Herb Johnson Karate
USA
Instructors
E. Washingston St. -- 317-898-4444
116th and Olio Rd. -- 317-585-9872
Grandmaster Herb Johnson
- International Style Head for Shorei Goju Ryu Karate - Masters Ranking in Okinawan Weaponry - 3 Time USKA World Champion - AKA Hall of Fame Member - Trias International Hall of Fame Member - AKA Coach of the Year - 2 Times USKA Instructor of the Year Award - Star of Film "Pushed Too Far, 1988 - Battle of Atlanta Centurion Club - PKC "Man of the Decade" Award, 2000 - Trainer of 29 World Champions - Trainer of 75 National Champions - Trainer of 203 State Champions Other Awards: - 8th ranked fighter in the United States by Karate Illustrated magazine, 1979 - 1st Place, light heavyweight, fighting, AKA Grand Nationals. 1976 - Grand Champion, Bob Yarnell’s Gateway Open, 1978, 1979 - 1st Place fighting, and Team Captain, Battle of Atlanta’s "National Team Championships,” 1978,1979 - Inducted to the Battle of Atlanta Centurion Club in 1998 - Judged over 15 world title fights - Member of the USKA’s Executive Committee - Member of the Rules Committee of the PKA - Business Consultant for the PKC In 1963, Herb Johnson began his Martial Arts career as a high school wrestler. After high school, Mr. Johnson went to Ball State University where he met Bill Wallace. Mr. Wallace introduced Herb Johnson to Shorin Ryu Karate. Mr. Wallace left Indiana to pursue his graduate degree at Memphis State University. While Bill Wallace was in Memphis, Mr. Johnson trained with Glenn Keeney in Goju Ryu Karate. In December of 1973, Mr. Wallace returned to Indiana, teaching Chi Do Kwon Tae Kwon Do and began working for Ken Knudson, who opened Olympic Karate Studio of Indianapolis. Mr. Johnson resumed training with Mr. Wallace. In June of 1974, Mr. Wallace returned to Memphis to work for Elvis Presley at the Tennessee Karate Institute. Mr. Johnson took over for Bill Wallace and began working for Ken Knudson of Olympic Karate Studios, a Chicago based company and learning and teaching Shorei Goju Ryu. In order to research this style further, Mr. Johnson began training with Robert Trias, Founder of Shorei Goju Ryu. By 1979, Robert Trias appointed Herb Johnson as the Style Head of Shorei Goju Ryu.
- Star of "Escape.....with Herb Johnson," (Clark and Black Production, 1987)
- PKC Established "Herb Johnson, Spirited Fighter Award" (Awarded Annually)
- Grand Champion Burley Wagner’s Prairie States Open. 1978, 1979
Herb Johnson continues to attend seminars and clinics in order to increase his knowledge and has always remained close to his teachers (Bill Wallace, Glenn Keeney, Ken Knudson - Deceased, and Robert Trias - Deceased) who became his lifelong friends as well as role models. Mr. and Mrs Herb Johnson believe in strong family values and instill those principles into our instructors and students.
Renee Johnson
Corporate Secretary
Renee has been Herb Johnson Karate's Corporate Secretary for 30 years. Renee has been supporting Herb Johnson Karate by helping with tournaments, graduations and the daily operations of the schools.
Renee is also a distributor of Monavie, a premier health juice and weight loss product which stars the Acai berry. Renee is one of the best sellers in the Indianapolis area. For more information, Renee can be emailed at acai.healthyjuice@yahoo.com or monavie.com. To order Monavie online, enter sponsor number 2041222.
North - Geist
Sensei Bill Blackstone
4th degree
Chief Instructor
- Indiana State Karate Champion, 2005
Sensei Blackstone began training with Herb Johnson in 2004. He has always had a high level of respect for Karate but was not able to fund a program that matched his needs in his native Southern California. Sensei Blackstone and his wife, Tara, earned their 1st degree Black Belts in 2005. Shortly afterward, Sensei Blackstone began teaching classes and realized how much he loved helping students achieve their own goals.
Sensei Blackstone is considered by his peers to be one of the best instructors in the United State because he places an emphasis on helping his students and their families learn together. He knows that families and individuals alike can achieve the goal of balance of the mind, body and spirit through Karate.
Samantha Poliskey
Program Director
Renee Anderson
2nd degree
Instructor
- Certified Instructor
Mrs. Anderson competed in tournaments, but that is not what interested her. Her love for Shorei Goju Ryu lies in the self defense, katas, weapons and sparring. In 1989, Mrs. Anderson earned her 1st degree Black Belt. She later became a Certified Instructor and teaches two classes every Tuesday night.
Sensei Christopher Doerr
4th degree
Instructor
- Member of the PKC, USGA, and USANKF
- Certified Instructor
Sensei Doerr began his Karate career with Herb Johnson over 6 years ago. His interest in the Martial Arts was sparked after he was robbed and beaten at gun point on the West side of Indianapolis. Sensei Doerr enjoys karate as a means of learning all aspects of self defense, including hand-to-hand, club, knife and gun self-defense.
Sensei Dean Omori
5th degree
Instructor
- Certified Instructor
Sensei Omori has been training with Herb Johnson since 1986. He earned his 1st degree Black Belt in 1989. Soon after, he began teaching child and adult classes on a weekly basis. Sensei Omori and his wife, Caroline are also active participants in their church and are involved in a wide variety of ministries, some which include the children’s church, worship leading and Bible study groups.
Una Hartzell-Baird
Assistant Instructor
East - Washington St.
Sensei Randy Lowder
4th degree
Washington St.
Chief Instructor
- Placed at the USKA World Championship in 1984.
- 1 time USKA World Champion in Chanbara and Team Kata.
Sensei Lowder began his training in 1981 at a Tae Kwon Do school in Greenfield, IN. He earned his 4th Kup, prior to the school closing. Sensei Lowder’s mother then enrolled him into Herb Johnson Karate. By 1984, he was competing in the USKA World Championships and having his picture taken with Bill “Superfoot” Wallace, Grand Master Robert Trias and Herb Johnson. In 1985, Sensei Lowder earned his Jr. 2nd degree Black Belt.
In 1989, him and his family moved out of Indiana. Sensei Lowder later became a ‘single father’ to his then 2 year old daughter. Sensei Lowder attributed the focus, discipline and self confidence that Karate had given him to being the best father that he could be.
Sensei Lowder and his daughter eventually moved back to Greenfield, IN to be closer to family. When his daughter, Taylor began showing an interest in Karate, he re-enrolled with Herb Johnson. Sensei Lowder is devoted to giving back Karate what Karate has given him.
Aryonna White
Program Director
John Kirby
Assistant Instructor
