VMAC KARATE INSTRUCTORS
Sherman Oaks / Los Angeles, CA
Chief Karate Instructor
Taichiro Kaijima
Over 30 years of Karate experience, started in his native country of Japan, 10 years of training under Hidetaka Nishiyama. A dozen-time U.S. national champion. Internationally certified coach & instructor.
"Before I started karate training over 30 years ago, I was never physically active or fit. Now I'm in my 40s; 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 VMAC hoping to share with you my positive experiences through the training of this art."
Eiko Murata
A World Medalist, Pan-American Champion, and multi-medalist in the US National Championships. A Japanese instructor with over 20 years of experience. The latest student of Hidetaka Nishiyama.
Eiko Murata is a 3rd-degree black belt with more than 20 years of karate experience. She is a national official judge and an instructor with the US Budo Karate Association, as well as a former international-level competitor who has won numerous regional, national, and world titles, including the WTKF World Karate Championship in Switzerland and the WTKF Pan-American Championship in Brazil. She currently teaches both adults and children at VMAC.
Jon Budd
Jon has been studying martial arts for 32 years. In college, he studied Tae Kwon Do from 1988 to 1992 and continued his martial arts training in Tang Soo Do from 1992 to 1994.
In 1994, Jon started studying Shotokan Karate with Sensei Avi Rokah in Los Angeles, CA, for three years and was awarded a green belt (4th Kyu) by Master Nishiyama in 1997. He received a 1st-degree black belt (Sho-dan) in 2004.
Since 2008, he has continued to study Shotokan Karate from sensei Taichiro Kaijima and occasionally Ron Vance and Avi Rokah.
Jon received a 2nd-degree black belt (Ni-dan) in 2017.