Kinryu School Instructors

---

Shihan Tim has 50 years of experience training in the martial arts.  In 1983, after many years of training Kyokushin, he was promoted by Hanshi Steve Senne to Nidan-Ho.  Years of continuous training with the ranking instructors of the area, Shihan Tim was promoted to 7th Dan by Master Dan Layne and was confirmed 7th Dan in the School of The Hawk by Hanshi Rod.   He is a great resource for the life-long students of Kyokushin as he has spent years studying the lineages and roots of modern martial arts as they relate to Kyokushin, specifically our schools.  

Shihan Mark is the Chairman of the Kinryu School of Kyokushinkai Karate and full-time instructor.  He takes on the responsibility of Chairman while employed as a full-time Lieutenant for a local law enforcement agency.  A member of the School since his youth, Shihan Mark continues to share his love for the martial arts, teaching classes at all levels.  With the assistance of other instructors, Shihan Mark hosts advanced classes, Women's Self-Defense courses and Safety Seminars for community organizations in the surrounding areas.

Shihan Paul is the primary instructor for the Redlands Nami Dojo and serves as the School's Training and Tournament Director.  At the age of 13, Shihan Paul began his study of Kyokushin Karate under the instruction of Hanshi Ken Ebina and Sensei Jamie Clark in the Riverside Cobra Karate School-Kyokushinkai.  As an educator and participant in the Y Family Circus, he balances his time with family, circus and karate, sharing his knowledge with students of all ages and skill levels, while volunteering in community events.

Sensei Nick became a Junior Blackbelt in the School of The Cobra in 1991.   He trained under several instructors in the Riverside, CA area through the 1990's and early 2000's.  He is currently the Northern California representative of the School of The Golden Dragon and frequently makes the trek to Southern California to participate in training sessions.  He most recently received the rank of Sandan at the annual Blackbelt review.  

Sensei Minh represents our Los Angeles County practitioners and has trained with the original teachers who established Kyokushin in the Southern California area.  A student of Hanshi Tim Swanson, Sensei Minh connects Kyokushin with the softness of Chinese forms.  He trains in the same Pasadena area parks that have had a Kyokushin presence for 50 years.  He also teaches with one of our partner schools, School of The Ice Bear.

A native of Spanish Harlem, Sensei Jorge has been training martial arts most of his life.   As a Kyokushin practitioner, Sensei Jorge studies all aspects of martial arts, from historical to philosophical and is truly a student of the arts.    In teaching, he uses his experiences in Kendo, Go-Ju Ryu, and the southeast Asian fighting arts as he is also a Guru in the Indonesian art of Pentjak Silat.  He provides a wealth of knowledge.

An avid cyclist, Sensei Sean has trained in the Inland Empire since 1989 and was promoted to Shodan in 1994.  He is the assistant instructor for the Highland Dojo while balancing his career as an educator.  He is dedicated to improving his martial arts skills and does so while sharing his knowledge with new students wanting to work hard.

Sensei Esteban is the assistant instructor for the San Bernardino Dojo where he originally started training.  He and his children train with Shihan Mark at the dojo and Esteban assists with teaching the new and intermediate students. 

Sensei Shayna has trained with the School since she was 6 years old.  She has worked through the ranks and continues to progress while learning teaching aspects from Shihan Mark and Shihan Paul.  She is a regular assistant at all Kinryu Dojos and is a member of the Kyu grading council. 

Sensei Debbie has also trained since she was 6 years old and is a regular assistant instructor at the Redlands Nami dojo.  She teaches the kodomo classes and assists Shihan Paul with the family classes.  She also assists at all other Kinryu dojos and is a reliable member of the School.

Sempai Alan began this journey with his sons several years ago.  His family continues to be valued members of the school and Alan has stepped up to the challenge of assisting with the instruction of newer students.  Alan demonstrates a strong work ethic and models the way for those beginning their challenge of a Kyokushin karateka.

Sempai Isaac DeWeerd has been a member of the school since a young age.  He currently assists at the Redlands Nami Dojo and regularly helps with the Kokomo classes.