VALLEY MARTIAL ARTS CENTER
KARATE INSTRUCTORS
Taichiro Kaijima
Chief Karate Instructor
About 30 years of Karate experience started in his native country of Japan.
10 time U.S. national champion. Internationally certified coach & instructor.
"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."
Adult and Kids Karate Instructor
Eiko Murata
A World Medalist and Pan-American Champion
Eiko Murata (VTK adult and kids Instructor) is a 3rd-degree black belt with about 19 years of karate experience. She is a former international-level competitor who won numerous regional, national, and international tournaments. She was Sensei Nishiyama's latest student and has been training regularly at several renowned dojos such as Rokah Karate under Sensei Avi Rokah and under Sensei Ron Vance.
Adult and Kids Karate Instructor
Jon Budd
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