• Rank: Godan (5th Degree Black Belt)
• “I joined Shotokan Karate in 1969 as a foreign exchange student
  from Lebanon while studying at CSULB (California State University,
  Long Beach). I continued to train at the CSULB Karate Club even
  after graduating. I earned a B.A. in Journalism and a B.A. and M.A.
  in Political Science. In 1986, I became a U.S. citizen. As Don
  DePree always said, “We can’t get rid of him.” I was honored to take
  over Mr. DePree’s teaching position at CSULB when he was needed
  to oversee the building of the Shotokan Ohshima Dojo. I met my wife Natalie, a nidan,
  in one of Don’s night classes, and now we have three beautiful children: Christine, Elias, and Sophia.”

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Instructor: Charles Lai 

• Occupation: Propulsion Systems Engineer
• Year Began Training: 1973
• Belt Ranking: Godan (5th Degree Black Belt)
• Favorite Kata: Tekki Shodan
• Favorite Quote:
  • “Rules are not necessarily sacred, principles are.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt

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Instructor: Daniel McSween 

• Occupation: Clinical Lab Scientist
• Year Began Training: 1974
• Belt Ranking: Godan (5th Degree Black Belt)
• Favorite Kata: Jion
  
• Favorite Quote:
  • “Keep perspective. Cemeteries are filled with people we all thought were indispensable.”

• Occupation: Physical Therapist
• Year Began Training: 2001
• Belt Ranking: Yodan (4th Degree Black Belt)
• Favorite Kata: Empi
• Favorite Quote:
  • “Body goes down, mind must go up.” – Don DePree

• Occupation: Landscape Architect
• Year Began Training:1991
• Belt Ranking: Shodan (1st Degree Black Belt)
• Favorite Kata: Tekki Shodan
• Favorite Quote:
  • “One more time!”