OUR TEACHERS



 

MASTER KAZUMI TABATA 

An 8th degree black belt, Master Tabata is the founder and head of the North American Karate-do Foundation - NAKF, in 1967, as well as of the New England Collegiate Karate Conference  - NECKC, in 1968. 

He is in direct line from the founder of the Shotokan style, Master Gichin Funakoshi. His teacher, Master Iso Obata, was one of Gichin Funakoshi's first students and the first chairman of the  Japan Karate Association.

Master Tabata was sent from Japan to promote Karate in North America in late 60's. He has done so most effectively, building a large Karate organization in the North East. He was captain of the US Karate team for two decades, representing the US at many international tournaments. In addition, he was technical advisor to the US National Olympic Committee. 

Now retired from these official functions, Master Tabata is currently putting finishing touches on his principal book on the Tabata path to Shotokan Karate, an analysis of the philosophical foundations and exercise of Shotokan. He is actively instructing the students from NAKF and NECKC. We are very fortunate to have Master Tabata teaching us every week here, at MIT. 

He also published an instruction book on Karate and released, at the beginning of 2001, the first of a series of teaching movies, Ko Bo 1 - Combat Techniques. and a video of the kata requirements through Blue Belt.

 
 
 
 
 
 
SENPAI BRIAN NELTNER

Senpai Brian Neltner is a 2nd degree black belt. He started training under Sensei Tabata in 2004 at MIT and became a black belt in January 2008, reaching Nidan in August 2009.

At MIT, he was the captain of the team for five years while studying Physics and Materials Science, further pursuing a PhD in Materials Science. He restarted the club and coordinated instruction of new members while attending advanced practices anywhere he could find them. He earned his class "C" instructor certification in 2008, and has been the treasurer of the NECKC for two years.

Making his debut as a teacher in Spring 2007, he has been teaching at MIT since then.


 



 

SENPAI SANTOLINA SAVANNET 

A 1st degree black belt, Santo began her education under Sensei Kasajima in Luxemburg from 1993 to 2002, at the Japan Karate Association of Luxembourg. From 2006 to 2008, she trained with Sensei Philippe Drobinski of the French Karate Federation, at the Ecole Polytechnique in Paris. In 2007, she was awarded Shodan with the French Karate Federation.

Santo joined the MIT club in the Fall of 2008, while pursuing a Master of Science in the Technology and Policy Program. Due to her previous experience in Shotokan, she was awarded Shodan in May 2009.

Santo is currently the assistant captain and president of the MIT team, and was awarded her class "C" Instructor certification in 2009.

 
 
 
 
 
 

Photo Credit: Robin Briscoe
SENPAI PIOTR FIDKOWSKI

Piotr Fidkowski is a 1st Kyu Brown Belt and a first year PhD student in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering, having completed his undergraduate education in the same department at MIT in 2009.

Piotr received his class "C" instructor certification in 2009. He has been the treasurer of the MIT club for two years, and has been acting as an instructor since the summer of 2009.


 

 
 
 
 
 
 

Previous Instructors

SENSEI DAVE D'AMORE
Sensei Dave D'Amore is a 4th degree black belt. He started training under Sensei Tabata in 1973 at the University of Lowell and became a black belt in 1976. 

At Lowell, he was the captain of the Karate team , which he led to NECKC Kata and Kumite championships. He won numerous individual championships in both Kata and Kumite at collegiate and independent tournaments. He has served on the board of the NAKF and worked to define the unified training regimen that is in place across all levels of the organizations. 

Making his debut as a teacher in 1977, he taught at MIT from 1997-2005.