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The Home of Michael Berger's Traditional Japanese Style Karate |
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Yudanshakai--black belts
Glen
A. Michel, 2nd Dan - Glen began his study of Karate in 1981 while a
student at the University of Arizona. His interest in Karate expanded into
a passion for Japan and its language and culture. In 1983, Glen made his
first trip to Japan and attended the Kansai University of Foreign Languages
in Osaka. Glen earned his 1st Dan (black belt) in 1988 at the Japan Karate
Association (JKA) Headquarters in Tokyo. Two years later he earned his 2nd
Dan in Tokyo in an all Tokyo testing where Glen distinguished himself as
one of two foreigners out of over 200 participants to test that day.
Glen has had the opportunity to study at the JKA Headquarters in Tokyo where he was able to train under many of Karate’s greatest instructors. He has also trained at the Hoitsugan Dojo, founded by legendary Karate Master Masatoshi Nakayama, under the tutelage of his protégé Minoru Kawawada. Glen trained under Kesuke Seto, 7th Dan, of the Seto Juku Dojo in Tokyo. Seto Sensei was gifted in the use of Chi (life energy) and was one of the kindest instructors Glen has had the pleasure of training with. In the United States, Glen has trained with Shojiro Koyama, 7th Dan and James Field, 7th Dan, one of the highest-ranking non-Japanese instructors in the World.
Glen is a lifetime member of the JKA in Japan and also a member of the International Shotokan Karate Federation (ISKF) and the International Karate Association (IKA) lead by Grandmaster Takayuki Kubota in the United States.
Glen is bilingual English/Japanese and is married to a Japanese national.
His son Sean is now training Karate carrying on the Karate tradition to
a second generation.
Andrew
J. Pacejka, 2nd Dan - Andy began training in 1990 while a college
student at Illinois Wesleyan with the Central Illinois Shotokan Karate
Association (CISKA), an affiliate of the American Shotokan Karate Alliance.Under
the guidance of instructor Elston Flowers and Chief Instructor Carl Hartter,
Andy became president of the Illinois Wesleyan Karate Club, competed in
numerous tournaments (including the annual Chicago Classic hosted by the
Illinois Shotokan Karate Clubs), and attended seminars which featured
martial arts greats Sensei Stan Schmidt,Sensei Randall Hassell and Shihan
Osamu Ozawa.
After relocating to Salt Lake City in 1996, he began training with Shihan Michael Berger, Chief Instructor of the Ken Zen Ichi Utah Dojo of the International Karate Association (IKA). In the year 2000, Andy represented Ken Zen Ichi at the All-World Millenium Kubota Cup in Los Angeles, where he placed third in the brown belt kumite division. He subsequently achieved the rank of Shodan at the conclusion of the tournament, with Soke Kubota and a panel of international judges presiding.After undergoing a rigorous training regime aimed at developing his teaching skills, he continued his own training and began as an assistant instructor as the Utah Branch Dojo.
Other tournament victories have included a runner up in the Wado International U.S. Championships in the kata division, AAU regional champion in the kata division, and AAU National Qualifier in the kumite division. Andy still trains and teaches at the Utah Dojo under the tutelage of Sensei Marius Gilca.
Says Shihan Berger, " Sensei Andy Pacejka really exemplifies the true spirit of karate-do. His consistency, reliability, discipline and patience have been invaluable help to us at the Utah Dojo. His unselfish spirit and willingness to give back to the art are commendable."
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