Instructor Profiles
John R. Venson – 9th Degree Black Belt Shuri Ryu Karate – Hanshi – Menkyo Kaiden
Chief Instructor of Just for Kicks The Martial Arts University, was born on Grand Master Sokon Matsumura’s birthday (July 7th). He is an Internationally Certified 9th Degree Black Belt, promoted to the rank of 9th Degree Black Belt and and Kobudo title Hanshi はんし in March of 2013, and Menkyo Kaiden ゔぇんそん in April of 2013. The title Hanshi is held by only four other living people in the Shuri-Ryu system, and Menkyo Kaiden is only held by 7 other people in the United States. The Venson family’s Martial Arts schools are traditional Okinawan Karate Dojo’s which teach the classical principles of the Shuri-Ryu Martial Arts System. Hanshi Venson still studies diligently under the direction of O’Sensei Robert H. Bowles – 10th Degree Black Belt Shuri Ryu Karate.
Personally Trained Under and Promoted by O’Sensei Robert A. Trias – Father of Karate-Do in America (1972-1989).
Professional Karate Commission “Man of The Decade” – Awarded to 2010
Hanshi Venson’s Instructors:
- Sensei John H. Venson – Student of O’Sensei Trias (Deceased 1993)
- Sensei James A. Jones – Lineage of O’Sensei Trias (Retired from Karate 1972)
- O’Sensei Robert A. Trias (Deceased 1989)
- O’Sensei Robert H. Bowles- Student of Grandmaster Trias (1993 – Present)
Accomplishments | |
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Director of PKC Region 1 (Professional Karate Commission) | 1999 – Present |
International Martial Arts Symposium Instructor (Fighting Classes) | 1996 – Present |
Inducted into World Sports Hall-of-Fame | 1995 |
World Karate Champion Nineteen (19) times Fighting (10) – Forms (4) – Weapons (5) |
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Grand Champion Winner of Illinois State Karate ChampionshipTwelve (12) times | |
Grand Champion Winner of Regional Karate ChampionshipNine (9) times | |
Former Drill Instructor & Hand-to-Hand Combat InstructorUnited States Marine Corps | |
Rated among the Top Ten Fighters in The United StatesTwelve (12) consecutive years | |
Captain of the United States Karate Team | (1985-1989) |
Inducted into the United States Karate Hall-of-Fame(The Trias International Society) | 1983 – receiving unanimous voting1983 – receiving unanimous voting |
Reginald L. Venson – 7th Degree Black Belt Shuri Ryu Karate – Renshi
Accomplishments | |||
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Internationally Certified 6th Degree – 2010Inducted in PKC Elite Society – 2014 | |||
Bushido International Society – 2010 | |||
I.S.A. Budo Society – 2011USKA Hall of Fame – 2000
USKA World Kata Champion 6 Times – 1999,2001,2003,2004, 2009 |
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Black Tiger Karate Championships – Baltimore, MD Kata and Weapons 2009 Grand Champion, 34 and up Fighting Champion and 2012 Kata Grand Champion | |||
PKC Internationals Grand Champion Kata 2003, 2008, 2009 | |||
PKC Internationals Grand Champion – 12 times | |||
PKC Nationals (Great Lakes) Champion Kata, Kumite 13 times | |||
PKC Internationals Executive Black Belt Champion Kata – 2008 | |||
PKC Internationals Executive Black Belt Champion Fighting – 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013 | |||
USKK National Points Champion – 2007-2008 | |||
PKC Nationals (Great Lakes) Champion Executive Men Fighting 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012 | |||
PKC Nationals (Great Lakes) Grand Champion Kata and/or Weapons2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 | |||
Battle of Cincinnati Fighting Grand Champion – 2007 | |||
Pennsylvania State Champion Fighting 2006, 2007 | |||
Indiana State Tournament Champion Fighting 2006, 2007 | |||
National PKC Executive Black Belt Fighting Points Champion2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 | |||
First active competitor to be awarded the James A. Jones Elite Martial Artist Award – 2004 | |||
Recipient of the PKC Most Outstanding Black Belt Competitor Award 2002-2003 | |||
USKA All America Fighting team 2000 | |||
1998 – 2007 |
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1997- 2016 |
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Renshi Reginald L. Venson is Blessed to have known and receive lessons from The Father of Karate, himself, O’Sensei Robert A. Trias, and although O’Sensei Trias passed away while Reggie was very young, he has continued his studies under his grandfather (John H. Venson) and his father (JohnR. Venson), both of whom studied directly under the Great Master Trias. Reginald is the first son to follow his father into the U.S. Karate Hall of Fame, and joins John Venson II as the only father/son combination in The PKC Elite Society. Reggie is the youngest member of the inaugural group of inductees into The PKC Elite Society (The Most Outstanding Competitors in the history of The Professional Karate Commission)
Reginald is also currently the only martial artist to be inducted into all three of the elite warrior societies formed by leadership instructed directly by O’Sensei Trias. (Bushido International Society – United States Karate Hall-of-Fame – Budo International Society) These three societies were in all in one organization before O’Sensei Trias passed away in 1989, and the heads of each still remain original Trias International Society members while presiding over their interdependent societies.
Reginald captured the 2003-2004 PKC National Middleweight fighting championship, and along with Lightweight champion Dwight J. Venson, became the first brothers to hold National Point Champion titles in the same season in any organization. Reginald Venson has been at the top as the PKC National Points Champion in Forms, Fighting, and/or weapons for more than a decade now (2003-2016). He was promoted to 6th Degree black belt in March of 2010, and one of the last Black Belts to receive rank confirmation from Hanshi Ridgely Abele. He is currently undergoing the extensive process required to become an Assistant Chief Instructor of Shuri-Ryu, one of the most challenging martial arts systems in America. Only two Yudansha are selected for this by the Inner Council of Shuri-Ryu in a given year.
Sensei Dwight Venson – 4th DegreeBlack Belt Shuri Ryu Karate
Sensei Dwight Venson is the younger of the Venson brothers, and one of the top first tier martial artists in the nation. He was promoted to 3rd Degree black belt by the Inner Council of Shuri-Ryu in March of 2005, and 4th Degree Black Belt in 2010. Deshi Venson is a standard bearer for Shuri-Ryu, winning the Kata Grand Championship at the 2006 PKC Great Lakes Nationals, a National Point Season PKC Fighting Title, and over 50 national level competition championships. He is also a lead Instructor, technical advisor and Management Director for Just For Kicks The Martial Arts University Inc.
Dr. Dwayne Cook – 4th Degree Black Belt Shuri Ryu Karate
Sensei Dwayne Cook is a 3rd Degree Black Belt, and also holds a P.H.D. in Theology. He is a champion competitor, Deshi, and in addition to teaching at Just For Kicks, Dr. Cook is the owner/head instructor of Internal Stength Martial Arts located on Chicago’s north side.
Mr. Art Brown is a 1st Degree Black. Art has been studying at Just For Kicks for over a decade. He is diligently pursuing his 2nd Degree Black Belt.
Mr. Charles Byers III is a mainstay at Just For Kicks The Martial Arts University, studying with us since the age of five, and now has two of his own children enrolled at Just For Kicks.