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Frederic A. Reinecke Bio Page
Fred Reinecke 9th Dan
AKS Chief Instructor
Mike Sullenger - Chief Instructor Emeritus
Michael A. Sullenger 9th Dan
Chief Instructor Emeritus
2017
First recipient
Ernest H. Lieb Award
Ernest H. Lieb 10th Dan
Ernest H. Lieb 10th Dan AKS
1940 - 2006
Founder:
1964 - American Karate Association

1965 - American Ji-Do-Kwan System

1973 - American Karate System

Academy of Masters
Masters Hall of Fame
1st Posthumus Inductee - 2009

Ernest H. Lieb Foundation - 2016

In honor of the 10th anniversary of Mr. Lieb's passing, the AKS established an Ernest H. Lieb Foundation.  In 2017, the first Ernest H. Lieb Award was established and presented to Michael A. Sullenger and Dave Thomas for their dedication and service to furthering Ernie's dream for the American Karate System.

Fred Reinecke

Frederic A. Reinecke 9th Dan AKS

AKS Chief Instructor / AKS Executive Board Member
  • 2012 AKS Special Recognition
    •
  • Chief Instructor
    AKS Headquarters 5571 E. Apple Ave, Muskegon, MI 49442

  • (231) 777-1996 - 3695 Cline Road - Muskegon, MI 49444
    • Mike Sullenger

    Michael A. Sullenger 9th Dan AKS

    AKS Chief Instructor Emeritus / AKS Executive Board Advisor
  • 2024 Univeral Martial Arts Hall of Fame Inductee
  • 2023 United States Martial Arts Hall of Fame Award Recipient
  • 2019 South Texas Black Belt Association Hall of Fame Inductee
  • 2017 Ernest H. Lieb Award Recipient
  • 2010 AKS Special Recognition
  • 2008 Academy of Masters, Masters Hall of Fame Inductee
    •
  • (956) 264-4499 - 4806 N 29th Ln, McAllen, Texas 78504)
    • John Folsum

    John Folsom 8th Dan AKS

    AKS Executive Board Advisor
  • Chief Instructor
    Salem Karate Club - Salem, West Virginia

  • (304) 782-3756 - 118 Lakeview Terrace Drive - Salem, WV 26426
    • Dave Thomas

    Dave Thomas 8th Dan AKS

  • AKS Executive Board Advisor
    •
  • 2017 Ernest H. Lieb Award Recipient
    •
  • Chief Instructor
    American Karate Club - Cassell Training Center 710 Alberta St. Muskegon, MI 49441

  • (231) 206-3279 - 3871 Highgate Road - Norton Shores, MI 49441
    • E. Jude Gore

    E. Jude Gore 7th Dan AKS

  • AKS Executive Board Chairperson
    •
  • 2010 Academy of Masters, Instructor of The Year
  • 2009 AKS Black Belt of the Year
    •
  • Assistant Instructor
    Mountaineer Karate Club Meadowbrook, West Virginia 26404
  • Assistant Instructor
    Salem Karate Club Salem, West Virginia

  • PO Box 502, Clarksburg, West Virginia 26302-0502
    • Debra Roy

    Debra Roy 6th Dan AKS

  • AKS Executive Board Member
    •
  • 2010 AKS Black Belt of the Year
  • 1992 AKS Black Belt of the Year
    •
  • Assistant Instructor
    American Karate Club - Cassell Training Center Muskegon, Michigan
    • Jim Roy

    Jim Roy 6th Dan AKS

  • 2010 AKS Black Belt of the Year
  • 1993 AKS Black Belt of the Year
    •
  • Assistant Instructor
    American Karate Club - Cassell Training Center Muskegon, Michigan
    • Steve Thurkettle

    Steve Thurkettle 6th Dan AKS

  • Mustang OK
    • Tina Benson

    Tina Benson 5th Dan AKS; 1st Dan Kuk Sool Won

  • Member
    AKS Headquarters Muskegon, Michigan
    • Andrew Eckhart

    Andrew Eckhart 5th Dan AKS

  • AKS Executive Board Member
    •
  • 2012 AKS Black Belt of the Year
    •
  • Chief Instructor
    West Toledo YMCA Karate & Self-Defense Program Toledo Ohio 43613
    • Brian Greynolds

