The US is home to a number of dÅjÅ belonging to the Okinawa KÅburyÅ« KaratedÅ KobudÅ KÅbukai international organization. Members of Okinawa KÅburyÅ« KaratedÅ KobudÅ KÅbukai are found in Minnesota, Michigan, Ohio, Nebraska and Colorado.
US KÅbukai Executive Board
An executive board was created in 2019 to coordinate the policies of the US KÅburyÅ« dÅjÅ’s.
Members of the US Executive Board
- Frank Crow, Minnesota
- Susan Crow, Minnesota
- Wayne Kroll, Michigan
- Steve Jillson, Nebraska
Minnesota, USA
ABOUT THE MINNESOTA DOJO
Frank Crow
KaichÅ Frank Crow is a member of the governing board for the US KÅburyÅ« KÅbukai. Together with his wife, Sue Crow, he manages the KÅburyÅ« dÅjÅ in Rochester, Minnesota. KaichÅ Frank Crow holds the rank of hanshi jÅ«dan, 10th degree black belt, in both KÅburyÅ« karatedÅ and kobudÅ, granted by SÅke KaichÅ KinjÅ in 2019. KaichÅ Frank Crow is the finacial officer for the US KÅburyÅ« KÅbukai.
Susan Crow
KaichÅ Sue Crow is a member of the governing board for KÅburyÅ« KÅbukai in the US. Together with her husband, Frank Crow, she manages and is instructor for the KÅburyÅ« dÅjÅ in Rochester, Minnesota. KaichÅ Sue Crow holds the rank of hanshi jÅ«dan, 10th degree black belt, in KÅburyÅ« karatedÅ and kobudÅ, granted by SÅke KaichÅ KinjÅ in 2019. KaichÅ Sue Crow has assumed responsiblity for website development, written communications and training materials for the US KÅburyÅ« KÅbukai.
Michigan, USA
ABOUT THE MICHIGAN DOJO
Wayne Kroll
KaichÅ Wayne Kroll is a member of the governing board for KÅburyÅ« KÅbukai in the US. He is also head of the KÅburyÅ«Â dÅjÅ in Portage, Michigan. KaichÅ Wayne Kroll first studied under KaichÅ Frank Crow, and then assumed management of the Southside DÅjÅ in Portage, Michigan when Frank and Sue Crow moved to Minnesota in 1999. KaichÅ Wayne Kroll has made a great success of the Portage, Michigan dÅjÅ, introducing many children and adults alike to the art of KÅburyÅ« karate and kobudÅ .KaichÅ Wayne Kroll holds the rank of hanshi jÅ«dan, 10th degree black belt, in both KÅburyÅ«Â karatedÅ and kobudÅ.
Nebraska, USA
ABOUT THE NEBRASKA DOJO
Steve Jillson
Steve Jillson is a member of the governing board for KÅburyÅ« KÅbukai in the US. He is also head of the KÅburyÅ« dÅjÅ in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Official Translators
A translator proficient in both Japanese and English is required to facilitate communication between KinjÅ KaichÅ and the US executive board. The official translator also acts as translator for seminars, ensuring that the students get the most out of their training.
Steve Jillson is the official translator for Okinawa KÅburyÅ« KaratedÅ KobudÅ KÅbukai in the US. Steve’s translation credentials are impressive. He has worked for the Japanese Ministry of Education in Okinawa and for a time acted as liaison for the US military base in Urasoe City, Okinawa. In the US, Steve translated for General Motors and later for Honda. Steve maintains his Japanese language skills, speaking Japanese daily with his wife, Etsuko.
Ko Inamura translates for the KÅburyÅ« Zoom seminars and also on those occasions when SÅke KaichÅ KinjÅ travels to the US for seminars. Ko's Japanese skills are unquestioned, being a native of Japan. Ko is a teacher of the visually impaired for the public school system in Lincoln, Nebraska.
US KÅbukai Advisory Board
The Advisory Board consists of the group of KÅburyÅ« shihan in the US. Shihan means something like "master example."
Michigan Shihan
Michael Mortlock
Tim Baker
Minnesota Shihan
Michael Ayers
Mike Heldebrant
Nebraska Shihan
Steve Jillson
Ko Inamura
Rodney Meester
Ohio Shihan
Phil Hillman
Colorado Shihan
Clayton Sullwold
