Saturday, December 18, 2010

Kansas Superfights

Karate Tournament Results
Taty Huhn
1st Int. Kata
2nd Int. Sparring

Saturday, December 18, 2010
Kansas Superfights
McPhereson, KS

Friday, December 17, 2010

About Us

American Karate & Martial Science - About Us

Mission Statement: Our mission is to achieve Success through Excellence.

Striving for excellence is not a journey for superiority, competing with others or about outstripping someone. Excellence means being better tomorrow than you were yesterday. We achieve excellence by matching practice with potential.

Motto: Reach one, Teach one!

"In seeking wisdom, the first step is silence,
the second listening,
the third remembering,
the fourth practicing,
the fifth --- teaching others."

INTRODUCTION

Thomas Williams is the chief instructor and senior master of American Karate and Martial Science. He holds black belt ranks in several disciplines. His mission is to achieve excellence by matching hard work with potential. He believes that at any point in a persons life if you can reach one you can teach one. The physical and cultural arts are uniquely suited for the personal development of children and adults, stressing such values as respect, discipline, courage and integrity while also teaching goal-setting skills and instilling a positive work ethic. Psychological studies show that quality martial arts training improves the ability to focus, to concentrate, self-discipline, self-confidence, self-esteem, and the ability to manage stress. Martial arts also provide positive peer influence, pro-social activity and positive leadership from the instructors.

OUR SYSTEM

American Karate and Martial Science is an eclectic system of martial skills which should not be confused with or considered to be a newly created martial art. It is merely my perspectives, influences and strengths of the martial arts of TaeKwon-Do, GoJu, Kenpo and modern Arnis.

What I have learned from these schools of thought have been compiled, absorbed and distributed back to my students. Therefore, I can not claim to instruct my students in the classical forms of these martial arts. It is what I have given them. Although It may not be classical, it is traditional. Traditional because there is a method and philosophy of how the martial arts have been taught and how my students will instruct their students and so on. Remember, over a period of time, even traditions change. It is every instructors hope that any changes made are positive changes which will help and aid in the growth and development of his/her particular system.

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Meet Dr. Thomas Williams, Master Instructor

Thomas Williams Two time
USA Hall of Fame Member and Ph.D.
2012 United States Hall of Fame Member
Thomas Williams is the Chief Instructor and has been in the martial arts for over 40 years. He holds black belt ranks in several disciplines and is considered to be one of the top Law Enforcement trainers in Kansas when it comes to defensive tactics, reactive knife, and firearms.

Awards
  • 1974 Outstanding Martial Artist Award Hutchinson Moo Duk Kwan Club
  • 1975 Outstanding Martial Artist Award Hutchinson Moo Duk Kwan Club
  • 1984-1985 Edition of Americas Who’s Who In American Martial Arts
  • 1990 Graduate Executive Security International
  • 1992 Karate International Magazine’s Who’s Who In The Martial Arts
  • 1999 Action Martial Arts Who’s Who In The Martial Arts
  • 2005 IMAF Manuel C. Pina Award for Excellence
  • 2009 USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame
  • 2009 Ph.D. University of Asian Martial Arts Study
  • 2010 USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame
  • 2010 Martial Arts Master of the Year
  • 2011 International Independent Martial Arts Association (IIMAA) Hall of Fame
  • 2012 United States Martial Arts Hall of Fame

Memberships & Associations
  • Alliance Martial Arts Association 
  • Martial Arts Masters Association
  • Midwest Brotherhood Karate Association
  • Midwest Karate Officials Association
  • Independent Martial Arts Federation
  • International Independent Martial Arts Association
  • International Martial Arts Council
  • United States Martial Arts Association

Related Accomplishments
  • Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center Firearms Instructor
  • Kansas Department of Corrections Firearms Instructor
  • Kansas Department of Corrections Master Defensive Tactics Instructor
  • Defensive Tactics Instructor
  • Mike Inay Reactive Knife Instructor
  • Department of Justice Defensive Tactics Instructor


Independent Martial Arts Federation
Thomas Williams, Kansas Representative
Mr. Williams is the Kansas Representative for the Independent Martial Arts Federation. The Independent Martial Arts Federation provides rank and instructor recognition to martial artists from all disciplines that have found themselves without an instructor or the means to obtain regular promotions.


USA Martial Arts Hall Of Fame
The U.S.A. Martial Arts Hall of Fame was originally designed in the mid 1970’s as a service to Karate practitioners with the U.S.K.A. under co-creators Grand Master Robert Trias and Jim Thomas. During this period, there were no other ‘Hall of Fame’ types anywhere except the well-known Black Belt magazine's Black Belt Hall of Fame. After the passing of Grand Master Trias, student & co-creator Dr. Jim Thomas of the U.S.A. Martial Arts Hall of Fame decided to take this Hall of Fame to another level. In 1992, the all-new U.S.A. Martial Arts Hall of Fame began.

