VALLEY MARTIAL ARTS CENTER
KARATE INSTRUCTORS
Taichiro Kaijima
2016 - 1st place Kata and Team Kumite at the 55th AAKF National Karate Championship in Minneapolis, MN
2015 - 3rd place Kata and Team Kumite at the WTKF An-American Championship in Natal, Brazil
2015 - Awarded 5th Degree Black Belt from WTKF
2015 - 1st place Kata, 2nd place Kogo at the 54th AAKF National Karate Championship in Washington DC, VA
2014 - 1st place Kata at the 53rd AAKF National Karate Championship in Dallas, TX
2013 - 1st place Kata and Fukugo at the 52nd AAKF National Karate Championship in St. Louis, MO
2012 - Top 8 Individual Kata and Fukugo at the ITKF World Championships in Poland
2012 - 2nd place at the 1st Nishiyama Memorial Cup in San Diego
2012 - 1st Place Kata and Fukugo, 3rd Place Kogo at the 51st AAKF National Championship in Los Angeles, CA
2011 - 2nd Place Fukugo, 3rd Place Kata at the ITKF Pan American Championship in Santiago, Chile
2011 - 1st place Kata, 2nd place Fukugo, Team Kumite at the 50th AAKF National Championship in Atlanta, GA
2010 - 3rd place Fukugo at the 15th ITKF Traditional Karate World Championship in Brazil
2010 - 1st place Kata, 2nd place Fukugo at the 49th AAKF National Championship in Seattle, WA
2009 - Present - Instructing at Valley Martial Arts Center (VMAC)
2009 - 1st place Kata, 2nd place Fukugo at the 48th AAKF National Championship in Minneapolis, Minnesota
2009 - Instructed seminars in 3 cities in Poland
2007 - 3rd place at ITKF Summer Camp Goodwill Tournament in San Diego, CA
2007 - 2nd place Fukugo, Kata, 3rd place Team Kumite at the 46th AAKF National Championship in Dallas, TX
2006 - Instructed at Eran Shine Traditional Karate in North Hollywood
2006 - 2nd place Fukugo, 3rd place in Kata at the 45th AAKF National Championship in Laguna Hills, CA
2005 - Awarded 4th Degree Black Belt from ITKF
2005 - Instructed at International Karate Camp in Krakow, Poland
2005 - 3rd place Fukugo at the 44th AAKF National Championship in Atlanta, GA
2004 - 2020 - Instructing at National Karate Institute (NKI)
2001 - 2004 Instructed at Swedish Embassy in Tokyo, Japan
2000 - 1st place Individual Kata, Team Kumite at the 39th AAKF National Championship in Atlanta, Georgia
1999 - 1st place Fukugo and Team Kumite at the 38th AAKF National Championship in Spokane, Washington
1998 - Awarded 3rd Degree Black Belt from ITKF
1997 - Joined National Karate Institute (NKI) in Los Angeles
1995 - Awarded 2nd Degree Black Belt from ITKF
1995 - 2000 Instructed at TKA
1993 - Joined Traditional Karate Academy (TKA) in Los Angeles
1992 - Awarded 1st Degree Black Belt from JKA
1989 - Joined the Japan Karate Association (JKA) Headquarters in Tokyo, Japan
"Before I started karate training nearly 30 years ago, I was never physically active or fit. Now I'm in my 40's; my body has never been in better condition, and my mind/sense has never been this sharp or clear, all thanks to the karate training. I have met so many amazing people locally and internationally through karate connections, and some of my best life experiences happened at dojos, seminars or tournaments. My late teacher, Master Nishiyama, left us a path of karate training that is fun and systematic; I'm here at VTK/VMAC, hoping to share with you my positive experiences through the training of this art."
About 30 years of Karate experience started in his native country of Japan. 10 time U.S. national champion. Internationally certified coach & instructor.
Chief Karate Instructor
Eiko Murata
2015 - 1st place in Kogo Kumite, 2nd place in Team Kumite, 3rd place in Fukugo at the WTKF Pan American Championship in Natal, Brazil
2015 - 3rd place in Fukugo, 3rd place in Kumite at the 54th AAKF National Championship in Washington DC, VA
2015 - Received Nidan (2nd degree Black Belt)
2014 - 3rd place in Fukugo at ITKF World Championship in Geneva, Switzerland
2014 - 2nd place in Kumite, 3rd place in Fukugo at AAKF US National Championships in Dallas, TX
2013 - 3rd place in Kumite, 3rd place in Kogo at AAKF US National Championship in St. Louise, MO
2013 - 1st place in Kata, 1st place in Kumite at AAKF Western regional Championships in Redondo Beach, CA
2012 - 3rd place in Kata, 3rd place in Kumite at AAKF Western regional Championships in Los Angeles, CA
2011 - 3rd place in Kumite at AAKF US National Championships in Atlanta, GA
2011 - 1st place in Kata, 2nd in Kumite at AAKF Western regional Championships in San Diego, CA
2010 - 3rd place in Kumite at AAKF US National Championships in Seattle, WA
2010 - 2nd place in Kumite, 3rd place in Kata at AAKF Western regional Championships in San Diego, CA
2009 Received Shodan (1st degree Black Belt) from ITKF (International Traditional Karate Federation)
2008 Joined NKI (National Karate Institute) under sensei Hidetaka Nishiyama in Los Angeles, CA
2007 Joined Traditional Karate Academy under Avi Rokah, Los Angeles, CA
2004 Joined the Southbay Shotokan Karate in Redondo Beach, CA
Adult and Kids Karate Instructor
A Gold Medalist at WTKF Pan-American Championships, and a Bronze Medalist at WTKF World Championships.
Eiko Murata (VTK adult and kids Instructor), is a 2nd degree black belt with about 18 years of karate experience. An international-level competitor, winning numerous tournaments at the regional, national and international levels. A Sensei Nishiyama's latest student and has been training regularly at several renowned dojos such as Rokah Karate under Sensei Avi Rokah and NKI under Sensei Ron Vance.
Jon Budd
Adult and Kids Karate Instructor
Jon Budd has been studying martial arts for 29 years. In college he studied Tae Kwon Do from 1988 to 1992. He continued his martial arts training after college in Tang Soo Do from 1992 to 1994.
In 1994 Jon started studying Shotokan Karate with Sensei Avi Rokah for 3 years and was awarded green belt (4th Kyu) by Master Nishiyama in 1997. He received 1st degree black belt (Sho-dan) in 2004.
Since 2008, he continued to study Shotokan Karate from sensei Taichiro Kaijima and occasionally Ron Vance and Avi Rokah.
Jon received 2nd degree black belt (Ni-dan) in 2017.
VALLEY MARTIAL ARTS CENTER