About Us
Sensei David Gould
David Gould is the son of the late ASKF hanshi, Richard C. Gould. Sensei Richard C. Gould was an internationally known sensei, propagator of karate-do from Asian to the Western world, and founder of the American Shotokan Karate Federation (ASKF). David’s father, Sensei Gould served in the Korean Conflict as a U.S. Marine before being stationed in Tokyo, Japan, and training under Sensei Akiyama and the founder of modern karate, Gichin Funakoshi (船越 義珍). After completing his military service, he trained into the advanced ranks under the revered and highly respected Shotokan Karate-Do master, Hidetaka Nishiyama (西山 英峻).
Mr. David Gould trained in many areas related to karate-do including full-contact arenas and self-defense applications. He worked security for court process servers nationally in several U.S. cities and trained many others in personal security leading to professional careers in the field of personal and professional security.
David also holds several university degrees and an expert in areas such as intellectual history, geography, information science, and culture. He tutors many levels through university level in areas such as government, sociology, Asian and European Intellectual History and contemporary development of Asian combative arts philosophy, as well as his specialized higher learning areas.
David trained under his father, along with many well-known sanseis, and remained under his father until his death on March 31st, 2017. Now as a Roku Dan (sixth degree black belt), kyoshi (teacher of teachers), senior instructor of the ASKF and national director, former ASKF U.S. international competition team member he continues to train and teach with senior senseis world-wide.
He continues as an instructor for ASKF renshi and kyoshi teaching positions, sensei with thirty-five years of training experience and over twenty years of professional teaching all demographics nationally and internationally. Sensei D. Gould is the chief instructor at the Shotokan Karate Dojo.
Sensei Justin Butler
Previously studying various styles of fighting arts since1965, Sensei Justin Butler began studying Shotokan in 1982 and now carries an 8th Dan (black belt), a 3rd Dan in Hakkoryu Jujitsu, and a 7th Dan in ISKA Jujitsu. He is currently one of the Hanshi instructors for the International San Ten Karate Association (ISKA). He joined with the American Shotokan Karate Federation (ASKF) some time later, and is one of the senior instructors at the Shotokan Karate Dojo.
Along with his service to the karate-do world, Mr. Butler served in the Army during the Vietnam War as part of the 101st Airborne Division in 1970-1971.
He also trained in Gung Fu North and South Tiger under Sifu Cho, has trained in sword techniques, including iido, and is certified in shiatsu (acupressure).
Along with earning his rank under Dennis Pulumbo, Sensei Justin Butler began learning Shotokan from respected senseis that led eventually to training under Sensei Vincent Cruz from the guidance of the revered Sensei Hidetaka Nishiyama (西山 英峻).
Sensei Butler specializes in functional teachings of applications within kata (forms) practiced in karate. He is an expert in teaching self-defense, fighting arts to physically disabled people and other combative arts aspects taught in the Shotokan Karate Dojo.