Sensei Shlomo Kupperman, Rokudan (6th Degree), started his Shotokan Karate training in 1978 under the late Sensei Meir Yahel who was one of the founders of Shotokan Israel, and under sensei Tsutomu Ohshima, who was visiting Israel to conduct special training. After arriving in the United States in 1987, Sensei Shlomo studied under Sensei Herb Match, Tom Walter, and Jens Luckman. Shlomo is currently teaching adult classes, and emphasizes the perfection of basic techniques with the goal of making the karate art work in the most simple and efficient way possible. Sensei Shlomo believes in conserving the traditional spirit of the art mainly by practicing Kata and its implementation, as well as close range combat techniques.
Sensei David Atlas, Sandan (3rd Degree), began studying karate under Sensei Tom Walter in 1986. He studied in both the PAL program and at the Yanagi School of Martial Arts. His years there proved invaluable, benefitting from the expertise of Sensei Walter, Herb Match, Dan Jackson, Jens Luckman and others. While away at Syracuse University, David studied Jukido Jujitsu. After earning his Shodan, David organized Syracuse's first-ever Shotokan club which eventually numbered over 75 students. He maintains contact with many of these students who continue their training across the country. David currently trains with Sensei Shlomo Kupperman and continues to practice Iai-Do. He keeps to Funakoshi's maxim, "Put karate in everything you do."
Sensei Tim Mason holds a Nidan (2nd Degree) and began his studies in early 1997 after his accounting professor at the University of Rhode Island encouraged him to try it. He began training at Sensei Lois Haas's JKA school which was an offshoot of Sensei Takahashi's school in Amityville, NY. In mid-1998, he moved to New York and started studying with Sensei Tom Walter, Sensei Jens Luckman and Sensei Herb Match. Since 2004, Tim has been training mainly with Sensei Shlomo Kupperman. Tim's teaching style is similar to those that he has studied under and focuses on stamina and endurance. "Ten thousand more times and you will have it" is the mantra under which he teaches.
Sensei Tim Browner holds a Nidan (2nd Degree) and began his Shotokan training in 2006 under Sensei Tom Walter. He has also studied concurrently with Sensei Shlomo Kupperman. He actually began his martial arts training in 1974 and holds a brown belt in Tae Kwon Do as well. Sensei Tim emphasizes the concept of "Mind, Body and Spirit." That is, your mind tells you what to do, your body does it, but it is the spirit with which you do it that determines your success in karate and all through life.
Sensei Mike Sales holds a Shodan (1st degree). He first studied martial arts under Sensei Billy Palmer in Deer Park in the early 1980s. After a long hiatus, he resumed his training in 2010 under Sensei Shlomo Kupperman. Sensei Mike says, "He taught me the importance of repitition." Mike likes to train for "real life" scenarios, in order to be ready for anything at anytime. "The more you sweat in training, the less you bleed in battle."