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 has been a part of Isshinryu Karate-do at MIT since July, 2001.
David Leung, Sho-dan
Leung-sensei began studying Isshinryu in September, 1999, with Isshinryu Karate-do at MIT, from Sensei Matthew Borthwick. Later, David also trained under Sensei Greg Banks and Sensei Lisa McGill as they joined Isshinryu Karate-do at MIT. David reached the Sho-dan rank in 2006.