Profile of our Co-Founder, First Executive Director
and Chief Instructor
Sensei Karl Wesley Scott III
August 13, 1953 - June 13, 2024
Sensei Scott's studies of the martial arts began with Judo in 1965, and broadened to include many different martial art styles with many different instructors, in both the United States and Asia. He taught the martial arts on a full-time, professional basis beginning in 1974, and was a certified Martial Arts Instructor in both Okinawa and Japan.
In 1974, he helped found the Asian Martial Arts Studio, Ann Arbor, Michigan, and was founder of its Aikido program. He was the Director of Training for the Asian Martial Arts Studio from 1979 until 2024, and of its sister organization, the University of Michigan Shorin-ryu Karate-do Club, which he founded in 1977. He was also the Chief Instructor of Sil-lum Hung-gar Kung-fu at the Asian Martial Arts Studio.
In 1985 he founded and became the Director of the East Asian Cultural Institute, a research organization charged with the proliferation of information on East Asian culture. He founded and served as Director of the Asian Martial Arts Studio Chinese Lion Dance Troupe. The Troupe has performed at numerous Chinese cultural events, also for many different organizations including the Detroit Institute of Arts, the University of Michigan Art Museum and the State Capital of Michigan, among others.
Sensei Scott organized and performed in hundreds of demonstrations, seminars, exhibitions and tournaments, to promote traditional martial arts and ways. He designed and created a number of martial arts and self-defense related programs, including an Aikido program for the Michigan Department of Corrections. He also wrote and directed publications, both educational and promotional, for such organizations as the International Martial Arts Federation, American Shudokan Association and the Asian Martial Arts Studio and its affiliates.
In 1989 he was the Seminar Director and Host for the IMAF Japanese Masters Seminars at the University of Michigan. Then in 1993, again was the Seminar Director and Host for the 1993 International Martial Arts Federation North American Congress and Seminars at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
He served as Chief Director of Budo Research and Training for the American Shudokan Association.
He was the director of Birmingham Community House Okinawan Karate-do, Aikido, Tai-chi and Kungfu programs.
He was a regular member of the International Martial Arts Federation (IMAF), a former Regional Director for IMAF USA, and Deputy Chief Director for IMAF USA, and the Branch Director for IMAF USA, Examiner in both the Karate-do and Aikido Divisions and Councilor, IMAF World Headquarters, Japan.
KARATE-DO TRAINING
Sensei Scott began studying Shudokan Karate-do and Shobayashi Shorin-ryu Karate-do with Herbert Z. Wong in 1970. He trained extensively with Wong Sensei as well as with Walter E. Todd Sensei, Isao Ichikawa, the Head Master of the Doshinkan style of Karate-do and with the current Grand Master of the Shobayashi system, Eizo Shimabukuro. In 1978, Shimabukuro Sensei awarded Sensei Scott his Shihan (Master Teacher) certificate in Shobayashi Shorin-ryu Karate-do, and in 1983 appointed him Shibucho of the Midwest District All Japan Karate-do International League. Has also trained with Nobetsu Tadanori, Higuch Ikuo, Andrew Chan, Jerry Gould, and Bill Hayes, among others. He achieved the rank of 7th Dan in Shudokan Karate-do and So-Shihan (Chief Professor) Title and was the Director of the Karate-do Division of the Shudokan Martial Arts Association, 5th Dan in Shobayashi Shorin-ryu Karate-do, Shihan Title, and IMAF 6th Dan, Renshi Title (Assistant Professor) in Karate-do, and an Instructor's License, 3rd Grade with the title of Examiner in the Karate-do division.
AIKIDO TRAINING
Sensei Scott was introduced to Aikido in 1973 by Walter E. Todd Sensei, and he founded the Aikido program at the Asian Martial Arts Studio in 1976. He continued to train in Aikido since 1973, having trained primarily with Todd Sensei, as well as with Koichi Tohei, Kuniyuki Kai, Fumio Toyoda, Jim Klingingsmith, and Eric Barthell. Acheived the rank of 6th Dan, Shihan Title (Full Professor) and was the Senior member and Director Aikido Division ( Shudokan MA Association) and an IMAF 5th Dan and Instructor's License, 4th Grade in Aikido. He also held the title of Examiner in the IMAF Aikido Division.
JUDO TRAINING
Sensei Scott began Judo training in 1965. He trained in Judo primarily with Walter E. Todd Sensei, and achieved the rank of 1st Dan.
