Sensei Masayuki Ueoka

Like many young Japanese, Sensei Ueoka began training in one form of Martial Arts or another fairly early on. During high school, Masa trained intensely in Kendo for over 3 years. After high school, though, his passion moved on to Karate. Sensei Ueoka began training in karate at the Komazawa University in Tokyo at the age of 18. Komazawa University was, and still is, renowned for producing powerful karate practitioners, and in 1970 Sensei Ueoka was a team member when Komazawa took the All Japan College Championship. During his time at Komazawa, Sensei Ueoka had the privilege of training under Sensei Hiroshi Shirai, himself a Komazawa graduate and now the head of the European Traditional Karate Federation. Sensei Takeshi Oishi, another Komazawa graduate and the current Chief Instructor at Komazawa, was another regular instructor during Masa's University years.

Sensei Ueoka began teaching Shotokan Karate at Y.M.C.A in Santa Barbara in 1980 under the direction of one of the great karate masters, Hidetaka Nishiyama, and taught class at The University of California, Santa Barbara for 10 years.

Now in his 40th year studying Karate, with "still long way to comprehend the true meaning of Karate as Bushido". His selfless dedication to teaching for over 25 years has served as a model for how personal character can be developed through the study of karate.

Paul Johnson - Senior Instructor

Paul Johnson began his martial arts training with a short stint in Tang Soo Do in 1972. However, his serious training did not begin until after graduation from University of California, Santa Barbara, in 1982. During that year Paul began training with Sensei Masayuki Ueoka at the Santa Barbara YMCA. In 1986, Paul moved to San Diego with the Rank of 4th Kyu (Sensei Ueoka has never been in a hurry to hand out rankings).

In San Diego Paul trained for 2 years with Sensei Steve Ubl earning the rank of 1st Kyu, before moving back to Santa Barbara and Sensei Ueoka.

Paul received the rank of Shodan in 1989, and the rank Nidan in 1992, the same year that Santa Barbara JKA opened its doors. All through the years, Paul's testing was presided over by Master Nishiyama.

Chad Peplinski - Senior Instructor

Chad Peplinski starting training Shotokan Karate in 1991 when he began college at the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point. During his years at the university, Chad became the President of the UWSP Karate Club and taught weekly classes. He earned his Shodan from senseis David Bruener and Tony DiSardi in 1995. Before moving to California and becoming a student of Sensei Ueoka, Chad earned his Nidan in 1997. In 1998, he began teaching at our dojo and has been a member of the instructor's group since then.

In addition to training under Sensei Ueoka, Chad has been an active student of Sensei Ben Otake founder of Shin Shin Mugendo and the Shindokai organization. Chad has found that training with two such excellent senseis has provided him with the advantage of unique perspectives of two highly experienced and knowledgeable martial artists. In 2008, Chad was awarded the rank of Godan by Sensei Otake.

He is also an Assistant Staff Instructor Tacfire Tactical Firearms Training Institute and an Affiliate Firearms Instructor for Defense Training International, Inc. He has been teaching firearms and other defensive tactics since 2004.

Chad is also a Reserve Officer with the Santa Paula Police Department.