Instructors – The Sensei 

“The best sermon is a good example.”

OUR SENSEI

    • Founder and Chief Instructor
    • Isshinryu Hall of Fame Inductee
    • World Martial Arts Hall of Fame Inductee
    • World Karate Union Hall of Famer
    • Texas Martial Arts Hall of Famer
    • Action Martial Arts Magazine Hall of Famer
    • International Martial Arts Hall of Fame Inductee
    • Board Member of the Isshinryu Hall of Fame

SOKE ROBERT A. KRISTENSEN

GRAPEVINE

Soke Robert A. Kristensen founded Texas Isshinryu Karate Kai in 1991 after several years of training at the Jersey Judo Karate Kai under Shihan Dale Jenkins.  He also trained under Hanshi William H. Duessell and now trains under Master Toby Cooling.  Soke Kristensen served in the United States Navy in Reconnaissance Attack Squadron 6 and also served as shore patrol in Sasebo, Japan. He is a Vietnam Veteran.  He was a world champion competitor and Top 10 competitor in Texas for over 10 years. In 2005 he was inducted into the prestigious Isshinryu Hall of Fame and currently serves as a Board Member.  Soke Kristensen is a Judan (10th degree black belt), currently teaching eight classes each week at the Grapevine Main Dojo.  He also holds black belts in Goju-ryu and Judo.

Kyoshi Maria Kristensen

  • Grapevine
  • Earned Sho-Dan 1994
  • Studied Goju-Ryu
  • Studied Tae Kwon Do
  • Isshinryu Hall of Fame Inductee 2017

 

Kyoshi Susan Harris

  • Quinlan
  • Earned Sho-Dan in 1999
  • Registered Nurse
  • Top Competitor
  • Earned Sensei in 2005
  • World Champion

 

Kyoshi Tony Palos

  • Denton
  • Sho-Dan August 10, 2002
  • Jazz Musician
  • Top Competitor
  • IHOF Instructor of the Year
  • Grand Champion
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Shihan Tina Palos

  • Denton
  • Sho-Dan March 30, 2003
  • Top Competitor
  • Jazz Musician
  • IHOF Instructor of the Year
  •  

 

Renshi Jeannie Rupp

  • Granbury
  • Began in Feb. 1996
  • Sho-Dan March 30, 2003
  • Top Competitor
    Earned Sensei August 2009

Renshi Kyle Murray

  • Coppell
  • Began training in 1997
  • Sho-Dan April 15, 2007       
  • Go-Dan April 18, 2021
  • Baylor Graduate
  • Top Competitor

Renshi Carol Gue

  • Grapevine
  • Began in 1998
  • Sho-Dan April 22, 2001
  • Began at American Budo Kai in NJ

 

 

 

Renshi Michael Strickland

  • Denton
  • Began in 1992
  • Top Competitor
  • Earned Sho-Dan April 13, 2008
  • Earned Yon-Dan April 15, 2018
  • Earned Go-Dan May 1, 2022
  • Also studied Taekwondo
  • IHOF Male Karate-ka of the year nominee

Renshi Mark Hendrix

  • Plano
  • Began training in August 2001
  • Earned Sho-Dan April 13, 2008
  • Retired Engineering Manager

 

Renshi Laura Murray

  • Grapevine
  • Began April 2002
  • Earned Sho-Dan April 13, 2008
  • Earned title of Sensei December 12, 2015
  • Earned Go-Dan May 1, 2022
  • Top Competitor
  • IHOF Outstanding Contribution Award 2014

Renshi Glenn Gibbs

  • Grapevine
  • Earned Sho-Dan April 13, 2008
  • Began in April 2002
  • Studied Shotokan
  • Earned title of Sensei in 2017

Renshi Margaret Myers

  • Los Colinas
  • Began in May 2002
  • Earned Sho-Dan April 13, 2008
  • Earned Yon-Dan April 15, 2018
  • Earned Go-Dan May 1, 2022
  • Earned title of Sensei August 2014
  • Top Competitor

Renshi Steve Gellman, MD

  • Grapevine
  • Began training in 1993
  • Earned Sho-Dan March 2003    
    • Earned title of Sensei August 2013
  • Medical Doctor

 

Renshi Jennifer Wiederkehr

  • Flower Mound
  • Began in 2003
  • Sho-Dan March 29, 2009
  • Studied Goju-Ryu
  • Karate-ka of the Year
  • Go Dan April 2024

Renshi Tracy Dickey

  • East Plano
  • Began in June 2003
  • Sho-Dan March 29, 2009
  • IHOF Female Karate-ka of the year
  • IHOF Humanitarian Award 2019, 2022
  • Top Competitor
  • Go Dan April 2024

Sensei Charles Blommaert

  • Frisco
  • Trained in Shorin-Ryu
  • Sho-Dan August 2009
  • North Texas graduate
  • Earned title of Sensei in 2017
  • Law Enforcement Officer

Sensei Steve Kroll

  • Grapevine
  • Began training in January 2002
  • Earned Sho-Dan August 28, 2010
  • Yon Dan May 2022
  • Co-Instructor at East Plano Dojo 

