HEAD INSTRUCTOR - G.J. MORRISON

Master John (G.J.) Morrison is the Head Martial Arts Instructor at the Oakland Karate & Kickboxing Mixed Martial Arts Academy. He is an  His first experience with martial arts began with boxing under his father at a young age. His father George J. Morrison Jr., a veteran of the Korean War, was an accomplished boxer in the Marine Corps and the New York Police athletic league. In the mid 1970’s Master Morrison began his traditional martial arts training with Tae Kwon Do Moo Duk Kwan. After obtaining his black belt at the age of 13, his father began looking for another art that was less sport and more practical for self defense.

Simultaneously he was exposed to Greco-Roman freestyle wrestling as an after school activity. He instantly took to the grappling arts and was enrolled in the Judo/ Jujitsu program at the Concord Nippongo Gakko. By the late 1980’s he went on to study at Karate USA in San Francisco, owned by  Master Tony Reyes a 7th Dan Black belt in Shorin Ryu Karate. He began his teaching career as assistant to the Head Instructor Master Scott Woods. Master Woods blended Shaolin Kempo Karate with the Shorin Ryu curriculum. Eventually Master Woods focused his full attention on the Kempo Karate.

Around 1989 he was introduced to Muay Thai by a martial arts instructor at Karate USA named Izhac Grinberg. Izhac a former member of the prestigious Israeli Mossad, began teaching Muay Thai to select students. In 1993, when Mr. Grinberg moved on, John continued his Muay Thai training at the Concord Kickboxing Academy under Danial "Doc" Docto. Once he had become a full time martial arts instructor Mr. Morrison switched his focus toward the Chinese arts. His inspiration came from Sifu Jordan Spiers. Sifu introducted  Choy li Fut, Northern and Southern Shaolin, Praying Mantis and Hung Gar styles of Kung Fu.

In 1998 he moved from his school in San Francisco to run new martial arts facility in Oakland. After attending a professional Muay Thai event, He was motivated to restart his Muay Thai training with George Tsutsui, a 4 Time World Champion Muay Thai Fighter.

On June 6, 1999 Mr. Morrison obtained his 5^th Degree Black Belt in the Art of Shaolin Kempo Karate. At that time he met and began training with the greatest influence to his training Professor Alfredo Duarte. An original Kenpo practitioner and student of William Kwai Sun Chow founded the Duarte Method of Kenpo Jujitsu.

In 2009, Mr. Morrison re-connected with Daniel "Doc" Docto and his organization Muay Thai Missions. Doc is our official Muay Thai advisor from Thailand.

Mr. Morrison’s  philosophy is that Martial Arts can benefit anyone, without regard to age, gender, race or capability and his job is to teach his students to believe in themselves, and that they can accomplish and be successful in anything they do.

Not only is he a accomplished martial artist, he has extensive experience in the film industry. He has provided choreography for "Blade 2". He has also provided stunt rigging services for bungee jumping related stunts.

INSTRUCTOR - ERIKA MORRISON

Erika Morrison began her training with Oakland Karate and Kickboxing in 1998 at the Montclair Village studio in Oakland California. With a background in fitness she started teaching Cardio Kickboxing in 1999 and Kenpo Karate in 2004.  She is certified in Crush-Kick and Cardio Kickboxing, and is a 1^st degree Black Belt in Kenpo Karate and Jiu Jitsu. She has worked with children for many years; mentoring children and teens through Camp Fire Boys and Girls while in Jr. High and High School and working as an Elementary School Teacher’s Aid and tutor while in college. She is a graduate of Mills College with a MBA in Business Economics.  Her classes, along with all the classes at Oakland Karate, focus on developing self-confidence and skill for all ages.

INSTRUCTOR RHONDA BAROVSKY


Rhonda Barovsky came to the Oakland Karate and Kickboxing Dojo the day it opened when she brought her five year old son to train.  She started her own journey with our dojo by attending cardio kickboxing classes, becoming an instructor in 2000 until 2005 Rhonda began studying Shaolin Kempo Karate in 1998.  She has competed successfully in kata and sparring.  Rhonda began teaching children and adults in 2003, the year she eared her first degree black belt.  Rhonda is a clinical social worker who has worked with troubled teens and families for 25 years.  She approaches teaching martial arts with the goal of her students striving to reach their best, to build their self-confidence along with their martial arts skills and to have fun.  After dedicated work and commitment, Rhonda earned her second degree black belt in June 2008.

ASSISTANT INSTRUCTOR QUINTON SILKET

Quinton began his Muay Thai / Mixed Martial Arts/ Kenpo Karate training with Mr. Morrison in 2008. He has competed in 
numerous  grappling tournaments and amateur Muay Thai events. His energy and enthusiasm brings a lot of excitement 
to our  kids program.  His tournament experience helps to energize students to bring out the best in themselves.