“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 ten years. In 2005 he was inducted into the prestigious Isshinryu Hall of Fame and currently serves as a Board Member. Soke Kristensen is a Kudan (9th degree black belt), currently teaching eight classes each week at the Grapevine Main Dojo location. 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
Renshi Susan Harris
- Quinlan
- Earned Sho-Dan in 1999
- Registered Nurse
- Top Competitor
- Earned Sensei in 2005
- World Champion
Renshi Tommy Thomas
- Grapevine
- Earned Sho-Dan in 2000
- US Army Vietnam
Veteran - Awarded 2 Purple
Hearts - – Spirit of Isshinryu
- Recipient
Shihan Tony Palos
- Denton
- Earned Sho-Dan
August 10, 2002 - Jazz Musician
- Top Competitor
- Instructor of the Year
- Grand Champion
Shihan Tina Palos
- Denton
- Earned Sho-Dan March
- 30, 2003
- Top Competitor
- Jazz Musician
- IHOF Instructor of the
- Year
Renshi Jeannie Rupp
- Granbury
- Began in Feb. 1996
- Earned Sho-Dan March
- 30, 2003
- Top Competitor
Earned title of Sensei - August 2009
Renshi Kyle Murray
- Coppell
- Began training in 1997
- Earned Sho-Dan April
- 15, 2007
- Earned Go-Dan April 18,
- 2021
- Baylor Graduate
- Top Competitor
Sensei Steve Gellman, MD
- Grapevine
- Began training in 1993
- Earned Sho-Dan March
- 2003
- Earned title of Sensei
- August 2013
- Medical Doctor
Sensei Carol Gue
- Grapevine
- Began in 1998
- Sho-Dan April 22, 2001
- Began at American
- Budo Kai in NJ
Sensei Michael Strickland
- Denton
- Began in 1992
- Top Competitor
- Earned Sho-Dan April
- 13, 2008
- Earned Yon-Dan April
- 15, 2018
- Also studied
- Taekwondo
- IHOF Male Karate-ka of
- the year nominee
Sensei Mike Harper
- Plano
- Began in 1999
- Top Competitor
- Earned Sho-Dan April
- 13, 2008
- Earned title of Sensei
- August 13, 2014
Sensei Mark Hendrix
- Plano
- Began training in August
- 2001
- Earned Sho-Dan April
- 13, 2008
- Retired Engineering
- Manager
Sensei Laura Murray
- Coppell
- Earned Sho-Dan April
- 13, 2008
- Top Competitor
- IHOF Outstanding
- Contribution Award
- Earned title of Sensei
- December 12, 2015
Sensei Glenn Gibbs
Grapevine- Earned Sho-Dan April
- 13, 2008
- Began in April 2002
- Studied Shotokan
- Earned title of Sensei in
- 2017
Sensei Margaret Myers
- Los Colinas
- Began in May 2002
- Earned Sho-Dan on April
- 13, 2008
- Earned title of Sensei
- August 2014
- Top Competitor
Sensei Jennifer Wiederkehr
- Flower Mound
- Began in 2003
- Top Competitor
- Studied Goju-Ryu
- Karate-ka of the Year
Sensei Tracy Dickey
- Plano East
- Began in June 2003
- Sho-Dan March 29, 2009
- IHOF Female Karate-ka
- of the year
- Top Competitor
Sensei Charles Blommaert
- Frisco
- Trained in Shorin-Ryu
- Sho-Dan April 10, 2016
- North Texas graduate
- Earned title of Sensei in
- 2017
- Law Enforcement
- Officer
Sensei Luke Hutchinson
- Plano East
- Earned Sho-Dan April
- 10, 2011
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
Sensei Joey Marcella
- Decatur
- Began in Sep. 2004
- He & son were first
- Father/Son combo to
- earn Sho-Dan
- Top Competitor
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
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
Sensei Dianne Van Winkle
- Grapevine
- Began in May 2005
- Senior Karate-ka of
- 2011
- Sho-Dan April 15, 2012
- Top Competitor
Sensei Dan Bamper
- Moore, OK & Grapevine
- Began in 1995
- Sho-Dan Feb. 13, 2003
- Top Competitor
- Co-Owner Integrity
- Martial Arts
- Also trains in Tae Kwon
- Do
Sensei Kelli Marcella
- Decatur
- Sho-Dan Dec. 1, 2012
- Began training on Feb.
- 14, 2007
- IHOF Female Karate-ka
- of the year
- Earned title of Sensei
- April 7, 2019
Sensei Steve Kroll
- Plano East
- Began training in
- January 2002
- Earned Sho-Dan August
- 28, 2010
Sensei Jim Wallander
- Grapevine
- Began in 2002
- Both sons participated
- in karate
- Earned Sho-Dan on April
- 15, 2012
Sensei Dan Melendez
- Plano
- Began training in 2001
- Sho-Dan Dec 1, 2012
- Scuba Diver
- Chemical Dependency
- Counselor
- Certified Recovery
- Coach
Sensei Albert Solares
- Grapevine
- Began training in
- February 2009
- Sho-Dan in August 2014
- Co-Instructor at Plano
- East Dojo
- Earned Sensei in August
- 2020
Sensei Lee Stafki
- Denton
- US Army Veteran
- Purple Heart Recipient
- Served in Afghanistan
- Began in 1987
- Sho-Dan May 1993