Thomas Williams, 2009 Inductee
USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame
Thomas Williams, 2009 Silver Life Award
30-40 years of Martial Service


Thomas Williams
2010 Martial Arts Master of the year
Thomas Williams
2010 Martial Arts Master of the year

University Of Asian Martial Arts Study Ph.D. Program 

The martial arts Alliance and USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame have been working on a PH.D. Program for tenured martial art instructors for almost a decade. The only way to be part of this program is to be an Inducted member of the U.S.A. Martial Arts ‘Hall of Fame’! Once you are part of the USA Martial Arts ‘Hall of Fame’ you’ve proven a standard of excellence. After the ‘Hall of Famer’ has been inducted he/she may choose to participate in the Ph.D. Program. Those interested must provide a Dissertation/Thesis that will be read and approved or disapproved by a Board of Directors. If approved, honorees are recognized as one of the best the industry of the Martial Arts offer! The Ph.D. program is not a traditional scholastic accredited degree that authorizes anyone to claim to be a medical doctor! This program defines you as one of the best in the martial arts industry! The Board of Directors consists of Martial Arts Masters and Grand Masters who are also Lawyers, Physicians, Science Doctors, Education Ph.D.’s etc….who volunteer their time as Board members.

Every city has unqualified martial art schools and teachers in them! Some should not be allowed to operate, but do! This feels like a ‘black eye’ to those qualified instructors who operate honorably! A master plumber with 10-15 years experience will make $50.00 to $100.00 per hour or more. Get an air-conditioning/heating person out to repair at $50.00/ $100.00 per hour or more! Hire an attorney…WOW!!!…Look, often times we are valued by our titles, proof of authentication etc….we might not be able to say we’re a medical doctor but we are as valid in what we do than some who are traditionally blessed with degrees and education! We have many, 20-30 plus years active teachers who have designed, dedicated, spent their world being who they are as teachers, leaders, instructors and more! We are equally as qualified in teaching martial arts, science and history as an educator. Thanks to organizations like EFC, NAPMA and MAIA we can continue our education of the martial arts by attending seminars on tuition, learning theory, fitness, sales, management and marketing. Not many understand the difference in what we have done in the martial arts world…the sacrifices, aches, injuries, developments and ideas it took to train and develop our students to be a more efficient and disciplined member of society with integrity and character.

Being a black belt in it self does not mean you are an instructor. Black belts from 2nd to 5th dans are referred to as sempei (senior grade). It is the sempei that set the example for the kohai (junior grade) to follow. More than simple seniority, sempai implies a relationship similar to mentoring. They are expected to assist the Chief Instructor with less experienced students. A kohai is expected to respect and follow the sempai, and the sempai in turn must guide, protect, and teach the kohai as best they can the rules and etiquette of the dojo. Black belts can achieve tested rank up to 5th dan and honored rank up to 8th with 9th and 10th reserved for the founder of an art or system or promotions to said rank by a board of review. It is at 5th dan and above that you hear the term “master” and “grand master”. Thanks to the Alliance and a few other organizations, those that have spent twenty plus years of their life teaching the martial arts can be honored with professorships and doctorates of the martial arts and sciences.

Thomas L. Williams, Ph.D. 
American Karate & Martial Science

Thomas Williams Ph.D.
Asian Martial Arts Studies


Monday, December 13, 2010

Meet Our Black Belts

Sandra Price-Byrd is a 7th Degree black belt in American Karate and a 4th Degree in GoJu-Ryu. She is an assistant instructor to Mr. Williams as well as Chief instructor along with her husband Ricky Byrd at their own school in McPherson, Kansas. Sandra and Ricky put on the Kansas SuperFights and Showdown tournaments, Boxing and full contact matches.

AWARDS
  2012 United States Martial Arts Hall of Fame Inductee
Marcia Dillon is a 5th Degree Black Belt in American Karate and assistant instructor to Mr. Williams. She assists with the Women Self Defense Workshops.
Jesse Pinkston is a 1st Degree Black Belt in Taekwon-Do and a 3rd Degree Black Belt in American Karate.
Jean Gaeddert is a 6th Degree Black Belt. She assists Mr. Williams with the youth and adult classes and Women Self Defense Workshops.
Shelli Matzek is a 4th Degree Black Belt in American Karate and a 3rd Degree in GoJu-Ryu.
Wendy Brown is a 5rd Degree Black Belt in American Karate.

H. James is a 5th Degree Black Belt. He is the owner and Chief Instructor of Young-San Karate in Denton, Maryland.