Athens Karate School

Traditional Okinawan Karate

Our Black Belts

We are very proud of the people who have been awarded their black belt through the Athens Karate School.  This rank represents many years of hard work and dedication and this page is devoted to those fine people.  The list below represents people who are either students of Athens Karate School directly, my students or our dojo brothers from other schools in Master Kise’s organization who chose Athens Karate School as a place to receive this honor.

Regardless of the reason, all of these people were awarded black belt rank at the Athens Karate School and I salute you….J. Shipes

· Sensei Cuthbert Hicks, Rokudan, Trinidad, West Indies, a returning student of Master Kise’s, chief instructor of the Okinawa-te Dojo in Trinidad, West Indies

· Sensei Jay Gravelle, Rokudan, my dojo brother from Mukilteo, Washington and Chief Instructor for the Northwest Budokan

· Sensei Thomas Ashley, Godan, Buffalo, Texas, my dojo brother from Palestine, Texas and the chief instructor of the Buffalo Shorinryu Karate Academy

· Sensei Frank Lemacks, Yondan, my dojo brother from Palestine, Texas

· Sensei Ed Wilson, Yondan, my dojo brother from Palestine, Texas, status unknown

· Sensei Pat Wilson, Yondan, Instructor, Athens Karate School. Athens, Texas

· Mr. Danny Sherman, Sandan, my student, Oakwood, Texas, status unknown

· Mr. Chris Khon, Sandan, my student, status and whereabouts unknown

· Mr. Jason Clendenon, Sandan, my student, status and whereabouts unknown

· Mr. Jim Lucas, Sandan, my student, status and whereabouts unknown

· Mr. Mark Curry, Sandan, Sensei Thomas Ashley’s student, status unknown, Buffalo, Texas

· Mr. Mike Veillon, Sandan, my student and chief instructor of the Shorinbujitsu Karate Dojo, Pineville, Louisiana

· Mr. Nathan Batson, Sandan, my student and chief instructor of the Tyler Kenshinkan Karate Dojo, Tyler, Texas

· Mr. Joey Baggett, Nidan, my student, inactive, Athens, Texas

· Mr. Tony McConnell, Nidan, my student, inactive, Athens, Texas

· Mr. Mike Warren, Nidan, my student, inactive, Athens, Texas

· Mr. John Rogers, Nidan, my student, status unknown, Round Rock, Texas

· Mr. David Reid, Nidan, my student, status unknown, Virginia

· Mr. Tim Amey, Nidan, Sensei Jay Gravelle’s student and chief instructor of the Evergreen Karate and Kobudo Club in the Seattle, Washington area, received his Tuite Shodan at the Athens Karate School in 2007.

· Mr. Buddy Masters, Nidan, my student and Chief Instructor of the Central Arkansas Kenshinkan Dojo, Cabot, Arkansas

· Dr. Liam Yore, Nidan, Sensei Jay Gravelle’s student at the Northwest Budokan, Mukilteo, Washington

· Ms. Bernadette, Nidan, Sensei Jay Gravelle’s student and Instructor of the Little Dragon’s program for the NW Budokan in Mukilteo, Washington

· Mr. David Simeneaux, Shodan, Sensei Ed Wilson’s student, status unknown, Huntsville, Texas

· Mr. Shane Brown, Shodan, my student, status unknown, location unknown

· Mr. Justin Joslin, Shodan, my student, inactive, Athens, Texas

· Mr. Houston Beaubien, Shodan, my student, inactive, Athens, Texas

· Mr. Tucker Royall, Shodan, my student, inactive, Palestine, Texas

· Ms. June “Snooks” Gravelle, Shodan, Sensei Jay Gravelle’s student, inactive, Seattle, Washington

· Mr. Eric Endres, Shodan, my student, currently in Okinawa

· Mr. Jack Endres, Shodan, my student, Athens, Texas

· Mrs. Mary Endres, Shodan, my student, Athens, Texas

· Mr. Scott Endres, Shodan, my student, Athens, Texas

· Mr. George Grayson, Shodan, Sensei Thomas Ashley’s student, Buffalo, Texas

· Mr. Jesus Ramirez, Shodan, my student, status and whereabouts unknown

· Ms. Juanita Vazquez, Shodan Jr Grade, Sensei Thomas Ashley’s student, Buffalo, Texas

· Mr. Sam Aleman, Shodan Jr grade, my student, inactive, Athens, Texas

· Mr. Austin Rex, Shodan Jr grade, my student, status and whereabouts unknown

· Mr. Matthew Barnes, Shodan Jr grade, my student, inactive, Athens, Texas

· Mr. Drew Duffy, Shodan Jr grade, my student, Keller, Texas

· Mr. Jonathan Bywaters, Shodan Jr grade, my student, Athens, Texas

 

To contact us:

 

Visit us at:

 

8650 St Hwy 19 South

Athens, Texas 75751

 

Phone:  903-675-3229

Email:   JRShipes@athenskarate.com or JRShipes@aol.com