Sensei Lokie and Sensei Yelena began studying Isshinryu at the Isshinryu Karate-do at MIT under Matthew Borthwick sensei, Lisa Mcgill sensei, and Greg Banks sensei in the 2003. They were promoted to Sho-dan in 2011 and are primary instructors for the MIT dojo.
Greg Banks, San-dan (3rd-degree black belt)
Banks-sensei began studying Isshinryu in January, 1994, at the Ryu Kyo Dojo in Casper, Wyoming. It was there, under Rik Plass-sensei, that he attained the rank of Sho-dan. He reached the Ni-dan rank in the dojo of Joe Arvidson-sensei in Newburyport, Massachusetts, in 1999, and was promoted to San-dan in 2006.
Banks-sensei joined Isshinryu Karate-do at MIT in July, 2001, and due to time constraints, is now a Visiting Instructor.