Born in Monett Missouri and raised in St. Louis.

Began karate training in 1981 in Okinawa te karate at the University of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Changed schools in 1983 to Southwest Missouri State in Springfield Missouri. Continued training in Okinawa te and attained Shodan in 1984. At Southwest Missouri State also trained with a University martial arts club in Pai Lum Kung fu and trained with another instructor in Goju Kai Karate.

Graduated from college in 1985 with a degree in Biology. Lived for 3 months in Cathlamet, Washington doing seasonal work on a wildlife refuge and trained with a Kajukenbo Kung fu club. Moved to St. Louis Missouri and studied Matsubayashi Shorin Ryu Karate.

Moved to Carbondale Illinois in 1987 to attend graduate school. Trained with a university Tae Kwon Do club. The same club instructors also taught Aikido. I sometimes practiced Aikido with them but did not formally study. Received MS in Biology in 1990.

Joined the Peace Corps and lived in Burundi, Central Africa from 1991-1993. While in Burundi I had the opportunity to teach karate for one of the security guards at the language institute where we did training. I also started a small karate club for high school students at a Vocational technical school in my village. In both cases the people were not interested in ranks or belts but in being able to defend themselves. Teaching in a second language (French) was also challenging. I believe this experience helped get back to the “roots” of karate.

Left Africa and returned to St. Louis for one year and trained with a Tae Kwon Do club. The instructor also taught kickboxing, Jun Fan kung fu and  Indonesian Silat.

From 1995-1999 I lived on the island of Saipan, Micronesia and trained with a Shotokan karate club. I moved to Guam in 1999 and trained with a Kobayashi Shorin ryu club and attained Nidan rank in that style.

Moved to Oahu in 2002 and presently train in Okinawa Kenpo and working for the U.S. Navy as a Wildlife Biologist.

Seminars I have attended that were of great value were two George Dillman/Wally Jay seminars. I also have had the great pleasure of training in Australia, twice, with the noted martial arts historian and instructor Patrick McCarthy. He greatly shaped my views on how karate developed and the hows and whys of kata.