Athens Yoshukai Instructors
Sensei Erik Hofmeister

    Sensei Hofmeister has been involved in Yoshukai Karate since 1992, ever since he was in the 9th grade.  He trained under 6th degree blackbelt (Shihan) Gerry Blanck in Los Angeles, California.  When he reached 1st degree green belt, Sensei Blanck asked Erik to assist him with a branch dojo, which Erik did for six months.  When he earned his 3rd degree green belt, Sensei Blanck transferred Erik to the main dojo.  Erik became an Assistant Instructor and taught most of the child classes while assisting many of the adult classes.  While at the main dojo, Erik also took judo and earned his brown belt in that style in December 1994.  
     When Erik left to attend Washington State University, he held a second degree brown belt.  He was a teaching assistant under Sensei John Adams in Kyokushinkai karate during his first semester at Washington State University and earned his yellow belt in that style.  In December 1994, Erik returned to Los Angeles and earned his third degree brown belt.  He spent his sophomore year preparing for his blackbelt test which took place on June 13th, 1996.  Upon returning to WSU for veterinary school, Erik started Pullman Yoshukai, the local dojo for the United States Yoshukai Karate Association.  The dojo continued strongly for years, training dozens of students in Yoshukai Karate.  He graduated with his DVM degree in May 2000.
     After graduating from WSU, Erik did a 1-year internship in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery in Ventura, north of Los Angeles.  At this time, the organization changed to the World Yoshukai Karate Kobudo Organization to return to its strong Japanese roots.  Erik continued to train with Sensei Blanck and earned his second-degree blackbelt (Nidan) in July of 2001.  Therafter he moved to Athens, GA, for a 3-year Residency in Veterinary Anaesthesia where he practiced independently and studied under 3rd degree blackbelt (Sandan) Mark Garduque in Atlanta.  He finished his residency in December 2004 and joined the faculty of the Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery as an anaesthesiologist.  Erik opened the Athens branch dojo of the WYKKO in May 2006 to continue teaching future generations of karate students.  He has been practicing with AKF/Itto Martial Arts as a Kyuki-Do student since January 2007 under Sensei Ken Blumreich.  He earned his blackbelt in Kyuki-Do in May 2008 and earned his second-degree blackbelt in Kyuki-Do in December of 2009.  Erik achieved a life-long goal when he earned his third-degree blackbelt (Sandan) in Yoshukai in June of 2008.


Ranking Student Ken Blumreich

     Ken received his Shodan in Kyuki-Do in 1993, studying under Master Lloyd Holden in Janesville, WI.  He served as an assistant instructor for Master Holden for several years, eventually moving to Athens to open his own studio in 2000.  He received the rank of Nidan in Kyuki-Do in 1997, promoted to Sandan in Kyuki-Do in 2002, and Yondan in Kyuki-Do in 2007.  He currently operates a full time school (AKF Athens Martial Arts) in Athens, GA, operating in conjunction with Sensei Tommy Lunsford of Itto Martial Arts and Fitness.  He earned his Shodan in Yoshukai in June of 2008.
     While his primary art is Kyuki-Do, he also trains extensively in judo (studying under Master Lloyd Holden, Grand Master Ok Hyung Kim and Sensei Lunsford), as well as in Yoshukai Karate.  It is Ken's firm belief that the primary responsibility of any instructor is to develop the spirit, the character, and the moral fiber of students in addition to cultivating their physical abilities.
     You can read more about Ken at his website: www.akfitto.com


Head Assistant Instructor Sherrie Hines

Sherrie has been studying Yoshukai karate since May 2006 under Sensei Hofmeister in an attempt to achieve her black belt by 2009.  Sherrie began with absolutely no experience in martial arts, but has grown to deeply love both the physical and mental challenge involved in the study of Yoshukai karate. She has also recently begun training with Mr. Blumreich during his weekly fighting classes and in doing so has begun to study some judo outside of her regular Yoshukai training.  Sherrie enjoys serving as the Head Assistant Instructor at the Athens Yoshukai dojo, and while teaching is a primary focus of her training under Sensei Hofmeister, she also enjoys fighting and attending tournaments and hopes to train more in point sparring, semi-knockdown and knockdown fighting.  Sherrie ultimately feels that the true value of studying Yoshukai is in coming to understand who you are and what you are truly capable of, in learning to push past what you thought you could (or could not) do and gaining a confidence in yourself and your abilities that will carry throughout everything else you do.


Assistant Instructor Russell Goetze

Russell began his Yoshukai training in June of 2007 under Sensei Erik Hofmeister.  He hopes to attain his black belt in Yoshukai during the summer of 2010.  Since joining the Athens Yoshukai dojo, Russell has also begun training in Judo and Kyuki-Do with Senseis Blumreich and Tomporowski of AKF Athens.  Russell is tremendously grateful for the opportunity to teach, learn and train hard with his instructors and fellow students.  He is an enthusiast of Japanese style fighting and hopes to compete at the black belt level in the future.  Russell feels that physical development is very important to our mental and spiritual well-being and is always pushing towards a higher level of fitness in all aspects.  Russell continues his martial arts training as he pursues an undergraduate degree in Biology with hopes to attend medical school in 2012.


Assistant Instructor Erik Spear

Erik began training at the Athens dojo in the fall of 2007. He made the decision to jump in head first and has never looked back. He feels that the confidence gained through training in a martial art is one of the best benefits. He hopes to one day expand into other martial arts but does not plan to do that seriously until after earning a black belt in Yoshukai. Erik looks forward to an increased role in the training of the rising students as well as continued progress with his own training. Within Yoshukai, Erik considers mastering his forms a top priority.