Tom Twining was posthumously awarded 2023 AKS Black Belt-of-the-Year for his contributions to the knowledge of AKS. He was also awarded the Ernest H. Lieb award for his many years of supporting and instructing in the AKS. These awards were accepted for Tom by his daughter Jeran Johnson.

Fred Reinecke, 9th Dan AKS Chief Instructor

Congratulations to Bill Way, 2nd Dan with Mountaineer Karate Club in West Virginia, for receiving the Black Belt of the Year Award at this year's AKS Summer Camp.

Bill did not start learning karate until after retiring from teaching music for 36 years in the public school system. From the beginning, Bill has always been one of the first to show up to class and one of the last to leave; rarely missing a class, seminar, or Summer Camp. As soon as he gets to class he doesn't waste any time, but starts right away by stretching and getting to work on his katas and techniques. Bill practices almost every day and supplements his training with other exercise and research. After 5 years of training, Bill physically tested and was promoted to Black Belt. Bill continued his training and learning to successfully test for his 2nd Degree Black Belt within 3 years. Bill is consistently working to improve, eager to learn something new, and is always willing to help others.

Bill is a great example of what it takes to be a black belt by showing that your accomplishments are only limited by yourself. He represents the best of the AKS by displaying respect, humility, kindness, integrity, willingness to learn, determination, and most of all a great attitude.

Congratulations, Bill!

Fred Reinecke, 9th Dan AKS Chief Instructor

1st Dan, Mr. John Talbot, is this year's recipient of the 2018 AKS Black Belt of the Year Award.

Mr. Ethan Galicic, 1st Dan, is this year's recipient of the 2016 AKS Black Belt of the Year Award. Ethan is an instructor with the Mountaineer Karate Club in Lumberport, West Virginia.

Ethan was chosen for his hard work and dedication to the AKS, and for helping to bring new life to the Mountaineer Karate Club. Where other classes are losing students to sports and other extracurricular activities, MKC is increasing their student membership. Ethan has played a major part in this with his energy, knowledge, and planning skills. Ethan also has brought new meaning to family values at MKC, as his whole family is very active with their training and their involvement, showing that karate can be a wonderful way of bringing the family together.

Ethan began his martial arts training at the age of 13. With a background in Indonesian Pentjak Silat and Arnis, he brings additional knowledge and diversity to class. He always plans well for class with good ideas that he has researched to help entice students of all ages to learn, as well as raising the sparring skills of the students by several levels. Ethan and his family also study Aikido and Iaido with Sensei Bill King once or twice a week.

Ethan is always first to arrive and last to leave, willing to do whatever is needed of him. He has been very instrumental in preparing students for tournaments, working with the students and their parents to know what to expect, what is required, and what they can do to help.

Ethan had the honor of being presented his award by our visiting guest from Germany, Heinrich Reimer, 8th Dan Wado-Ryu, AKS. Ethan is most deserving of this award, and we are very proud to have him as a member of the AKS.

Sandra K. Gore, 3rd Dan AKS

AKS Black Belt of the Year, Mr. Mark Soderstrom, is a member of Ross Park Muskegon Karate Club. Mark is a pillar in my class. He trains, he instructs, he helps wherever needed - constantly.

Mark designed and maintains the Ross Park AKS website.

Mark has done promotional materials for our class as well as conducting self-defense clinics. He also makes every class with a positive energetic attitude, even though his personal life has been very chaotic. At his last test, two family members were in the hospital in serious condition, and he came to be tested anyway. At the time, he and I talked and I told him to take care of his family first, karate will always be there. To Mark's credit, he set aside his personal issues and did a great job during his testing.

Congratulations, Mark! You are most deserving.

Dave Thomas 8th Dan / American Karate System

Mr. Chad Smith, 2nd Dan, was selected as the American Karate System's 2014 Black Belt of the Year at our annual Summer Camp held in Muskegon on June 21.

Chad was selected for his outstanding efforts to bring new energy to the karate program at the Tri-Cities YMCA. He and his fellow black belts have spent the last year working hard on building and expanding the program at the YMCA. In addition, he brings years of experience as well as a wealth of information and organization skills to the AKS nationally. He was selected on the basis of excelling in all aspects of the martial arts, teaching, training, as well as competing. Chad certainly exceeds the standard in all these areas.

I have worked directly with Chad, and Aaron and Kim Bremer, assistant instructors at the Grand Haven YMCA. They are dedicated to teaching their students in a positive structured format. They are patient and compassionate instructors who teach not only by direction, but also by example. I have also visited their class as well as my other Black Belts and have seen how the students are eager to learn and have great respect for their instructors. These are the hallmarks of exceptional teachers.

Again I want to congratulate Chad along with the Bremers and the Tri-Cities YMCA  A.K.S. karate students on receiving our highest award.

Dave Thomas 8th Dan / American Karate System

Mr. Brian K. Greynolds, 5th Dan, was awarded the AKS Black Belt of the Year at the 2013 AKS Annual Summer Camp. Brian is Co-Chief Instructor of the Mountaineer Karate Club in Lumberport, West Virginia and Assistant Chief Instructor at the Salem Karate Club in Salem, West Virginia. He is a student of Sensei John Folsom and Sensei Robert Leonard.

