Peak Performance Shotokan Karate - DO to host:
Instructors
Chris Johnson, 6th Dan
Chris Johnson, 6th Dan
Chris Johnson, 6th Dan
CHIEF INSTRUCTOR Sensei Chris has been training Shotokan Karate (traditional Japanese karate) since 1985. She achieved her first level of black belt in 1992. Over the years she has trained and tested for subsequence ranks, achieving her 6th Dan rank in 2014.
In 2002 she became owner and Chief Instructor of Peak Performance Shotokan Karate-Do dojo located in New Brighton, MN. Her school teaches all ages of students, specializing in youth programs. Sensei Chris is also honored to be teaching preschool programs at Creative Kids Academy in the Minneapolis area and youth/adult programs for the YMCA Emma B. Howe-Coon Rapids.
Sensei Chris has also served on the Shotokan Karate International Federation-USA board of directors since 2005; an organization dedicated to growing Shotokan Karate schools throughout the Uinted States. This organization is the USA branch of Shotokan Karate International Federation located in Japan and founded by Kanazawa Soke. Sensei Chris is a certified instructor, judge and referee through SKIF. And has competed on the international stage in Kata.
Gene Smith, 6th Dan
Chris Johnson, 6th Dan
Chris Johnson, 6th Dan
Sensei Gene Smith began training in Japan in 1979 while serving in Tokyo as a member of the US Air Force. He trained with and competed in many tournaments with the Japanese Air Self Defense Air Force in Japan from February 1980 to June 1982. He earned his first dan in November 1980. The only non-Japanese person ever to hold any rank in the Japanese Air Self Defense Force Karate Organization (at that time). In 1981 he became a member of the SKIF home dojo where he trained and taught until 1983. He had the honor of training personally with Kancho Kanazawa Hirokazu. In 1983, while assigned to a US military installation on Pirinslik, Turkey, he organized a small informal dojo. He became a member of Peak Performance dojo in 1996 where he currently trains and teaches. He has attended numerous SKIF seminars in Hawaii, California and Minnesota. Placed second at the Central Minnesota Karate Kumite Championships, 2000. Was a member of Team USA in the First SKIF World tournament: Individual Kumite and Kata , Team Kumite. And also a member of Team USA in the Ninth SKIF World tournament: Individual Kata.
He received his Roku Dan (6th Dan) in June 22, 2013.
Dan Mathieu, 3rd Dan
Chris Johnson, 6th Dan
Dan Mathieu, 3rd Dan
Sempai Dan has been training and teaching at Peak Performance since 2007 after hours of watching his two daughters on the training floor. He received his Shodan (1st Dan) in 2011 and his Sandan (3rd Dan) in 2017.