Sensei Luke Hutchinson

  • Grapevine
  • Earned Sho-Dan April 10, 2011
  • Yon Dan May 2022
  • Co-Instructor at East Plano Dojo 
  •  

 

Sensei Taylor Blommaert

  • Frisco
  • Began training at New Jersey Judo Karate Academy in 2001
  • Sho-Dan April 10, 2011
  • Sensei April 16, 2018
  • Top Competitor
  • Yon Dan May 2022

Sensei Joey Marcella

  • Decatur
  • Began in Sep. 2004
  • He and son were first Father/Son combo to earn Sho-Dan
  • Top Competitor
  • Yon Dan May 2022
  •  

Sensei Jim Wallander

  • Grapevine
  • Began in 2002
  • Both sons participated in karate
  • Earned Sho-Dan on April 15, 2012
  • Yon Dan May 2022
  •  

Sensei Jovi Espinosa

  • Los Colinas
  • Sho-Dan April 15, 2012
  • Top Competitor
  • Senior Karate-ka of 2009 & 2011
  • First Filipino Black Belt in TIKK history
  • Yon Dan May 2022

Sensei Dianne Van Winkle

  • Grapevine
  • Began in May 2005
  • Senior Karate-ka of 2011
  • Sho-Dan April 15, 2012
  • Top Competitor
  • Yon Dan May 2022

 

Sensei Kelli Marcella

  • Decatur
  • Sho-Dan Dec. 1, 2012
  • Began training on February 14, 2007
  • IHOF Female Karate-ka of the year
  • Earned Sensei April 7, 2019
  • Yon Dan April 2023

Sensei Dan Bamper

  • Moore, OK & Grapevine
  • Began in 1995
  • Sho-Dan Feb. 13, 2003
  • Top Competitor
  • Co-Owner Integrity Martial Arts (Edmond, OK)
  • Also trains in Tae Kwon Do
  • Yon Dan August 2023

Sensei Albert Solares

  • Grapevine
  • Began training in February 2009
  • Sho-Dan in August 2014
  • Co-Instructor at East Plano Dojo 
  • Earned Sensei in August 2020
  • Yon Dan April 2024

Sensei Lee Stafki

  • Denton
  • US Army Veteran
  • Purple Heart Recipient
    • Began in 1987
  • Sho-Dan May 1993
  • IHOF Male Karate-ka 2018
  • Also holds blackbelts in Aikido and Jujitsu
  • Anglican Priest
  • Yon Dan April 2024

Sensei Steve Pergantis

  • Grapevine
  • Began training in 2003 
  • Sho-Dan in December 2012
  • Earned Sensei May 2022
  •  

Sensei Tim Callahan

  • Chicago
  • Earned Sensei May 2022
  •  

Sensei Steve Sumners

  • Denton
  • Retired US Army Desert Storm Veteran. Combat tours in Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Kuwait Meritorious Service Medal recipient
  • Began training in 2009
  • Spirit of Isshinryu Award 2010
  • Earned Sho-Dan in April 2015  
  • Earned Sensei September 2022

Sensei LB Herbert

  • East Plano
  • Began training in 2008
  • Senior Karate-ka of 2012 & 2013
  • Outstanding Black Belt of 2019 & 2023
  • Sho-Dan in December 2015
  • Co-Instructor at East Plano Dojo 
  • Earned Sensei May 2022

Sensei Grace Murray

  • Grapevine
  • Began training in 2010
  • Senior Karate-ka of 2014
  • Top Competitor
  • Sho-Dan in December 2015
  • Earned Sensei May 2022
  •  

Sensei Mark Schneider

  • Plano
  • Began training in 2002 
  • Gasshuku Karate-ka of 2016
  • Sho-Dan in April 2017
  • Earned Sensei April 2023
  •  

Sensei Jared Brown

  • Denton
  • Began training May 2010 
  • Sho-Dan in April 2018
  • Earned Sensei April 2024
  •  

Sensei Grant Dennis

  • Denton
  • Sho-Dan in August 2016
  • Earned Sensei August 2024
  •  

In Memory

Renshi Tommy Thomas

  • Grapevine
  • Earned Sho-Dan in 2000
  • US Army Vietnam Veteran
  • Awarded 2 Purple HeartsSpirit of Isshinryu  Recipient

In Memory

Sensei Mike Harper

  • Plano
  • Began in 1999
  • Top Competitor
  • Earned Sho-Dan April 13, 2008
  • Earned title of Sensei August 13, 2014

In Memory

Sensei Erick R. Soto

    •  Nevada
    • Began training under Sensei Chuck Maynard in 2006
    • Sho-Dan April 15, 2012
    • Head Instructor at Nevada Isshinryu Karate Kai
    • Yon Dan December  2022

In Memory

Sensei Dan Melendez

  • Plano, Cozumel
  • Began training in 2001
  • Sho-Dan Dec 1, 2012
  • Scuba Diver
  • Chemical Dependency Counselor
  • Certified Recovery Coach