Our Instructors

Shihan Frank Williams, 8th 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:

• Hachidan (8th Degree Black Belt)- Shorin Ryu Karate- Sept 2007- - Hanshi Seifuku Nitta - Kensei Dokou Kai
• Menkyo Kaiden awarded 20 September 2009 - Hanshi Seifuku Nitta - Kensei Do-Kou Kai
• Kyoshi Title awarded 01 January 2007 Okinawan Shorin Ryu Karate -Hanshi Seifuku Nitta- Kensei Do-Kou 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 - Fusei Kise
• 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

Martial Arts Experience and Credentials

Black Belts in:

Sensei 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.
• Currently serving as the Program Director for the After school Karate Program and Chief Instructor for the Black Belt Club.

Sensei Mike Ayala, 4th Degree Black Belt

Education

Martial Arts Experience and Credentials

• Began studying under Shihan Frank Williams in 1995 at Camp Lejeune, NC.
• Served as Family Karate Center Chief Instructor from 2O07-2008.l
• Inducted into the UMAA Hall of Fame- Instructor of the Year 2009
• Awarded title "Dai Sempai" by Shihan Williams in January 2009.
• I am currently an Assistant Instructor for the Family Karate Center in Havelock, under Shihan Frank Williams.

Black Belts in:

• Yondan (4th Degree Black Belt) - Shorin Ryu Karate - June 2011
• Sandan (3rdt Degree Black Belt) - Shorin Ryu - June 2008
• Shodan (1st Degree Black Belt) - ATA Tae Kwon Do

Dai Sempai Debbie Collins, 3rd 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.
•  Instructor at the Family Karate Center since 2008.
• Inducted into the UMAA Hall of Fame - Regional Instructor of the Year 2009.
• Chief Instructor for all Black Belt Training students.

Black Belts in:

• Sandan (3rd Degree Black Belt) - Shorin Ryu - June 2011
• Nidan (2nd Degree Black Belt) - Shorin Ryu - June 2009
• Shodan (1st Degree Black Belt)- Shorin Ryu  - Feb 2008

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

Sempai Letechia Young, 2nd Degree Black Belt

Personal Information

• Born  2 June 1978

Martial Arts Experience and Credentials

• Began training under Grand Master Fusei Kise in in Okinawa, Japan in 1993.
• Began studying Shorin Ryu Karate under Shihan Frank Williams in 1996.
• Assistant Instructor at the Family Karate Center At Camp Lejuene in our Basic Course from 1996-1998.

Black Belts in:

• Nidan (2nd Degree Black Belt) Shorin Ryu Karate - Fusei Kise - 1997
• Shodan  (1st Degree Black Belt) – Shorin Ryu Karate - Fusei Kise 1996

Sempai Alex Merrell, 2st Degree Black Belt

Personal Information

• Born: 4 May 1993

Education

• NC State University
• 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:

• Nidan (Second Degree Black Belt) Shorin Ryu - June 2011
• 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

• Havelock High School

Martial Arts Experience and Credentials

• I began training in Shorin Ryu under Shihan Frank Williams in 2003.
• Assistant Instructor at Premier Martial Arts Basic Training 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