Our Instructors

Shihan Frank Williams, 7th Degree Black Belt

Shihan Williams retired from active teaching in September 2004 upon his retirement from the US Marine Corps due to his service connected disabilities. He volunteers his mentoring skills on Tuesdays from 5-7 PM to assist senior brown and black belts learn the concepts of Business Mgmt, Kata and Kobudo applications and Tuite.

Personal Information

• Born: May 26, 1959
• Concord, NC

Education

• Concord High School, Concord, NC
• 1988 - Bachelors of Arts in Business & Management
• 1990 - Master of Science in Education 
• 2002 - PhD in Business Administration

Martial Arts Experience and Credentials

• Began Tae Kwon Do training in 1971 under Mr. Pak.
• Began studying Okinawa Shorin Ryu in 1982.
• Began teaching Shorin Ryu in 1991 under Grand Master Fusei Kise in Okinawa, Japan.
• Lived and trained in various martial arts in Okinawa, Japan for a total of 13 years.
• Founder of the Universal Martial Arts Association (1999).
• Member of the Board of Directors for the World Karate Union.
• Studied under Hanshi Akamine Yoshimatsu (Okinawa, Japan) in Matsumura Seito Shorin Ryu and Hanshi Seifuku Nitta Okinawa Kensei Do-Ko Kai.
• Retired United States Marine Corps Chief Warrant Officer- 4.
• Certified United States Marine Corps Close Combat Instructor and Instructor and Marine Martial Arts Black Belt Instructor.

Black Belts in:

• Menkyo Kaiden awarded 20 September 2007 - Hanshi Seifuku Nitta - Kensei Do-Ko Kai
• Kyoshi Title awarded 01 January 2007 Okinawan Shorin Ryu Karate -Hanshi Seifuku Nitta- Kensei Do-Ko Kai
• Shihan Title and Certificate awarded 17 July 2004 Matsumura Seito Shorin Ryu.
• Nanadan (7th Degree Black Belt) - Shorin Ryu Karate and Kobudo -2003
• Master Instructor Certificate (Shihan) - Shorin Ryu May 2003
• Godan (5th Degree Black Belt) - Tuite Jutsu .
• Shodan (1st Degree Black Belt) - Motobu-Ha Shito Ryu Karate Kobudo-1996  from Shihan Butch Velez
• Shodan (1st degree Black Belt) - Matsukaze Ryu Jujitsu -1996 from Cardo Urso and Shian Toma

Renshi Latasha Young, 5th Degree Black Belt

Senior Instructor for Family Karate Center, Inc.

Personal Info: Born 2 June 1978, Beaufort, SC

Education

• 1996 Kubasaki High School, Okinawa, Japan
• 2009-Associate of Science: Electronic Servicing Technology, Coastal Carolina Community College
• 2009-Associate of Science: Information Technology, Colorado Technical University

Martial Arts Experience and Credentials

• Began training under Grand Master Fusei Kise in in Okinawa, Japan in 1993.
• Continued training under Shihan Frank Williams in 1996 at Camp Lejeune, NC.
  - Instructor Appreciation Award 2002
  - Instructor of the Year 2002
  - Best Female Competitor 2002
• Outstanding Tournament Competitor 1997-2003
  - NC Nationals -Grand Champion 1997
  - Halloween Classic -Grand Champions 2001
  - East Carolina Kenpo Championships, -1st place Kata and Fighting
  - Halloween Classic -Grand Champion 2002
  - North Carolina Nationals -Grand Champion 2003
  - 26th Annual Durham Karate Karate Open -Grand Champion 2003
  - Southeast National Karate Championships -1st Place Kata, 1st Place Fighting
  - Valentine Classic -Grand Champion 2003
• Inducted into the Universal Martial Arts Association (UMAA) Hall of FAME - Award of Courage 2009
• Currently Assisting wih instruction at Tarawa Terrace Community Center, CLNC and Family Karate Center in Havelock, NC.

Black Belts in:

• Renshi License Awarded by Seifuku Nitta, Hanshi Sept. 2009
• Godan (5th Degree Balck Belt) awarded Sept. 2009- Seifuku NItta, Hanshi
• Sandan  (3rd Degree Black Belt) - Shorin Ryu Karate & Kobudo - February 2003- Larry Isaac & Frank Williams
• Nidan  (2nd Degree Black Belt) - Shorin Ryu Karate & Kobudo - July 1997 - Fusei Kise & Frank Williams
• Shodan (1st Degree Black Belt) - Shorin Ryu Karate& Kobudo - June 1996 - Master Fusei Kise

Sempai Ryuji Williams, 4th Degree Black Belt

Chief Instructor Family Karate Center of Camp Lejeune

Education

• Swansboro High School, Swansboro, North Carolina
• Coastal Carolina Community College

Martial Arts Experience and Credentials

• I began Shorin Ryu training under Grand Master Fusei Kise in Okinawa at the age of 4 years old.
• I was awarded my Jr. Shodan in Shorin Ryu Kenshinkan by Grand Master Kise (1st Degree Black Belt) in 1999.
• I was awarded my Adult Shodan in Shorin Ryu by Shihan Frank Williams, Shihan Larry Isaac, and Shihan Gary Alexander in July 2002.
• I was awarded my 1st Kyu Brown Belt in Matsukaze Ryu Jujitsu by Renshi Cardo Urso in 1997.
• I was inducted into the World Karate Union Hall of Fame as Male Regional Competitor of the Year in 2002.
• 2003 Fighter of the Year
• Promoted to Sandan by Shihan Williams and certified in Okinawa by Hanshi Seifuku Nitta.

