About the Instructor:  Danny Thompson, Shihan

He was born on June 29, 1963 in the Republic of Panama, to Daniel and Ansonia Thomson.  He began his training in the art of Karate at the young age of 9 years old with his uncle Enrique Gale, and he continued with sensei George Malone.

After studying Karate for over 10 years in his homeland of Panama, he had the opportunity to go to college in Japan at the age of 19.  While there for ten years, he continued his studies in karate with masters Denzo Torikoshi, sensei Tanioka, Master Ishihara, founder of Ishihara karate, Kobudo Master; Shihan Toma, and Tai Chi Master; Okama and many others.  He has competed in several National and International tournaments while in Japan.  In 1987 while attending college in Japan, he was invited to participate in the all Okinawa Karate National where he was awarded first place in kumite in the middle weight division.  He holds a Bachelors Degree in Physical Education from Sophia University - Tokyo, Japan.  He has traveled around the world and competed in numerous tournaments.  He was the first non-Japanese to win the all Japan middleweight title in (Kumite) fighting in 1987, in over twenty-five years.  He holds the rank of 6th Dan wiht the American Bushido Association, 6th Dan with the Georgia Karate League, 5th Dan with the Dai-Ichi Shotokan Karate Association, 5th Dan with the Japan Karate Shoto Renmei (Tokyo), 5th Dan with the Japan Karate Association (Tokyo) and 5th Dan with the World Karate Federation (WKF).

Shihan Thompson's rank is also recognized by his home country and the University of Panama as a Confederated Rank.

"We seek the perfection of our character"
Danny Thompson, Shihan