    Brian K. Greynolds 5th Dan AKS

  • 2013 AKS Black Belt of the Year

  • 107 Oakridge Estates Road, Mt. Clare West Virginia 26408
    • Sheryl Weihl

    Sheryl Weihl 5th Dan AKS

  • Member / Assistant Instructor
    AKS Headquarters Muskegon, Michigan
    • Brian Fox

    Brian Fox 4th Dan AKS

  • Member
    American Karate Club Muskegon, Michigan
    • Kristyn Reinecke

    Kristyn Reinecke 4th Dan AKS

  • AKS Executive Board Member
    •
  • 2023 AKS Black Belt Competitor of the Year
  • 2014 AKS Competitor of the Year
  • 2012 AKS Student of the Year
    •
  • Assistant Instructor
    Orchard View Black Belts Muskegon, Michigan
    • Mark Soderstrom

    Mark Soderstrom 4th Dan AKS

  • 2024 AKS Black Belt Service Award
  • 2015 AKS Black Belt of the Year
    •
  • Chief Instructor
    Shores Community Martial Arts Club Muskegon, Michigan
    • Brian Wolffis

    Brian Wolffis 4th Dan AKS / 4th Dan A.K.A.

  • Member
    American Karate Club Muskegon, Michigan

  • Las Vegas, Nevada
    • Father Jim Wyse

    Fr. James Wyse 4th Dan AKS

  • Member
    American Karate Club Muskegon, Michigan
    • John S. Billie

    John Billie 3rd Dan AKS

  • Assistant Instructor
    Mountaineer Karate Club Meadowbrook, West Virginia 26404
  • Chief Instructor
    Mountain Man Karate and Kobudo Karate Club West Virginia 26503

    • Brent Chalko

    Brent Chalko 3rd Dan AKS

  • Member
    American Karate Club Muskegon, Michigan
    • Robert Essenberg

    Robert Essenberg 3rd Dan AKS

  • 2009 Academy of Masters, Masters Hall of Fame Instructor of the Year
    •
  • Guest Instructor
    American Karate Club - Cassell Training Center 710 Alberta St., Muskegon, Michigan 49441
    • Sandra K. Gore

    Sandra K. Gore 3rd Dan AKS

  • Assistant Instructor
    Mountaineer Karate Club Meadowbrook, West Virginia 26404

  • PO Box 502, Clarksburg, West Virginia 26302-0502
    • Ron Sprague

    Ron Sprague 3rd Dan AKS

  • Assistant Instructor
    AKS Headquarters 5571 E. Apple Ave, Muskegon, MI 49442

    • William Way

    William Way 3rd Dan AKS

  • 2019 AKS Black Belt of the Year
  • 2012 AKS Student of the Year
    •
  • Assistant Instructor
    Mountaineer Karate Club Meadowbrook, West Virginia 26404

    • James E. Wise

    James E. Wise 3rd Dan AKS

  • Assistant Instructor
    Salem Karate Club Salem, West Virginia

    • Sameer 'Sam' Abed

    Sameer "Sam" Abed 2nd Dan AKS

  • Assistant Instructor
    West Toledo YMCA Karate & Self-Defense Program Toledo, Ohio 43613

    • Jasalyn A. Arnett

    Jasalyn A. Arnett 2nd Dan AKS

  • Assistant Instructor
    Mountaineer Karate Club Meadowbrook, West Virginia 26404
    • Mitch Bailey

    Mitch Bailey 2nd Dan AKS

  • Assistant Instructor
    American Karate Club Muskegon, Michigan 49441

    • Rhonda Bailey

    Rhonda Bailey 2nd Dan AKS

  • 2010 AKS Student of the Year
    •
  • Member
    American Karate Club Muskegon, Michigan
    • Sydney E. Brooks

    Sydney E. Brooks 2nd Dan AKS

  • 2024 AKS Black Belt of the Year
  • 2019 AKS Student of the Year
    •
  • Chief Instructor
    Mountaineer Karate Club Meadowbrook, West Virginia 26404
    • JB Bryant

