Kyoshi Steve Warren

Kyoshi Steve Warren began his training with Master Fusie Kise and Grand Master Hohan Soken in the Shorin Ryu Matsumura Seito karate and kobudo family system on Dec. 1, 1973, while stationed at Kadena Air Force base in Okinawa, Japan. Training was hard and intense. Kyoshi Warren received his Shodan (1st degree black belt) on March 3, 1975.

Kyoshi Warren also acted as the Texas Director of the Okinawan Shorin Ryu Kenshin Kan Karate and Kobudo Federation from Aug 1983-1996. Kyoshi Warren was issued the first Police-Self Defense Certificate issued in the U.S. by Grand Master Kise on March 7, 1995.

At this time, Kyoshi Warren received the Lifetime Achievement Award for 22 years of loyal service to the Okinawan Shorin Ryu Kenshin Kan Federation. Kyoshi Warren completed the Texas Peace Officer Training school at Kilgore Police Academy on May 23, 1997 and is a certified Texas Peace Officer. He’s also has worked at the Freestone County Sheriff Office and the Anderson County Sheriff Office for many years and has trained many local police and sheriff deputies over the years.

It was at this time Master Warren founded the TOP COPS PROGRAM, which he teaches to his head instructors and law enforcement personnel. Kyoshi Warren founded the U.S.A. Shorin Ryu Matsumura Wakidokai Karate and Kobujutsu Federation on Jan 1, 2000. Master Warren was promoted to Nanadan (7th degree black belt) and received his Kyoshi title from Master Ron Lindsey on May 19, 2001. Kyoshi Warren was awarded International First Level Agent ranking from the National Security Alliance for his work in child safety and awareness on March 3, 2003.

Kyoshi Warren was certified by Mike Lee Kanarek to teach Israeli Haganah self-defense system on June 1, 2003. Kyoshi Warren was the 20th Instructor certified in the United States, making him one of the earliest pioneers to teach this art in the U.S. Kyoshi Warren elected into the U.S.A. Martial Arts Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Award on July 4, 2004. Master Warren was elected into the World Karate Union Hall of Fame as Shorin Ryu Karate Instructor of the Year June 23, 2006. Maser Warren was also promoted to 8th Dan on Jan 1, 2006 of this same year. The Federation has now grown to locations in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Michigan. Master Warren continues to teach and run day to day operations at the Palestine, Texas Hombo Dojo.

Sensei Gregg Taylor

Sensei Taylor started training in 1979 in the Shorin Ryu Ken Shin Kan system under Master Steve Warren. Sensei Taylor came up thru the ranks to become Master Warren’s most senior student. With 40 years of service and training he was promoted to southern region director for the Shorin Ryu Matsumura Wakidokai Karate Federation which he help Master Warren to develop and create.

Sensei Taylor has also trained with Master Warren’s teacher Master Fusei Kise from Okinawa Japan. Sensei Taylor trained for 14 years in the Ken Shin Kan system and as promoted in both Karate and kobudo. He also received the second Police Instructor Certificate issued under Master Fusei Kise. Master Warren received the first in May 1995.

Master Warren promoted Sensei Taylor to 7th Dan and over the years presented him with his Renshi and Kyoshi titles, which are highly sought and respected in the Okinawan martial arts.

Sensei Taylor is also well known for his realistic self defense and knife training and his skill level in both are excellent. This is due to his training with Master Warren in the Israeli Haganah self defense system. Sensei is a very valuable asset to the Shorin Ryu

Matsumura Wakidokai Karate and Kobjutsu Federation.

Sensei James Culpepper

Sensei Culpepper started training with Master Warren in 1983 after watching a martial arts demonstration by Master Warren and his teacher Grand Master Fusie Kise. At the time Sensei Culpepper was training in Tae Kwon Do with Sensei Ken Pickle. Sensei Culpepper switched over to the Shorin Ryu Matsumura system immediately and has been a loyal member ever since. He also currently the Vice President in the U.S.A. Shorin Ryu Matsumura Karate and Kobujutsu Federation and has been with Master Warren for 38 years. He is also a defensive tactics instructor with the Texas Department of Corrections. He has taught children and adult classes at the Hombo dojo for many years.

Sensei Culpepper was promoted to 7th Dan on July 27 2012 and has attained the title of Kyoshi which is highly respected in the Okinawan martial arts.

Sensei Culpepper is known for his military approach to teaching the martial arts . His classes are high energy and very physical. Sensei Culpepper is a very valuable asset to the Shorin Ryu Karate and Kobujutsu Federation.

Sensei Katsuya Collins

Sensei Katsuya Collins was born in Naha, Okinawa Japan. At an early age he began training in Karate and Judo and developed an immense passion for the arts. At the age of 14 he traveled to the United States to his new home and country.

He was determined to continue his life passion of training in a style of karate that originated from his homeland island of Okinawa. In his travels, over the years and throughout the United States, Katsuya encountered various martial arts Dojos: however, none that incorporated a karate style that originated from his homeland of Okinawa.

This was very important to him because he was very proud of his Okinawan roots. In 2013, Katsuya moved from Alexandria, Louisiana to the small town of Palestine, Texas. As chance would have it during a drive through the downtown area of Palestine, he noticed a karate Dojo by the name of the Shorin Ryu Matsumura Karate Academy. Katsuya quickly reached out to Sensei Warren and began his training in 2013. He immediately recognized many of the old training methods he was taught as a youth.

Katsuya received his 2nd degree black belt in March of 2015. In Sept of 2015, following a 50 year absence from his home in Okinawa, Katsuya returned to reunite with his family. During the reunion, Katsuya discovered his cousin Hesao Sunagawa is a Goju Ryu master. Katsuya began one on one training with his cousin in 2015 and in November of 2016, earned his Shodan in Goju Ryu. While back home, Katsuya had the rare opportunity to participate along with 3,792 other martial artists in the making of history, as they all simultaneously performed a kata in the streets of Okinawa and broke the Guinness World record of this feat. Katsuya continues his training with Sensei Warren at the Hombu Dojo in Palestine, Texas. He has been actively teaching children and adults in the Palestine Dojo for the past several years. Katsuya plans to continue training with his cousin in Okinawa as he now has the best of both worlds. He hopes to pass on his legacy to his grandchildren.