Sensei Joe Thomas

5' 9" tall and 190 lbs.

In 1981 Mr. Joe Thomas began his karate training in Houston, Texas under the instruction of Gary Lee (promoter of the "Living Legends" event) in Hawaian Kenpo.

1984-1987    After a 3 year hiatus during which Mr. Thomas competed in bodybuilding and powerlifting, he once again took up the study of karate in earnest under Sensei Larry Lunn.

1987-1990    Mr. Thomas continued his training with Sensei Ray Keller in Shorin Ryu Karate-Do.  There he trained under such notable instructors as Charlie Dean, Rusty Scott, Sean Riley as well as receiving private instruction from Sensei Mike Arnold (South Texas Shorin Ryu Karate founder).

1988-1997    Mr. Thomas cross trained in Judo and Tomiki Aikido under Sensei Karl Geis (Black Belt Hall of Fame Coach of the Year).  There he trained under and with state and National Judo Champions Bill Johnson, Mark Olsen, Brian Neil and Matt Richard.

1994-1999    Mr. Thomas taught karate professionally for Young Olympians Youth Organization in cooperation with the Houston Parks and Recreation Department.  The focus of the program was primarily to teach children ages 5-15 self-defense and safety awareness.

At present Mr. Thomas teaches a small Mushinkai Karate class and trains privately with long time friend and training partner Sensei Chris McLean.  In addition, Mr. Thomas is seriously involved in the study of Machado style Brazilian Jujitsu in Humble, Texas under Alvis Solis.

Mr. Thomas has worked full-time in the night club security industry for over 2 decades.  Although dangerous work, Mr. Thomas feels that on the positive side he has learned what karate techniques and theories are most applicable in real life self-defense encounters.  This is an aspect of karate that many of his contemporaries, he feels, have not had the chance to experience on a regular basis, if at all.  Mr. Thomas applies this real life combat experience to both his personal training and teaching.

Mr. Joe Thomas has Black Belts in Karate, Judo and Aikido.

"Karate has saved my life in more ways than one.  The way I learned karate from Sensei Larry Lunn is the way I teach it.

It is more than just an effective form of combat or sport.  It is a way of life.  It provides philosophical guidelines for living and dealing with such concepts as honor, courage, compassion and more.  Karate is about being a good and decent human being.

In this way Karate has helped me make the proper life altering decisions outside of fighting".

Joe Thomas

Larry Lunn

The Great

Karl Geis

and

Joe Thomas

1st place

Heavy Weight

Kumite

Joe Thomas

and

Mushinkai

Black Belts

Joe Thomas

5' 9"

vs

Chris McLean

The Legendary

Jim Harrison

and

Joe Thomas

at

Knife

Defense

Bando's

Zulfi Ahmed

and

Sensei

Rickey McLemore

Extreme fighting

Heavy Weight

Champion

and Sensei

Chris McLean

and

Joe Thomas

Not bad for