The following is a list of individuals who are closely associated
with the University of Florida Butokukan Club.
They are members of the American Butokukan Society, of
which we are the founding club and through which we hold
rank in karate. Some are also members of the Sand Drift
International Martial Arts Association, the organization
through which our club was originally introduced to Aikido
(members are now awarded Aikido rank directly from the Aikikai
Honbu). We thank them all for their numerous contributions to
the University of Florida Butokukan Club.
____________________________________________
Todd D. Jones - Style Head (Kanchô), American Butokukan
7th Dan - Karate; American Butokukan
5th Dan - Aikido; Aikikai Honbu
5th Dan - Aikido; Sand Drift International Martial Arts Association
3rd Dan - Iaido (retired)
3rd Dan - Kendo (retired)
Todd D. Jones first began studying martial arts in 1971 at the age of
thirteen. He studied MooDukKwan Tae Kwon Do under James Diaz while
living in Miami Beach. In 1974 he began studying Iaido, Kendo, and
Aikido as well. On March 16th, 1975, Mr. Jones attained the rank of
black belt in Tak Kwon Do. He subsequently earned black belts in
Kendo and Iaido in 1977, and under the tutelage of Dr. H.T. Walker,
in Aikido in 1980. In the fall of 1975, Mr. Jones founded the Florida
MooDukKwan Club at the University of Florida. Mr. Jones was U.S.
Karate national champion in 1979, and Florida State Karate champion
from 1978 to 1983. Meanwhile, Florida MooDukKwan grew to be one of
the University of Florida's largest intramural organizations. In
November of 1986, Mr. Jones and his senior black belts formed the
American MooDukKwan Society, now called American Butokukan. By 1987,
Mr. Jones had promoted over thirty black belts, and to date has
promoted over 100. He currently holds the ranks of 7th dan in Karate,
5th dan in Aikido with both Aikikai Honbu and the Sand Drift
International Martial Arts Association, and 3rd dan in both Iaido
and Kendo, though in those last two arts Mr. Jones has retired
from active practice.
____________________________________________
Dr. H. T. "Doc" Walker [1934 - 2003]
- Founder, Sand Drift International Martial Arts Association
- Chief Aikido Instructor, American Butokukan
5th Dan - Aikido; Aikikai Honbu
5th Dan - Aikido; Sand Drift International Martial Arts Association
5th Dan (honorary); American Butokukan
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Dr. H. T. Walker began his aikido training in 1962. His instructor
was Maj. George Wilson, a direct student of Morihei Ueshiba, the
founder of aikido. Sadly, Dr. Walker passed away on April 29, 2003.
Prior to his death, he was retired from practice of dentistry, and
owned and operated the Sand Drift Aikikai, in Titusville, Florida.
Dr. Walker was awarded 6th dan in Aikido by Ueshiba Kisshomaru,
second Dôshu and son of the Aikido founder Ueshiba Morihei
Ôsensei, though this is still pending official entry in the
Aikikai records. He served as the senior aikido instructor of
American Butokukan as a result of his close personal relationship
with Todd D. Jones and was awarded an honorary rank of 5th dan in
American Butokukan. Also well known were Dr. Walker's extraordinary
skill at ikebana, bonsai, and haiku. Dr. Walker's pioneering efforts
on behalf of the art of Aikido in the State of Florida and the
eastern United States have had a profound effect on the practice of
Aikido in the United States today. Those who knew him, both personally
and through the practice of the martial arts, will never forget him.
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Thomas McMorrow, Jr.
5th Dan - Karate; American Butokukan
5th Dan - Aikido; Sand Drift International Martial Arts Association
Thomas McMorrow, Jr. began training in karate
in 1980 at the age of 19. His first instructor was Todd D. Jones,
who subsequently promoted Mr. McMorrow to 1st degree black belt
in karate in 1984. Mr. McMorrow began his aikido training in 1982,
and has also trained in Wado Ryu, Shuri Ryu, and the techniques of
Katori Shinto Ryu. He was promoted to 5th dan in aikido in December
of 2005, and 5th dan in karate in December of 2000. Until his
departure in February of 2006, Mr. McMorrow was the Head Instructor
for the Butokukan Karate club at the University of Florida, and had
graduated over fifteen black belts during his time there. Mr.
McMorrow currently lives and works in San Jose, California.
____________________________________________
Eric Gregorisch
5th Dan - Karate; American Butokukan
4th Dan - Aikido; Sand Drift International Martial Arts Association
Eric Gregorisch began his training at the University
of Florida in 1982 at the age of 18 under Head Instructor Brian Shawe.
He subsequently recieved 1st dan in karate from Todd Jones in 1986,
and in aikido in 1989. Mr. Gregorisch has held the positions of
Instructor at the Univerisity of Florida Butokan Karate club and
Tampa MooDukKwan, and Head Instructor of the Univerisity of Miami
MooDukKwan club and the Tampa Judo and Aikido Dojo. He has also
trained in judo, and in 2000 was awarded the the rank of 3rd dan
in aikido, and in December of 2005 was promoted to 5th dan in karate.
Mr. Gregorisch currently lives in Tampa, Florida.
____________________________________________
Sean McEntee
4th Dan - Karate; American Butokukan
1st Dan - Aikido; Sand Drift International Martial Arts Association Sean McEntee began his martial arts training in 1982 at the age of 9. He began his training at the University of Florida Butokukan Karate club under Head Instructor Tom McMorrow when he came to college, and subsequently was awarded 1st dan by Mr. McMorrow in 1998. For several years Mr. McEntee was Head Instructor of the University of Central Florida Butokukan club. In December of 2005, Mr. McEntee was promoted to 4th dan in karate and 1st dan in aikido by Todd D. Jones. ____________________________________________ Sherwin Mena - Head Instructor, American MooDukKwan
System, University of Miami Chapter
3rd Dan - Karate; American Butokukan Sherwin Mena bagan training in 1976 at the age of 10 in the art of Shotokan. He later began training in Butokukan Karate under Todd Jones, where he subsequently recieved 1st Dan in 1993, and most recently, 3rd Dan in 2001. Mr. Mena currently lives in Pembroke Pines, FL, where he is the head instructor for the University of Miami MooDukKwan club, a member of the American Butokukan. |
