Douglas Luft, 6th Dan JKA

Sensei Luft is a certified JKA Instruction, Judge, and Examiner and is a Senior Instructor with the JKA Shotokan Karate-Do International under Chief Instructor Masataka Mori (8th Dan)

Sensei Luft began Shotokan Karate training in September 1967 at the Albany WMCA and co-founded the Albany Central Karate in 1968 with Robert Ecyler (Chief Instructor), Hal Frasier, Ihor Evanik, John Luft, and Danny Conley. In the same year, the club became a member of the New York Karate Association (now the Shotokan Karate Do International), the JKA affiliated organization headed by Sensei Masataka Mori. He’s been teaching karate since 1970 and graduated from the first JKA-SKDI Instructors course, now the ‘B’ course, in 1978 under the guidance of Sensei Mori and Sensei Akihito Isaka. He completed the ‘A’ course in 1987. After completing the first Instructors course, he became the Chief Instructor of the now renamed JKA of Albany. He founded the University of Albany Karate Club in 1983 and was an Adjunct Lecturer with the University from 1987 to 1991. He competed for 18 years in Karate competition and with the SKDI regional team, he received first place team kata (with Eiji Toryu and Esami Shiroma) in 1983 at the AAKF national tournament. He was regional SKDI Kumite champion in 1988.

Besides his responsibilities with the JKA of Albany, he has been a frequent guest Instructor and Examiner to the many University and regional Karate Clubs throughout the North Atlantic Region.He is a Senior Judge at Regional and International competitions.

Carlos Medina, 4th Dan JKA

Carlos Medina, currently holds the rank of Yondan and began JKA Shotokan Karate training in 1988 under Sensei Douglas Luft. Mr. Medina has been a life long student of the martial arts since he was 11 years old. He first began training in Tang-Soo Do with Master Richard Chun and then Hakkoryu Jujitsu under Dr. Cohe before his study of Shotokan Karate. Mr. Medina graduated from a two-year intensive 'B' Course instructor program taught by Sensei Masataka Mori, Chief instructor of the Japan Karate Association Do International headquartered in New York City. He has passed certification exams given by the JKA for Official Instructor, Judge, and Examiner. Sensei Medina has maintained his skills by participating in numerous JKA sanctioned tournaments, camps and instructor training weekends. He holds a Bachelors degree in Physical Education from SUNY Cortland and a Master’s degree in Human Services Administration from Cornell University.

Vilko Green, 3th Dan JKA

Thomas Fraiser, 2th Dan JKA

Tom Frasier began studying martial arts in Columbia, MD in 1988 and practiced ju-jistu for one year. He began his karate training in 1990 at the University of Maryland Baltimore County with Mr. Freddie Barton (1st Dan, Isshin-Ryu Karate). Through Freddie, Tom met Sensei Ron Klingner (4th Dan, Isshin-Ryu) and began training under his direction. In 1994, Tom attained the rank of sho-dan in Isshin-Ryu and moved to Albany, NY for graduate school.

Due to his demanding schedule, Tom trained alone for a few years. In 1998, he traveled to Okinawa, Japan for a short time to study karate. Upon returning, he was introduced to Sensei Curtis King (3rd Dan), who instructed the UAlbany Karate Club. The UAlbany Karate Club teaches Shotokan karate and is affiliated with the Japan Karate Association of Albany. Because of the traditional environment and quality of instruction provided by Mr. King, Tom committed his study to Shotokan. Tom is enthusiastic about his training and loves attending JKA karate camps and tournaments in the northeast. Tom currently lives in Albany, NY and is a Ni-dan (2003) in Shotokan. He is the chief club instructor of the UAlbany Karate Club and continues to train at the JKA Albany main dojo under Sensei Douglas Luft (6th Dan).

Denise McKeon, 1st Dan JKA

Denise started Shotokan karate in 1999 at SUNY Albany under Sensei Curtis King obtaining the rank of Shodan in December of 2001. She is now an Assistant Instructor at the SUNY Club. Ms. Mckeon is also the Co-Instructor of the Children class at the main JKA of Albany dojo.