    JB Bryant 2nd Dan AKS

  • Assistant Instructor
    West Toledo YMCA Karate & Self-Defense Program Toledo, Ohio 43613

    • Michael Grupp-Verbon

    Michael Grupp-Verbon 2nd Dan AKS

  • Assistant Instructor
    West Toledo YMCA Karate & Self-Defense Program Toledo, Ohio 43613

    • Jeffrey L. Merritt

    Jeffrey L. Merritt 2nd Dan AKS

  • Assistant Instructor
    Salem Karate Club Salem, West Virginia
    • Joseph Mollenkopf

    Joseph Mollenkopf 2nd Dan AKS

  • 2010 AKS Student of the Year
    •
  • Assistant Instructor
    West Toledo YMCA Karate & Self-Defense Program Toledo, Ohio 43613
    • Don Riffle

    Don Riffle 2nd Dan AKS

  • 2009 AKS Student of the Year
    •
  • Assistant Instructor
    Salem Karate Club Salem, West Virginia

    • No Photo

    John Talbot 2nd Dan AKS

  • 2018 AKS Black Belt of the Year
  • 2015 AKS Student of the Year
    •
  • Assistant Instructor
    Tri-Cities Family YMCA - AKS Karate Club Grand Haven, Michigan 49417

    • Laura J. Werner

    Laura J. Werner 2nd Dan AKS

  • AKS Webmaster
    •
  • American Karate Club Muskegon, MI 49441

    • Randi Zattlin

    Randi Zattlin 2nd Dan AKS

  • Assistant Instructor
    Tri-Cities Family YMCA - AKS Karate Club Grand Haven, Michigan 49417
    • Kevin Bond

    Kevin Bond 1st Dan AKS

  • Assistant Instructor
    Old Town Karate Club Mononga, West Virginia 26554
    • Miki M. Gain

    Miki M. Gain 1st Dan AKS

  • 2011 AKS Student of the Year
    •
  • Assistant Instructor
    Salem Karate Club Salem, West Virginia

    • Jenica (Frye) Greynolds

    Jenica Greynolds 1st Dan AKS

  • 107 Oakridge Estates Road, Mt. Clare West Virginia 26408
    • David K. Hays

    David K. Hays 1st Dan AKS

  • Assistant Instructor
    Salem Karate Club Salem, West Virginia

    • Tom Hippchen

    Tom Hippchen 1st Dan AKS

  • Assistant Instructor
    American Karate Club - Cassell Training Center Muskegon, Michigan 49441
    • Jared Jablonski

    Jared Jablonski 1st Dan AKS

  • Assistant Instructor
    West Toledo YMCA Karate & Self-Defense Program Toledo, Ohio 43613
    • Jeremy Jackson

    Jeremy Jackson 1st Dan AKS

  • Assistant Instructor
    Mountaineer Karate Club Meadowbrook, West Virginia 26404
    • Jeff Johnson

    Jeff Johnson 1st Dan AKS

  • Chief Instructor
    Oklahoma Karate Club Mustang, Oklahoma

    • Casey P. Lehto

    Casey P. Lehto 1st Dan AKS

  • Assistant Instructor
    West Toledo YMCA Karate & Self-Defense Program Toledo, Ohio 43613
    • Gloria Moore

    Gloria Moore 1st Dan AKS

    Muskegon, Michigan
    Dan Nawrocki

    Dan Nawrocki 1st Dan AKS

  • Assistant Instructor
    Mountaineer Karate Club Meadowbrook, West Virginia 26404
    • Laura Rohr

    Laura Rohr 1st Dan AKS

  • 2023 AKS Student of the Year
  • 2023 AKS Competitor of the Year
    •
  • Assistant Instructor
    AKS Headquarters 5571 E. Apple Ave, Muskegon, MI 49442

    • Robert Roy

    Robert Roy 1st Dan AKS

  • Assistant Instructor
    American Karate Club - Cassell Training Center Muskegon, Michigan 49441

    • Matthew Schoonover

    Matthew Schoonover 1st Dan AKS

  • Chief Instructor
    Harrison County YMCA Karate Club Clarksburg, West Virginia 26301
    • Aaron Shreve

