The US is home to a number of dōjō belonging to the Okinawa Kōburyū Karatedō Kobudō Kōbukai international organization. Members of Okinawa Kōburyū Karatedō Kobudō Kōbukai are found in Minnesota, Michigan, Ohio, Nebraska and Colorado.
US Kōbukai Executive Board
An executive board was created in 2019 to coordinate the policies of the US Kōburyū dōjō’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
Kaichō Frank Crow is a member of the governing board for the US Kōburyū Kōbukai. Together with his wife, Sue Crow, he manages the Kōburyū dōjō in Rochester, Minnesota. Kaichō Frank Crow holds the rank of hanshi jūdan, 10th degree black belt, in both Kōburyū karatedō and kobudō, granted by Sōke Kaichō Kinjō in 2019. Kaichō Frank Crow is the finacial officer for the US Kōburyū Kōbukai.
Susan Crow
Kaichō Sue Crow is a member of the governing board for Kōburyū Kōbukai in the US. Together with her husband, Frank Crow, she manages and is instructor for the Kōburyū dōjō in Rochester, Minnesota. Kaichō Sue Crow holds the rank of hanshi jūdan, 10th degree black belt, in Kōburyū karatedō and kobudō, granted by Sōke Kaichō Kinjō in 2019. Kaichō Sue Crow has assumed responsiblity for website development, written communications and training materials for the US Kōburyū Kōbukai.
Michigan, USA
ABOUT THE MICHIGAN DOJO
Wayne Kroll
Kaichō Wayne Kroll is a member of the governing board for Kōburyū Kōbukai in the US. He is also head of the Kōburyū dōjō in Portage, Michigan. Kaichō Wayne Kroll first studied under Kaichō Frank Crow, and then assumed management of the Southside Dōjō in Portage, Michigan when Frank and Sue Crow moved to Minnesota in 1999. Kaichō Wayne Kroll has made a great success of the Portage, Michigan dōjō, introducing many children and adults alike to the art of Kōburyū karate and kobudō .Kaichō Wayne Kroll holds the rank of hanshi jūdan, 10th degree black belt, in both Kōburyū karatedō and kobudō.
Nebraska, USA
ABOUT THE NEBRASKA DOJO
Steve Jillson
Steve Jillson is a member of the governing board for Kōburyū Kōbukai in the US. He is also head of the Kōburyū dōjō in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Official Translators
A translator proficient in both Japanese and English is required to facilitate communication between Kinjō Kaichō 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 Kōburyū Karatedō Kobudō Kōbukai 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 Kōburyū Zoom seminars and also on those occasions when Sōke Kaichō Kinjō 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 Kōbukai Advisory Board
The Advisory Board consists of the group of Kōburyū 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
