The Mid-America WTKO is a proud member of the World Traditional Karate Organization.
The primary function of the Mid-America WTKO is to build relationships with individuals and groups that share a common vision of Karate training and ideals. Mid-America WTKO sponsors senior WTKO instructors on an annual basis to not only expose our members to the highest levels of instruction, but to also unite those interested in the same Karate way. Students will become members of this international organization upon receiving 8th Kyu (Orange belt).
The World Traditional Karate Organization is dedicated to the pursuit of personal excellence and the advancement of Shotokan Karate. The WTKO provides a platform for individuals and affiliated groups to practice authentic Shotokan Karate in the absence of politics. The subsequent instructors form the WTKO Executive Committee.
Sensei John Mullin, 8th Dan WTKO Executive Chairman
Biography: Sensei Mullin began his karate training in 1960. He was a member of the JKA/ITKF US National Team for 5 years, from 1980 through 1984, and a former US Open National Champion. In 1985, while living and training in Japan, he won the All Styles Karate Championship in Yokohama. In 1994 he was recognized as “Instructor of The Year” by The Karate Voice a national karate publication. In 2002 he won the JSKA World Championship, in Germany, veterans kata division.
He is a member of the faculty of the Karate Instructor Certificate Program at Long Island University, New York. He is also a contributing author in Karate Martial Art and Sport along with Milorad V. Stricevic, M.D. Associate Dean, School of Health Professions
Sensei Mullin is the Chief Instructor of the JKA Karate Staten Island and was awarded “A” class Certified Instructor in the JKA Shotokan Karate-do America, the governing body for JKA karate in the United States. After a 42 year career in the JKA, Sensei Mullin decided on a new direction; along with a number of senior instructors founded the World Traditional Karate Organization (WTKO). The WTKO successfully held their 1st World Championship in 2001.
Sensei Mullin is teacher with the NYC Board of Education, teaching computer technology in a middle school in Brooklyn NY.
Sensei Richard Amos, 7th Dan WTKO Chief Instructor
Biography: Born in England in 1963, Richard Amos began karate at age 10. Occasionally teaching from as young as 15 he was invited onto the KUGB Junior Karate Team at 18. By the age of 23 he had competed in England and Europe gaining many Gold, Silver and Bronze medals in numerous championships.
After a two-year sojourn in New York, he went to Japan to train at the headquarters of the Japan Karate Association and stayed 10 years. During that time he completed the 3-year instructor’s program of the JKA (only the 2nd Westerner ever to do so in its 50-year history), placed second or third in the All-Japan Championships several times (no non-Japanese had ever reached the semi-finals before), taught many classes each week over a 6-year period in the headquarters of the JKA (another first) and opened his own school in the heart of Tokyo.
In 2000 Amos moved to New York again, this time as an established professional karate instructor with an international reputation. He is currently the chief instructor of the World Traditional Karate Organization heading its instructor program and teaches everyday at the headquarters dojo on 61st Street and 3rd Avenue in Manhattan. The following brief clip was filmed in Sensei Amos’s final year as a Kenshusei (Instructor Trainee) of the JKA. CNN INTERVIEW
Sensei Steve Ubl, 8th Dan WTKO Technical Director
Biography: Sensei Steve Ubl began training in Minnesota in the1967 in the art of TangSoo Do. In 1969 he began training in the JKA style of karate with Donald G. P. Oelrich. When living in Japan in 1972 he was fortunate to have been recognized by Nakayama sensei of the JKA for his character and talent. Taken under Nakayama sensei’s wing, Ubl sensei experienced many, many hours of private tuition with this great teacher and made copious notes from these periods of intense learning. He received his 1st dan directly from Nakayama sensei while residing at the Hoitsugan. He also received instruction from Nakayama sensei in1974 and returned to Japan several more times between 1976 and 1977.
Returning to the US, Ubl sensei entered the Japan Karate Association Instructor Training Institute under Nishiyama sensei at the JKA-US Headquarters in 1973, where, as a full-time trainee, became an instructor with the AAKF-ITKF, working daily with Nishiyama sensei.
By the late 70’s Ubl sensei’s ideas began to transcend regular training in any dojo and his development continued more from his own intelligent application of ideas influenced by Japan than from the various classes and training camps he also attended.
Throughout the ‘80’s and ‘90’s Ubl sensei, an intensely private individual, trained mostly alone and free from restriction. In 2004 he was persuaded to recognize the importance of sharing his knowledge by a group of dedicated karate-ka from California to Florida to Canada and in 2006 accepted the position of Technical Director and 7th dan from the WTKO.
Sensei Scott Middleton, 6th Dan WTKO General Secretary
Biography: Born in Brandon, Manitoba in 1972, Sensei Scott Middleton began Karate at age 14. Began instructing Karate in 1995 in the town of Wawanesa, Manitoba. Sensei Middleton is currently the Chief Instructor of the Traditional Karate of Brandon and the National Director of WTKO in Canada. Appointed to the position of WTKO General Secretary 2011.
Sensei Zack Stewart, 4th Dan WTKO USA National Director
Biography: Zack Sensei began his study of Shotokan Karate under Sensei Allen Renfrow and eventually moved to Los Angeles to study under the late Master Hidetaka Nishiyama. After Nishiyama’s passing Zack began studying under Sensei Steve Ubl and continues so to this day. In 2015 he completed the WTKO Kenshusei Program at the WTKO Honbu Dojo in NYC directly under the WTKO Chief Instructor, Richard Amos Sensei. Since 2009 Zack has been teaching Shotokan Karate in Nashville, TN at his dojo. He is the WTKO’s National Director for the USA.