaments, eventually leading him to compete at the National level, placing in each one he has attended. Along with being a dedicated Karateka, Sensei Rubio plans to finish his last two years of college and complete his B.S. in Computer Science.
Sempai Dreifuss Mr. Dreifuss began his path in the martial arts under Sensei Miyazaki at the age of six. As a victim of school bullying, he came to the arts first and foremost to defend himself against the violent overtures of his peers. However his passion for martial arts would expand to encompass much more than this, and become a life long journey to which he is still dedicated. As a child, Mr. Dreifuss also suffered from a serious case of asthma, which at the time, inhibited him physically, and prevented him from playing traditional sports. Originally, he began his karate training at the urging of a doctor, in the hopes that it could strengthen his physique, and give him more confidence to deal with his school troubles. He joined the Dojo at a time when children were much less common, but was able to progress under Sensei Miyazaki's gentle but firm tutelage. Under Sensei's guidance, Mr. Dreifuss grew into a strong and able teenager, and into an avid Karateka. At the age of fourteen he was inspired by an elder student who traveled to Japan to train, and decided that he too would go to Asia. After graduating New York University with a double major in East Asian Studies and International Affairs, Mr. Dreifuss embarked upon his Asian adventure. Landing in Tokyo he began training in karate, but soon found himself captivated by Japan's national sport, Judo. He joined the Kodokan, Japan's premier Judo dojo, once again putting on the white belt, and began the study of this new art. In the midst of his studies at the Kodokan, Mr. Dreifuss came into contact with Prof. Kanae Hirata, an expert in Judo newaza. (a unique form of ground wrestling, which includes chokes and joint manipulations). At first skeptical of the effectiveness of ground fighting, he later became a strong adherent in the face of incontrovertible evidence of its lethality. Mr. Dreifuss also cross-trained with modern style mixed martial artists from the Japanese fighting organization known as Shooto, and competed very successfully in a number of amateur competitions there. Due to personal circumstances, Mr. Dreifuss was forced to return to America, but now continues to cross train here in New York, and teaches Judo ground technique at the Miyazaki Dojo. |