    Aaron Shreve 1st Dan AKS

  • Assistant Instructor
    Mountaineer Karate Club Meadowbrook, West Virginia 26404
    • TEMPLATE FOR MEMBER INFO IS HIDDEN

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    < li class="mem">Assistant Instructor
    ?? Karate Club City,State

    A.K.S. Associate Members

    Dave Gonzales

    Dave Gonzales


  • David Hayes

    David Hayes 8th Dan Shorin-Ryu


  • Williamston, MI 48895

    • Past / Retired A.K.S. Members

    Rand (Skip) Palmer

    Rand (Skip) Palmer 6th Dan AKS

  • 2010 Academy of Masters, Instructor of The Year
  • 2023 Recipient of the Ernest H. Lieb Award
    •
  • Instructor
    West Toledo YMCA Karate & Self-Defense ProgramToledo OH

  • Retired from A.K.S. in 2023
    • Mark Hainen

    Mark Hainen 2nd Dan A.K.S.

  • Assistant Instructor
    West Toledo YMCA Karate & Self-Defense Program Toledo, Ohio 43613

  • Retired from A.K.S. in 2019
    • Robert Debelak

    Dr. Robert Debelak D.Min. 6th Dan A.K.S.

  • Associate Professor of Biblical Studies
    Lee University, Cleveland TN

  • Retired from A.K.S. in 2019
    • Guessler Normand

    Guessler Normand Ph.D. 6th Dan A.K.S.

  • Dr. Guessler Normand - Bio

  • Past member of AKS Board of Directors
  • Founder and past-director West YMCA Karate Program Toledo, Ohio

  • Retired from A.K.S. in 2000

    • Deceased A.K.S.Members

    Ernest H. Lieb

    Ernest H. Lieb 10th Dan A.K.S.

  • Muskegon, MI 49441
  • Deceased September 2006
  • FOUNDER
    • American Karate Association - 1964
    • American Ji-Do-Kwan System - 1965
    • American Karate System - 1973
  • Academy of Masters, Masters Hall of Fame Posthumus Inductee - 2009
    • Charles C. Krum

    SPC Charles C. Krum 5th Dan A.K.S.

  • Deceased September 2006

  • Christian Fellowship Karate Club Buckhannon, West Virginia 26201
    • Mattheas Augustijn

    Mattheas Augustijn 1st Dan Shotokan.

  • Deceased September 2006

  • A.K.S. Student
    Lathen, Germany
    • Dagmar (Daggi) Wichterich

    Dagmar (Daggi) Wichterich

  • Deceased September 2006

  • A.K.S. Student
    Lathen, Germany
    • Ed Baessler

    Ed Baessler 3rd Dan A.K.S.

  • Deceased
    January 2013

  • Muskegon, Mi
    • Shannon Thomas

    Shannon Thomas 2nd Grade Brown A.K.S.

  • Deceased January 2015

  • Muskegon, Mi
  • Shannon was responsible for naming our "Punchline" newsletter.
    • Roger Wenzel

    Roger Wenzel 6th Dan A.K.S.

  • Deceased March 2015

  • Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
    • Sanford McKenzie

    Sanford McKenzie 3rd Dan A.K.S.

  • Deceased October 2016

    • Ray Sinclair

    Raymond Sinclair 6th Dan A.K.S.

  • Deceased November 2019

  • Assistant Instructor
    Tri-Cities Family YMCA AKS Karate Club     Grand Haven, Michigan
    • Tom Twining

    Tom Twining 8th Dan AKS

  • 7th Dan Chi Do Kwan Karate Do
    •
  • Master Level Instructor
    AKS Headquarters 5571 E. Apple Ave, Muskegon, MI 49442
  • Deceased August, 2023
    • Posthumously Awarded:
  • 2023 Ernest H. Lieb Award Recipient
  • 2023 AKS Black Belt of the Year
    •
    David Eric Thomas

    David Eric Thomas 4th Dan A.K.S.

  • Deceased October 2024

  • Chief Instructor
    Tri-Cities Family YMCA AKS Karate Club     Grand Haven, Michigan
  • 2011 AKS Black Belt of the Year
    •