I'll go first

[Mike Oliver]

I was introduced to the martial arts in 1999 by my good friend, Phillip Debord. Under Masters Ron and Dave Joslin, I learned the Okinawan art of Isshinryu Karate. I greatly enjoyed everything that I experienced in class and quickly realized that what I was learning was also applying to every facet of my life. It wasn't long before I was assisting my instructors in classes and I found that helping both kids and adults with their training was very rewarding for me.

Fast forward a few years later, and Masters Ron and Dave Joslin awarded me a black-belt in Isshinryu Karate. In 2006, I began teaching full time as a lead instructor for Master Joslin at their large Auburn dojo--one of the biggest Isshinryu schools in the country. It was there that I continued to learn how to really teach the benefits of the martial arts to children and adults.

I'm still very active in the Isshinryu community and still support my instructors and the school I came from. I'm very proud of our karate lineage that we have at our school. I'm also proud of our students. You guys are doing some amazing things already in the community, and we are just getting started!

Outside of Karate, you may know that I enjoy the outdoors. We are lucky to live in such a beautiful area where activities like hiking are so close. I've been a long time geocacher and have recently picked up disk-golf as well. I enjoy a fair amount of video games with a healthy balance of reading as well. 

--

Mike Oliver

[Lisa Clark]

Mr. Oliver,

What was your most memorable moment in all your karate experiences?

[Mike Oliver]

Funny you mention that, I was planning on sharing one tomorrow, but I will start a new thread.