WTKO International Instructors
John Mullin, 8th Dan
Sensei Mullin began his karate training in 1960. He was a member of the JKA/ITKF US National Team for 5 years, from 1980 through 1984, and a former US Open National Champion. In 1985, while living and training in Japan, he won the All Styles Karate Championship in Yokohama. In 1994 he was recognized as "Instructor of The Year" by The Karate Voice a national karate publication. In 2002 he won the JSKA World Championship, in Germany, veterans kata division.
He is a member of the faculty of the Karate Instructor Certificate Program at Long Island University, New York. He is also a contributing author in Karate Martial Art and Sport along with Milorad V. Stricevic, M.D. Associate Dean, School of Health Professions
Sensei Mullin is the Chief Instructor of the JKA Karate Staten Island and was awarded "A" class Certified Instructor in the JKA Shotokan Karate-do America, the governing body for JKA karate in the United States. After a 42 year career in the JKA, Sensei Mullin decided on a new direction; along with a number of senior instructors founded the World Traditional Karate Organization (WTKO). The WTKO successfully held their 1st World Championship in 2001. Sensei Mullin is teacher with the NYC Board of Education, teaching computer technology in a middle school in Brooklyn NY.
Steve Ubl, 8th Dan
Sensei Steve Ubl began training in Minnesota in the1967 in the art of TangSoo Do. In 1969 he began training in the JKA style of karate with Donald G. P. Oelrich. When living in Japan in 1972 he was fortunate to have been recognized by Nakayama sensei of the JKA for his character and talent. Taken under Nakayama sensei;s wing, Ubl sensei experienced many, many hours of private tuition with this great teacher and made copious notes from these periods of intense learning. He received his 1st dandirectly from Nakayama senseiwhile residing at the Hoitsugan. He also received instruction from Nakayama sensei in1974 and returned to Japan several more timesbetween 1976 and 1977. Returning to the US, Ubl sensei entered the Japan Karate Association Instructor Training Institute underNishiyama sensei at the JKA-US Headquarters in 1973, where, as a full-time trainee, became an instructor with the AAKF-ITKF, working daily with Nishiyama sensei.
By the late 70’s Ubl sensei’s ideas began to transcend regular training in any dojo and his development continued more from his own intelligent application of ideas influenced by Japan than from the various classes and training camps he also attended.
Throughout the ‘80’s and ‘90’s Ubl sensei, an intensely private individual, trained mostly alone and free from restriction. In 2004 he was persuaded to recognize the importance of sharing his knowledge by a group of dedicated karate-ka from California to Florida to Canada and in 2006 accepted the position of Technical Director and 8th dan from the WTKO.
Richard Amos, 7th Dan
Born in England in 1963, Richard Amos sensei began karate at age 10. Occasionally teaching from as young as 15 he was invited onto the KUGB Junior Karate Team at 18. By the age of 23 he had competed in England and Europe gaining many Gold, Silver and Bronze medals in numerous championships.
After a two-year sojourn in New York, he went to Japan to train at the headquarters of the Japan Karate Association and stayed 10 years. During that time he completed the 3-year instructor's program of the JKA (only the 2nd Westerner ever to do so in its 50-year history), placed second or third in the All-Japan Championships several times (no non-Japanese had ever reached the semi-finals before), taught many classes each week over a 6-year period in the headquarters of the JKA (another first) and opened his own school in the heart of Tokyo.
In 2000 Amos sensei moved to New York again, this time as an established professional karate instructor with an international reputation. He is currently the chief instructor of the World Traditional Karate Organization heading its instructor program and teaches everyday at the headquarters dojo on 63rd Street and 3rd Avenue in Manhattan.
Scott Middleton, 6th Dan
Scott began karate in 1986 under the ISKF and received his shodan in 1991 from Yaguchi Sensei of the JKA. The year after Scott opened his first karate school and spent the next decade building a successful career as a professional instructor. During that time, he also competed at the highest level in Canada, representing the state of Manitoba and gaining success in both kata and kumite at a national level. By 2006 Scott had become a highly-respected instructor and competitor. He decided to join the WTKO under the guidance of Richard Amos. Since that time, Scott has worked hard and has received 6th Dan. He is a member of the executive committee of the WTKO and its General Secretary. He is also a A Class examiner, instructor and referee for the WTKO.
