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INSTRUCTORS

 

SENSEI TORU SHIMOJI

Chief Instructor

Toru Shimoji (5th Dan) is chief instructor at Traditional Karate Atlanta. Sensei Shimoji has over 3 decades of internationally recognized teaching experience. He is the current President of the American Amateur Karate Federation (AAKF) and a member of the American Amateur Karate Federation Technical Board.

Mr. Shimoji received his Dan rankings and instructor certification from his teacher, Hidetaka Nishiyama (a direct student of Master Gichin Funakoshi – the founder of our system). Mr. Shimoji additionally holds a B.S. in Kinesiology from UCLA.

Among his notable achievements, Sensei Shimoji is the head coach for the US National Team, Kata Champion of the 2000 Nishiyama Cup in Moscow, and silver medalist at the 2002 ITKF World Championships in Belgrade, Yugoslavia.

Sensei Shimoji is also an accomplished sculptor. His sculptures can be viewed at his art website here.

Press & Reviews for Sensei Shimoji

 

Saša Panić

Instructor

Saša Panić (pronounced Sascha Panich), 3rd Dan, is an Atlanta-based personal trainer, earning his certification from the National Personal Training Institute (NPTI).

Saša’s passion for physical fitness put him on a personal journey of knowledge into body mechanics and movement, a search that began in Belgrade, Serbia with the study of Traditional Karate in 1994. Moving to Atlanta in 2001, Saša has continued his study of karate under Sensei Toru Shimoji and in competition through national and international tournaments . Most recently, Saša was a gold medalist in Fuku-Go at the 2009 AAKF National Championhips in Minnesota, and then again in 2010 in Seattle, where he also took 2nd place in kata and kumite. He also took 2nd place in Fuku-Go at the 2009 ITKF Pan American Karate Championship in Brazil and has been member of the USA National Karate Team since then.

Deirdre Layne

Instructor

Deirdre Layne, 2nd Dan, is an Assistant Instructor at Traditional Karate Atlanta. Deirdre received her first 8 years of training in Los Angeles under the tutelage of Sensei Avi Rokah and Sensei Hidetaka Nishiyama. Moving to Atlanta in 2006, Deirdre continues her studies under Sensei Toru Shimoji. Deirdre is a nationally-ranked medalist, receiving a silver medal in 2007 and two bronze medals in 2008 at the AAKF National Championships. She has since retired from competition to focus on teaching and judging.

Deirdre Layne is also Co-Founder at the Atlanta Center for Energy Medicine and Founder/Director of Earth Clinic, a popular website for home remedies and holistic health.