KUNG-FU TRAINING
Sensei Scott first studied Sil-lum Hung-gar Kung-fu, but also studied various other Chinese martial arts since 1971, including Tai-Chi Chuan, Pa Kua Chang, Hsing I, Pekwa, Tao Chia, Wing Chun, Pachi, Northern and Southern Tan Tui, and Ying Chiao, or Eagle Talon Style, and Praying Mantis Style. First Sifu in Kung-fu: Herbert Z. Wong. He also studied with Andrew Chan, Garrick Hu, Dr. William C. C. Hu, Luo De Xiu, Wen- Mei Yu and extensively with Sifu Y. C. Wong of San Francisco, California, among others.
KOREAN KARATE
Sensei Scott studied Tae Kwon Do with Sang Kyu Shim and Moo Duk Kwon Tang Soo Do with Jae Jhoon Kim.
POSITIONS HELD
1973-1977: Assistant Instructor, Okinawan Shorin-ryu Karate-do and Chinese Kung-fu Group, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan. 1974-1977: Assistant Instructor, KEI, Ann Arbor, Michigan. 1975-1978: Head Karate Instructor, Physical Education Department, Community High School, Ann Arbor, Michigan. 1977-2017: Founder and Director, University of Michigan Shorin-ryu Karate-do Club, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan. 1977: Assistant Head Instructor, Asian Martial Arts Studio, Ann Arbor, Michigan. 1978-1979: Acting Head Instructor, Asian Martial Arts Studio, Ann Arbor, Michigan. 1983-present: Director, Asian Martial Arts Studio Chinese Lion Dance Troupe. 1992-2017: Director, Birmingham Community House Okinawan Karate-do Club. 1979-2024: Executive Director and Head Instructor, Asian Martial Arts Studio, Ann Arbor, Michigan. 1986-1994: Chief Director of Budo Research and Training, American Shudokan Association (ASA). 1989-1991: Regional Director, International Martial Arts Federation (IMAF - USA). 1991-1993: Deputy Chief Director, International Martial Arts Federation (IMAF USA). 1992-2017: Director, Birmingham Community House Okinawan Karate-do Program. 1992-2024: Director, Shudokan Martial Arts Association Karate-do Division and 1999-2024 Director Shudokan Martial Arts Assocate Aikido Dvision. 1993-2024: Examiner Karate-do Division, International Martial Arts Federation (IMAF). 1993-2024: Examiner Aikido Division, International Martial Arts Federation (IMAF). 1991-2024: Branch Director USA Branch, International Martial Arts Federation (IMAF). 1991-2024: Councilor, International Martial Arts Federation (IMAF), World Headquarters, Japan.
OUTSIDE APPEARANCES
Visiting Instructor, Rendokan Karate Dojo, Kin Cho, Okinawa. Visiting Instructor, United States Marine Corps Camp Hansen, Okinawa. Visiting Instructor, Kokusai Dojo, Oakland, California. Visiting Instructor, KEI Karate Dojo, San Francisco, California. Visiting Instructor, Yakima School of Karate, Yakima, Washington. Visiting Instructor, Okinawan Karate-do Club, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire. Visiting Instructor, Okinawan Karate-do Club, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina. Visiting Instructor, KEI Martial Arts Studio, East Detroit, Michigan. Consultant, Twin Cities Asian Martial Arts Club, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota. Visiting Instructor and Consultant, Okinawan School of Karate, East Moline, Illinois. Consultant and Guest Performer, YMCA Karate Club, Lima, Ohio. Visiting Lecturer, University of Michigan Department of Anthropology, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Designed a Public Safety Officer Aikido Program for the University of Michigan Security Department. Special Investigator and Consultant in Aikido, Michigan Department of Corrections. Designed and created an Aikido program for law enforcement personnel, Michigan Department of Corrections. Visiting Instructor, Okinawan Karate-do Club, Atlanta, Georgia. Visiting Lecturer, Concordia College, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Consultant and Visiting Instructor, University of Michigan Karate-do Club, Flint Campus. Seminar Director/Host, International Martial Arts Federation Japanese Masters Seminars 1989, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Assisted in teaching Aikido seminars, 1993 International Martial Arts Federation North American Congress and Seminars, Ann Arbor, MI. Seminar Director/Host, International Martial Arts Federation North American Congress and Seminars 1993, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Seminar Director/Host, Master Wen - Mei Yu Internal Chinese Martial Arts and Arts Seminars 1994 and 1995, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI Assisted in teaching Aikido Seminars, 1995 International Martial Arts Federation North American Congress and Seminars, Concord, NH. Consultant Central California Karate-do Club, University of California at Santa Cruz.
