Fred was presented with the Service and Appreciation award at the 2025 Summer Camp for his years of service and contributions as an instructor, competitor, host and most recently as AKS Chief Instructor. Fred is well known throughout the martial arts community and has brought presitge and honor to the American Karate System.

Congratulations, Fred!

-- Dave Thomas 9th Dan
Chief InstructorAmerican Karate System

Congratulations, Mark!

-- Fred Reinecke 9th Dan
Chief InstructorAmerican Karate System

The AKS Appreciation Award is a new category for 2015 and the honor goes to Mark Derby from the Ross Park Muskegon Karate Club.

Mark is responsible for finding the old magazine articles on Mr. Lieb and contributing most to the material of the archive section of our web site.

Mark has spent many hours digging for anything about the early days of the AKS and anything he can find with regards to Mr. Lieb and his desire to create a martial arts system for which he spent his life developing.  His research helps create a coherent background for how we, the American Karate System, came to be.

I think a small plaque or certificate would be in order.

Congratulations, Mark!

-- Dave Thomas 8th Dan / American Karate System