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Dojo:
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Atlanta and Birmingham Dojo |
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Current Skill Rank:
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Shin-E | |
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Current Instructor Rank:
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Hanshi | |
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Years of Experience in Shinkendo:
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18 years. | |
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Other Martial Arts Experience:
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Shihan for World Oyama Karate, Go-Dan (5th Degree black belt). | |
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Personal Background:
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BS in Criminal Justice at UAB. Career law enforcement officer. Retired US Marine Corps Reserve. | |
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What I do when I am not doing Shinkendo:
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Deputy Chief, Training Director for the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office (www.jeffcotrainingcenter.com).
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What I like most beside Shinkendo:
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Collecting and studying historical American firearms and Japanese weapons including swords and Tanegashima (matchlock). | |
Yumiko Matsuoka
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Dojo:
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Atlanta and Birmingham Dojo |
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Current Skill Rank:
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Shin-E | |
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Current Instructor Rank:
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Shihan | |
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Years of Experience in Shinkendo:
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18 years. | |
| Other Martial Arts Experience: | Tomiki-Ryu Aikido, Ni-Dan (2nd degree black belt) Sensei for World Oyama Karate, Ni-Dan (2nd degree black belt) |
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| Personal Background: | Veterinary degree in Hokkaido University, Japan. PhD in Microbiology at UAB. | |
| What I do when I am not doing Shinkendo: | Microbiologist at Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. | |
| What I like most beside Shinkendo: | Japanese swords and cats. | |
Michael Philpott
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Dojo:
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Birmingham Dojo |
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Current Skill Rank:
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Ji-E | |
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Current Instructor Rank:
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Chuden Renshi | |
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Years of Experience in Shinkendo:
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16 years. | |
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Other Martial Arts Experience:
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Akayama Ryu Jujutsu (3 years). | |
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Personal Background:
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Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Birmingham-Southern College Juris Doctor, University of Alabama School of Law U.S. Army Reserve (13 years) |
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What I do when I am not doing Shinkendo:
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Deputy District Attorney, Jefferson County D.A.’s Office.
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What I like most beside Shinkendo:
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Tactical firearms training, 35mm photography, guitar | |
Michael Mettee
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Dojo:
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Atlanta Dojo |
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Current Skill Rank:
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Ren-e | |
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Current Instructor Rank:
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Shidoin | |
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Years of Experience in Shinkendo:
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8 years. | |
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Other Martial Arts Experience:
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None | |
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Personal Background:
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B.M. Youngstown State University, M.M. New England Conservatory of Music | |
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What I do when I am not doing Shinkendo:
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Professional musician, playing now for 27 years. Instruments of experience are the Classical guitar, Electric guitar, Piano and Concertina. Journeyman Carpenter, operating my own business, MPR, since 1998.
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What I like most beside Shinkendo:
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Playing music with other musicians; creating art; travel with my wife and family. | |
Norman Crafts
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Dojo:
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Atlanta Dojo |
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Current Skill Rank:
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Current Instructor Rank:
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Years of Experience in Shinkendo:
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10 years. | |
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Other Martial Arts Experience:
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Shito-Ryu Itosu-Kai Karate, studied under Hanshi John Sells | |
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Personal Background:
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B.S. Mathematics from University of California, Santa Barbara | |
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What I do when I am not doing Shinkendo:
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Develop software for 3D graphics visualization and image processing
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What I like most beside Shinkendo:
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Enjoying family time with my wife and three children, road bicycling, reading | |
Richard Akers
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Dojo:
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Atlanta Dojo |
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Current Skill Rank:
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Goho Mokuroku | |
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Current Instructor Rank:
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Kenshuin | |
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Years of Experience in Shinkendo:
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6 years. | |
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Other Martial Arts Experience:
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Joe Corley Karate | |
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Personal Background:
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BS in Computer Science at Southern Tech. | |
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What I do when I am not doing Shinkendo:
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Software Developer at Verint
Systems, Inc. |
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What I like most beside Shinkendo:
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Computer and table-top gaming, books | |