Our Staff...
| Laura Westbrooks, Owner
3rd degree black belt
Shuri-Ryu Okinawan Karate
Laura Westbrooks, owner and operator of KoSho Karate Pantano, has 10 years of experience in the martial arts and is a 3rd degree black belt (Sandan) in Okinawan Shuri-ryu and a 2nd degree black belt (Nidan) in Okinawan kobudo (traditional weapons). She holds Bachelor of Science degrees from the University of Phoenix in both Business Administration and Business Management, and she is a certified fitness instructor. For the last 20 years Laura has been working in the fields of business administration and management, both as a small business owner. Her broad work experience has given her expertise in information management, customer service, and supervision of people and projects. Laura is married and has three children and five grandchildren.
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Email: Laura@KoshoPantano.com
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| Susan Lynn Peterson, Ph.D.
5th degree black belt
Shuri-Ryu Okinawan Karate
Susan Lynn Peterson has seventeen years of experience in the martial arts and holds a Godan (fifth-degree black belt) in Okinawan Shuri-ryu karate. Her other martial arts experience includes Yang style Tai Chi Chuan, Shaolin Kempo/Chuan Fa, and Okinawan Kobudo. She was a 1995 USAKF national gold medalist in kobudo (traditional weapons), a 1996 USAKF national silver medalist in kobudo, and a 2006 USKA national bronze medalist in advanced kata. She is a professional writer and the author of Legends of the Martial Arts Masters and co-author of Starting and Running Your Own Martial Arts School. Her magazine articles have appeared in Black Belt, New Body, Fighting Woman News, and many others. Susan has a Ph.D. in Text Theory from the University of Texas at Arlington; more than 20 years of teaching experience in areas as diverse as English Composition, History, Critical Thinking, and Self Defense; and is a graduate of the American Coaching Effectiveness Program. She is married and in her spare time does cooking and baking experiment, plays Irish whistle, and tries to beat the Master level in computer Scrabble. (Susan's Web site and her business web site).
Email: Susan@KoshoPantano.com
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| Mitch Shacter
3rd degree black belt
Shuri-Ryu Okinawan Karate
Mitch Shacter is a 3rd Dan in Karate and Kobudo and has been training 18 years. Has competed at the Regional, State, and National levels with the USKF and WKF. Originally started training with Sensei Lend McCaster in 1992 and has continued training with Shihan Linebarger since 2003. Mitch has studied for 4 years at Purdue University in Indiana with a dual major in Movement & Sports Science and Psychology. While in Indiana, Mitch studied under Shihan David Ames. In addition, Mitch has experience teaching to the disabled community, specifically teaching karate to the blind and visually-impaired.
We are excited to have Mr. Shacter on the senior teaching staff at KoSho Karate Pantano.
Email: Mitch@koshopantano.com
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| Richard Thiem
4th degree black belt
Chun Kuk Do
Richard Thiem has over 45 years in the Martial Arts and holds a 4th degree Black Belt in Chun Kuk Do,( Known as the Chuck Norris System ). Richard taught for the Chuck Norris Studios in the late 60's early 70's in California. He also holds a 3rd degree Black Belt in Aikido, and studied under Osensei Koichi Tohei in Japan while he was in the military. He also holds a 2nd degree Black Belt in Shodokan Aikido also studied in Japan under Chief Osensei Kenji Tomiki Founder of this style. He also holds a 1st Degree Black Belt in Judo and studied under Expert Gene LeBell and his Father who taught Combat Judo in the Army during WWII. He also teaches Meditation and Weapons Disarming.
He was in the U.S. Navy Special Forces and served as an instructor in Small Arms.
He went to UCLA and received his Masters Degree in Psychology and went to Citrus College and received his Associates Degree in Business Management. After 18 years of owning his own Business he is now retired.
His interests are watching his Grandson grow in the Martial Arts, who incidently is now a Brown Belt in Shuri-Ryu at this Dojo and teaching any and all who are interested in learning a better way of life in the Martial Arts. He is married, has 4 children and 4 grandsons.
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| Jeffrey Tomlin
3rd degree black belt
Taekwondo
Mr. Jeffrey Tomlin holds a 3rd degree black belt in Taekwondo under master Jae Kim of Baltimore, Maryland. He has been teaching for over 10 years in the martial arts.
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| Debby Broderick
Certified Kickboxing Instructor
Debby Broderick is an IFA (International Fitness Association) certified instructor. She is certified in kickboxing, aerobics, step aerobics, and personal training. Debby has been an instructor at KoSho for 5 years, but has been training for 8 years. She has trained with various level black belts from KoSho Karate and she is presently studying Taekwondo with Jeff Tomlin, 3rd degree black belt. As far back as she can remember she has been an aerobic enthusiast and taken classes at Parks and Recreation, the YMCA, and the University of Arizona.
Debby is presently the site director/preschool teacher for the YMCA. She teaches at Wrightstown Elementary School. Prior to that she taught at Van Horne Elementary as a preschool teacher and teacher's assistant for kindergarten through 5th grade. She is certified in CPR and First Aid.
Debby believes that if one wishes to have balance in one's life, they must exercise both body and mind.
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