Michael Norvell, 5th Dan

Education: Training since 1984 under such instructors as Robert Yarnall, George Winkler, and Tadashi Yamashita. Michael Norvell has earned a black belt in Matsubayashi-Ryu Shorin-Ryu as well as a black belt in Kobayashi-Ryu Shorin-Ryu.
Career: Michael has been active on the national circuits winning numerous grand championships in sparring, forms, and weapons. Michael was ranked #1 in the Mid-Atlantic region in men black belt forms and black belt weapons. In 1998 Michael was ranked #1 in the Mid-West region Jap/Oki forms and traditional weapons.
Currently: Founder of the Okinawan Karate-Do Academy. Michael works hard to be one of the most stylistic and accomplished competitors in the nation. His record is proof that an outstanding work ethic and commitment to excellence will pay off in the long run.

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Courtney Davis, 4th Dan

Education: Sensei Courtney has been training since 1995 with Michael Norvell and George Winkler. Courtney has earned the rank of 3rd Dan in Mastsubayashi-Ryu Shorin-Ryu Karate.
Career: Courtney is an up an established competitor in the martial arts community. He is and expert in the art of self-defense and an outstanding sparring competitor. He is also a growing forms and weapons competitor.
Currently: He is pursuing his career and promoting the arts to future martial artist. His rigorous training and persistent devotion are an inspiration to any martial artist.

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Stephanie Woolfolk, 2nd Dan

Education: Sensei Stephanie started training with Sensei Michael Norvell on October 31, 2000. Earned 1st degree black belt on December 5th 2003. Earned 2nd degree black belt on in December of 2005. Awards/Recognitions: 2005- UKA 1st in Women's black belt 18-34 division: Fighting, Forms, Weapons. 2004 UKA 1st in Advanced Fighting, 2nd Forms. Sensei Stephanie has won Grand Champion numerous times and placed first and numerous non-UKA tournaments.
Career: Sensei Stephanie started doing Karate as a recreation and for physical fitness. Started competing in tournaments as a beginner (yellow belt). Continued competing as a black belt. Currently competing locally. Sensei Stephanie started assisting with teaching as a brown belt and became a head instructor as a black belt. Currently, she teaches 5 times a week and plans to continue.  
 

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George Winkler, 4th Dan

Education: Training since 1965 with Melvyn Brown in Jujitsu also trained with Robert Yarnall since 1966 in Karate. George Winkler has a black belt in Matsubayashi-Ryu Shorin-Ryu from Shoshin Nagamine. Career: Sensei Winkler is a master in the art of self-defense and the art of grappling. He produces some of the best self-defense students in St. Louis.
Currently: One of the top instructors at the Okinawan Karate-Do Academy. He is constantly challenging students to do their best. It is a great honor to learn from Sensei Winkler.

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Matt Kunshek, 3rd Dan

Education: Sensei Matt has been training in karate since 2000 under Mike Norvell and George Winkler. He as earned the rank of 2nd Dan in Matsubayashi-Ryu Shorin-Ryu. Since 2003, he has been training under Sensei Chris Gray and Sensei George Britch, 9th Dan Jiu-jitsu. Awards/Recognitions: Over the years Matt has participated in many local and regional martial arts tournaments in kata, weapons, sparring, and self-defense. Matt was also a gold and silver metal winner at the 2005 U.S. Trials.
Career: In 2000, Matt originally started Karate for self defense, discipline, and physical fitness. A year later, he started competing in tournaments. Matt began teaching as a brown belt. He currently teaches and trains six days out of the week.

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Kenneth Hutchinson, 2nd Dan

Education: Sensei Kenneth says he originally started karate as a means to get in shape and to lose wieght. His first sensei in Shorin-Ryu was Sensei Courtney Davis at a local middle school gym, in 2003. He spent 2- 1/2 years studying under Sensei Scott where he achieved the rank of Shodan. He has since returned to expand and further his martial arts studies under the guidence of the instructors at the Okinawan Karate-Do Academy.
Career: He is new-comer to the tournament scene. He competes at local tournaments in the St. Louis metro area.
Currently: He is currently a student and instructor at the Okinawan Karate-Do Academy. Since returning, he has taken on the responsible of maintaining the newsletter and established the school's website. He is also responsible for logo designs and other media content.

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Lee Lockhart, 1st Dan

Education: Sensei Lee began his training in karate with Sensei Michael Norvell at the Okinawan Karate-Do Academy in March of 2004. he has also been training in self-defense under Sensei George Winkler, Sensei Courtney, and Sensei Matt Kunchek. He earned his 1st degree black belt in August 2007.
Awards/Recognitions: 2005 UKA 1st place adult beginner division champion in forms and sparring, and 2nd in weapons. 2006 UKA 1st place division champion Advance weapons and 2nd in adv sparring.
Career: Sensei Lee began his training in karate shortly after he signed up his sons; mainly because he has always been interested in martial arts. He started competing in tournaments as a yellow belt and is still currently active on the local tournament circuit. He started teaching as a brown belt and became an instructor as after earning his black belt.
Currently: Sensei Lee currently teaches and trains at the Okinawan Karate-Do Academy 5 days a week.

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Lee Turner, 3rd Dan

EDUCATION:Began Shorin Ryu Karate training in 1971 under Sensei Floyd Boykin and Sensei Charles Beard. In 1991 earned a Black Belt in American Kenpo Karate under instructors Sensei Gaskin and Sensei Mc Mannass. 2002 received Black belt rank of Shodan in Hayashi-Ha Shito-Ryu Kai under Shihan Carl Hultin and Soke Teruo Hayashi at Japan Karate-Do of Northern California. Additional training includes Yamanni Ryu Kobudo & Shorin-Ryu with Shihan Toshihiro Oshiro, Goju-ryu under Sensei Mirkel Buchwald and Aikido under Sensei Elliott Freeman.
Currently ranked as Sandan in Matsubayashi-ryu Karate-do under the instruction Mike Norvell Sensei 5th Dan and George Winkler Sensei 4th Dan at his home dojo the Okinawan Karate-Do Academy St. Louis, MO. Member of the World Matsubayashi Karate-do Association, AAU, and USA-NKF.
AWARDS / RECOGNITIONS: Medalist in national and international competition: 2003 Gold medalist Mens Kumite "US-Open Nat'l Karate Championships." 2002 Gold medalist Mens Kumite "USA-NKF Nat'l Karate Championships." 2002 Gold medalist Mens Kumite "JKR Ryobukai International Karate Championships." 2001 Gold medalist Mens Kumite "USA-NKF Nat'l Karate Championships." 2001 Gold medal Mens Heavyweight division National qualifier. 2001-2004 USA National Karate Federation ( State Referee , CA )
CAREER: Currently working toward earning the rank of Godan under the the instruction and mentorship of Sensei Norvell and striving to become a better martial artist each day.

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