Japanese Karate-Do Instructors

  JKD Founder

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The late Sonny Kim is Rokudan (6th Degree) and began his Shotokan Karate training in 1977. Sensei Kim was a dedicated instructor with the sole objective to practice, preserve, and propagate authentic Shotokan Karate. He served as the Official Instructor, Examiner and Judge for the World Traditional Karate Organization (WTKO) in the Mid-America Region. Sensei Kim’s passion was to share his love of karate with his students through personalized, motivating and insightful instruction. His focus was on conveying the importance of details and how they come together to produce powerful techniques and confident students.  Sensei Kim started the JKD Dojo in December 1996.


 Chief Instructor/Business Manager

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Robert ‘Rob’ Grossheim holds the rank of Sandan (3rd Degree) and began training at the Japanese Karate-Do (JKD) dojo in 2002. After training hard for five years Robert received his Shodan in 2007 from Sensei Sonny Kim. In 2009, he received his Nidan. Sensei Grossheim is a lead instructor at JKD and enjoys placing an emphasis on the mechanics and “why” behind the techniques that the students learn.  


 

 

 

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Arjan Hura holds the rank of Shodan (1st Degree) and is the longest tenured student of the Japanese Karate-Do (JKD) having begun his training in 1997. After training hard for six years he received his Shodan in 2003 from Sensei Sonny Kim. Arjan is currently an assistant instructor at the JKD dojo. While attending Ohio State University (OSU), Arjan was an instructor and trainee with the OSU karate club. 


 

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Robert Bradley holds the rank of Shodan (1st Degree) and began training at the Japanese Karate-Do (JKD) dojo in 2007. After training hard for six years he received his Shodan in 2012 from Sensei Sonny Kim. Robert is a former instructor and is currently on a medical leave from the dojo. 


 

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Steve Simon holds the rank of Nidan (2nd Degree) and began training at the Japanese Karate-Do (JKD) dojo in 2006.  After training hard for five years he received his Shodan in 2011 from Sensei Sonny Kim. Steve is currently an instructor at the JKD dojo.  


 

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Josh Lefeld holds the rank of Nidan (2nd Degree) and began training at the Japanese Karate Do (JKD) dojo in 2008. After training hard for five years he received his Shodan in 2013 from Sensei Sonny Kim. Josh is currently an instructor at the JKD dojo.


 

umang

Umang Joshi holds the rank of Nidan (2nd Degree) and began training at the Japanese Karate-Do (JKD) dojo in 2006. After training hard for seven years he received his Shodan in 2013 from Sensei Sonny Kim. In 2016, he received his Nidan. Umang currently is an instructor at the JKD dojo while studying at Xavier University.