The following are members of my training staff. I appreciate all the help they give me throughout the year. Without them, I could not run this school. The goal of this school is not only to produce quality Black Belts but to produce quality instructors to carry on the way. Our motto "Training for Black Belt Excellence" is exemplified by my instructors. They provide high quality instructionto all my students through the various programs they teach. An instructor is rated by the quality of the students. I am proud to be their instructor as I am of all my students.
Keep training, don't be shy about asking questions and be commited to your training. My job is to be a good instructor, yours to be a good student.
Kimio Nelson: Master Instructor and owner. I hold a 5th degree Black Belt in Shotokan Karate and ranking in three other martial arts styles. I have been involved in the martial arts for over 34 years and have owned and operated my school, The Fighting Tigers, since 1988. I have been a past PA State Representative for the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) and USA Karate Federation (USAKF) and am also a three-time National Champion and All-American and was nationally rated in the top 10 in both the AAU and USAKF from 1990 to 1998 when I retired from competition. I have been employed as a Deputy with the Warren County Sheriff's Office since 1993. I am a Certified Instructor in Police Defensive Tactics, Firearms and ASP Baton. I hold a Bachelors Degree from Edinboro University in Economics and an Associates Degree from Jamestown Community College in Police Administration. I have also attended and graduated from the Sheriff's Deputy and Municipal Police Academies and am currently pursing a Masters Degree In Police Administration.
Timothy Rodgers: 3rd Degree Black Belt and Senior Instructor, Tim has studied Shotokan with me since 1994 and is very knowledgable in all aspects of the art and assists in several of the classes. He is the lead instructor in my absence.
Dave Colvin: 1st Degree Black Belt , Dave has been with me for several years and helps teach several of the classes.
Jacob Sheppard: 1st Degree Black Belt, Jacob has been with me since I opened my school on Franklin St. and previously trained at Johnson's Martial Arts. Jacob currently attends Warren Area High and assists in the Tiger Cub Classes.
Assistant Instructors who help in my children's classes:
Jeremy Rodgers: 3rd Kyu Brown Belt
Anthony Gedz: 3rd Kyu Brown Belt
Josiah Olson: 3rd Kyu Brown Belt
Gabe Olson: 3rd Kyu Brown Belt
My Other Black Belts:
Robert Tuttle: 2ndDegree Black Belt, currently living near Pittsburgh, Pa.
Heather Hoppe: 1st Degree Black Belt, currently living in Wisconsin
Eric Bearfield: 1st Degree Black Belt, currently living in Dublin, Oh
Wendy Ciprich: 1st Degree Black Belt, currently living in Youngsville, Pa
Ben Bracken: 2nd Degree Black Belt, Currently living in Ohio
Brian Pascuzzi: 2nd Degree Black Belt, Brian is currently attending the University of Pittsburgh. He has been my karate student since grade school and was one of my youngest Black Belts.
Taiji Nelson: 1st Degree Black Belt, Taiji is my son and has been studing Shotokan since he was 3 years old. He is currently attending the University of Pittsburgh.