Santa Cruz Dojo

Mr. Lou Jemison is the director of our T'ai Chi Chuan and Chi Kong program. He also teaches in our Karate and Okinawan Weaponry programs. Mr.Jemison began training with Sensi Sanford in 1967. Within a few years he moved to the San Francisco Bay area to attend the University of California at Berkeley. There he studied oriental history and language. While attending UCB he began to study directly under O'Sensei Richard Kim at the Chinese YMCA in San Francisco. He continued to train directly under O'Sensei until O'Sensei passed away in 2001. Mr. Jemison has extensive teaching experience in youth and adult Martial Arts programs in San Francisco, Watsonville and Santa Cruz. He also traveled extensively with O'Sensei Kim. Under O'Sensei Kim he has studied Shorinji-Ryu Karate-Do, Kobudo (Okinawan and Japanese Weaponry), T'ai Chi Chuan, Chi Kong, Aiki, Martial Arts history, tradition and philosophy.

Mr.Jemison has studied Goju-Ryu Karate under Master Tomoharu Kisaki, President of the Japan Karate-Do Gojiu-Ryu Yuishinkan and Master Mario Higonna of the International Okinawan Gojyu-Ryu Karate Federation. He has studied under Master Kenei Mabuni, Sohke (Head House) of Shito-Ryu Karate. And he has studied Shotokan Karate under Masters Hidetaka Nishiyama, Masatoshi Nakayama, Hiroshi Shoji, Taiji Kase, Toru Yamaguchi, Hiroshi Shirai, Masaka Ueki, Hideki Okamoto, Keinosuke Enoeda and Professor Takeshi Ohishi. And he has trained in Aikijujutsu with Soshi Siego Okamoto.

Mr.Jemison has successfully completed the International Coaches and Judges courses through the International Traditional Karate Federation. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Zen Bei Butoku-Kai.