Brian traveled to Washington, D.C. in the summer of 2001 to meet Mr. Earnest Lieb. He returned with a new light in his eyes knowing that the AKS was an organization that he wanted to be part of. Brian joined the AKS in 2002 and traveled to Germany with Mr. Lieb in the fall of that same year. He regularly attends AKS seminars either as an instructor or as a student eager to empty his cup and learn something new. Brian actively reads, studies, researches and practices in order to sharpen his skills and become a better instructor. Brian also plays an important role in planning the AKS Fall Seminar in West Virginia every year. He is always looking for ways to support and promote the AKS where ever he may be.

Besides being a talented martial artist, Brian is also a gifted and dedicated teacher. He is the Apprenticeship Coordinator for the Bricklayer District Council of West Virginia. Along with full days of recruiting, instructing, and coordinating students in the art of masonry for the State of West Virginia, Brian travels twice a week after work to various parts of the state to instruct and guide apprentices; many evenings not returning home until late at night. Still, Brian makes time to teach and share his martial arts skills after work at least twice a week at his home school, and assist at our sister school in Salem, West Virginia.

Brian K. Greynolds is very deserving of this recognition. The AKS is proud to have him as a member.

E. Jude Gore 7th Dan / American Karate System

At the 2012 annual AKS Summer Camp, Mr. Andrew Eckhart was honored as the "Black Belt of the year." Even though the award is presented on a yearly basis, Andy has been a dedicated martial artist for many years. And to those of us who train with him on a weekly basis, this award comes as no surprise.

Besides being a skilled 3rd Dan, what makes Andy stand out from the crowd, is his willingness to step outside the comfort zone of a single martial art and seek experience and knowledge from other styles.  This has been demonstrated by taking the time and energy to attend classes and training at other schools in the Toledo area.

Specifically, over many years Andy has learned and shared techniques in MMA, Jui Jitsu and other grappling arts that he acquired from outside of the normal AKS classes.  But that is only part of the puzzle.  Learning is one thing . . . sharing and teaching EFFECTIVELY is quite another.  Andy conducts a grappling session every Thursday evening during our normal class and always has something new to share.

Anyone who has attended one of Andy's sessions or one of his many segments at summer camp or a regional seminar will attest to his teaching skills.  He also has the ability to take something physically trying and difficult and make it fun and interesting.

The above mentioned may have singled Andy out for 2012, but his past, and I am sure future accomplishments, would make him a strong candidate for Black Belt of the Year award in any year.

Rand Palmer 6th Dan / American Karate System

At the annual AKS Summer Camp, this year's AKS Black Belt of the Year Award was presented to Mr. David Eric Thomas, 4th Dan (center). David has earned many accolades during his time in karate which started when he was six and earned his Black Belt at 18.

What singled him out this year is his teaching and growing our newest area club at the Tri-Cities YMCA in Grand Haven, Michigan, where he has been the head instructor for over two years. He does a week-long karate camp for the Grand Haven Y every July for area youngsters.   He has put together a number of successful public demonstrations which far exceeded any competition that was present.   He has also organized and taught several women's self-defense seminars put on as a community service.

David has also designed and written a comprehensive AKS Instructors Manual that is available on-line to all AKS Instructors. It has teaching notes, numerous empty hand and weapons forms, self defense information and a Black Belt testing format. His testing format was used at this summer's Black Belt testing and generally agreed it made the testing much more organized and orderly.

Those that know David, know him to be a dedicated martial artist, an excellent instructor and a sterling example of the qualities of an American Karate System Black Belt. He sets high standards of performance for himself and his students. He makes himself available to teach outside normal class hours for those working on their next rank.

Congratulations David on a much deserved award!

Dave Thomas 8th Dan / American Karate System

At Summer Camp this year, Mrs. Deborah Roy and Mr. James Roy were co-honored as the 2010 AKS Black Belts of the Year. When I nominated them to our Chief Instructor, I told him, they are a well-matched couple that has been terrific ambassadors for the American Karate System. Because their training, teaching, and demos are always done together, it was appropriate they share the award. And the fact that they are husabnd and wife contributed to the decision.

Jim and Deb also do a number of demos every year for wellness seminars, groups promoting women's self defense, and other community organizations. They structure their demonstrations for each individual audience and sometimes invite audience members to participate.

Jim and Deb Roy are excellent Black Belts, top-notch instructors, and exciting promoters for the AKS. I am proud to have them as my Black Belts and gratified to watch them receive a well deserved award.

Dave Thomas 8th Dan / American Karate System

This year we reinstituted the black belt of the year award with Mr. Jude Gore (5th Dan AKS) from the Mountaineer Karate Club in West Virginia being the awardee. Presenting the award is Mr. John Folsom (right).

After making the announcement of this year's recipient, I must admit I can't remember a time since getting to know Jude where he was so lacking with some kind of a response. It was very obvious he was not expecting this award. I spoke with John Folsom, 7th Dan AKS and regional director for that area, who said Jude has been an invaluable asset in assisting him and in his support to the American Karate System.

Congratulations, Jude!   Well deserved.

Michael A. Sullenger 9th Dan / AKS Chief Instructor