Sempai Kevin Bonner, 3rd Degree Black Belt

Personal Info: Born  21 Sept 1960 in Chicago, Il.

Education:

• University of  Maryland: Graduated 1995 Bachelor of Science in Paralegal Studies.

Martial Arts:

• Began studying Shorin Ryu Karate under Shihan Frank Williams in 2002.
• 2005 North Carolina State Champion (Kata & Weapons) -Gold Medal.
• 2005 AMAA National Grand Champion (Kata, Weapons, Fighting)
• 2005  AMAA Hall of Fame Inductee for Competitor of the Year.
• Retired United States Marine Corps CW02.
• Currently serving as the Full-time Family Karate Center, School Manager and  Chief Instructor.
• Volunteer Mentor/Instructor for the Presidential Classroom.
• Substitute Teacher for Craven County Schools.
• Employed as the FKC After School Program Manager.
• Serve as the Senior Member of the Kaicho Cabinet for the Universal Martial Arts Association.
• Inducted into the Universal Martial Arts association (UMAA) Hall of Fame - Instructor of the Year 2009

• Sandan (3rd Degree Black Belt) Shorin Ryu Karate - April 2010
• Nidan ( 2d Degree Black Belt) -Shorin Ryu Karate - December 2007
• Shodan(1st Degree Black Belt) Kobudo - December 2007
• Shodan (1st Degree Black Belt) -Shorin Ryu Karate - December 2006
• 7th Kyu Tuite

Sempai Patricia Webster, 2nd Degree Black Belt

Education

• Bachelors in Nursing, Duke University 1969
• Masters in Psychiatric Nursing, University of North Carolina, 1976
• Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, Union Institute, 1992

Martial Arts Experience and Credentials

• Began studying under Grand Master Jesse Bowen and Karate International in Durham, NC in 1995.
• Oldest woman to be awarded a Black Belt from Grand Master Bowen.
• American Martial Arts Association Female Black Belt of the Year 2003.
• Currently studying Shorin Ryu Karate under Shihan Frank Williams.
• Inducted into the UMAA Hall of Fame- Leadership Award 2009
• I am currently an Assistant Instructor for the Family Karate Center in Havelock, under Shihan Frank Williams.

Black Belts in:

• Shodan (1st Degree Black Belt) - Shorin Ryu - December 2008
• Shodan (1st Degree Black Belt) - American Karate (AMAA) 2000
• Green Belt - Shorin Ryu Karate

Sempai Debbie Collins, 2nd Degree Black Belt

Personal Information

• Born: 2 August 1972

Education

• High School, 1990

Martial Arts Experience and Credentials

• I began training in Shorin Ryu under Shihan Frank Williams in 2004.
• Assistant Instructor at the Family Karate Center.
• Inducted into the UMAA Hall of Fame - Regional Instructor of the Year 2009.
• Chief Instructor for the Basic Course Mon-Wed nights.

Black Belts in:

• Nidan (2nd Degree Black Belt( - Shorin Ryu - June 2009
• Shodan (1st Degree Black Belt)- Shorin Ryu  - Feb 2008

Sempai Hubert Middleton, 1st Degree Black Belt

Personal Information

• Born  24 March 1980

Education/Employment

Martial Arts Experience and Credentials

• Began studying Shorin Ryu Karate under Shihan Frank Williams in May 2004.
• Assistant Instructor at the Havelock Family Karate Center in our Basic Course from 2009 -2010.
• Currently serving as the Instructor for the Basic Course.
• Inducted into the 2009 UMAA Hall of Fame as "Assistant Instructor of the Year".
• 2010 Men's Grand Champion in Weapons, Beach Blast Open Virgina Beach, VA.

Black Belts in:

• Shodan  (1st Degree Black Belt) – Shorin Ryu Karate April 2010

Sempai Alex Merrell, 1st Degree Black Belt

Personal Information

• Born: 4 May 1993

Education

• East Carteret High School

Martial Arts Experience and Credentials

• I began training in Shorin Ryu under Shihan Frank Williams in 2004.
• Assistant Instructor at the Family Karate Center.
• Alex has become one the best examples of determination and leadership in the school. His efforts have lead to his nomination for induction in the Hall of Tomorrow at the 2009 Hall of Fame in Chantilly, VA.

Black Belts in:

• Shodan (1st Degree Black Belt) Shorin Ryu - June 2009
• Shodan Jr. (1st Degree Black Belt)- Shorin Ryu - 01 Dec 2007

Sempai Bradley Campbell, 1st Degree Black Belt

Personal Information

• Born: 23 November 1994

Education

• HJ McDonald Middle School

Martial Arts Experience and Credentials

• I began training in Shorin Ryu under Shihan Frank Williams in 2003.
• Assistant Instructor at the Family Karate Center in the Basic Course.

Black Belts in:

• Shodan (1st Degree Black Belt) Shorin Ryu Karate - April 2010
• Shodan Jr.(1st Degree Black Belt)- Shorin Ryu Karate - 01 December 2007

Sempai Dakota Bowman, 1st Degree Black Belt

Personal Information

• Born: 28 November 1996

Education

• Tucker Creek Middle  School

Martial Arts Experience and Credentials

• I began training in Shorin Ryu under Shihan Frank Williams in 2003.
• Assistant Instructor at the Family Karate Center in the Basic Course.

Black Belts in:

• Shodan (1st Degree Black Belt) Shorin Ryu Karate - April 2010
• Brown Belt - Tae Kwon Do