AKS Quarterly Newsletter
March 2026
The Master's Edge
9th Dan
AKS Chief Instructor
Greetings AKS Members
I wanted to take this opportunity to update you on current activities with the American Karate System.
1. The transition for the new Chief Instructor (me) has been very smooth and seamless. Mike Sullenger and Fred Reinecke have been extremely helpful and supportive as I adapt to my new role.
2. Please note that there have been a few changes to the grade rank requirements in the newest AKS handbook. We've added an additional form and several updated hand techniques.
3. The executive board has reviewed our uniform standard. All white or all black uniforms are acceptable for grade ranks as the school's instructor(s) deems appropriate. Black bottoms with awhite top are an option for Black Belts that have placed in 10 tournaments. (This was Mr. Lieb's mandate).
4. Fourth grade (kyu or gup) is now a purple belt in place of a green belt with two black stripes. Please note that we are actually going back to the belt system that existed before 1975. Schools are still able to use additional color stripes for their children's ranks. The purple belt only applies to those receiving their next promotion, no need to swap belts for the same rank.
5. We are accepting new designs for our grade rank certificates. We will implement the change when our current inventory of certificates is depleted.
6. Our 2026 AKS Summer Camp is July 24 & 25. It will be held at the Shores Community Church again this year. Please let us know if there is something specific you would like to see added to the training agenda. More info to follow.
7. We are always looking for guest articles for our quarterly newsletter, the Punchline. If you have an article to share, please send it to Mrs. Laura Werner, eMail, our AKS webmaster.
8. And last but not least, it is Black Belt and Club registration time. The annual dues are $50 per Black Belt and $100 for club registration.
Please let us know if you have any questions or comments.
Best regards,
Dave Thomas, 9th Dan
AKS Chief Instructor
231-206-3279
The DoJo
Kicking And Screaming Just Isn’t Enough
Matthew Schoonover
Growing up, I would come to class which would start promptly at 6pm, and we would do intense physical exercises like running, jumping jacks, crab walks, Russian situps, and lots of pushups. My class was then given a two minute break, and afterwards we would line up, and start kicking and screaming. Many Karateka have had a similar upbringing, and to be fair, that is what makes karate an art or self-discipline and focus. The problem that many black belts face is that we can be so totally engrained into our own style of training that some times we lose the definition of what it means to be a martial artist. I have found that we have become stagnant in our development and we have discovered bad habits. or that we choose to think that kicking and screaming will always work in a self defense situation.
In my own training, I was asked by one of my instructors to look at the deficiencies in my training. I have found that a major discrepancy was ground fighting - a place where kicking and screaming has no effectiveness. I have also looked at my kata, and I saw that I am way too fast, possess sloppy techniques and I show weak stances. Kata could always be reinforced by more fundamental study, but also with an art that stresses detail like Iaido and Aikido. Michael Thule said, "At an advanced level, a mature practitioner should begin to 'look outside the box' of his or her base style . . . to better perceive reoccurring patterns in human attack."1 I have found that training in Judo or JiuJitsu helps solve the question of ground fighting, and that training in Iaido and Aikido helps slow my kata down and stresses strong stances and execution of technique.
I am not asking anyone to give up karate and move on to another sport after you get your black belt, but I do think that your dojo and the American Karate System could benefit by adding different points of view to what you bring to the system. I would encourage my audience to broaden their horizons with the following prerequisites:
1) practice what is affordable, you cannot help broaden your training if its not affordable
2) practice what is available, you cannot learn a martial art form with appropriate mat/floor time that is not available in your area
3) practice what fits into your schedule, if you have to choose family/faith or training, you should choose family/faith.
At the very least, I think every school should have the opportunity to add to their training by bringing in a specialist of another martial art to teach a portion of class once in awhile so that your personal training can deepen and improve with other ways of viewing the martial arts.
Studying martial arts with different outlooks has helped my training by filling in the gaps of where I fall short. I have also found that learning other types of martial arts has helped me stay humble, because at the end of the day, kicking and screaming just isn't enough.
Matt Schoonover 2nd Dan
Assistant Instructor Mountaineer Karate Club
1 Kane, Lawrence A, and Kris Wilder. 2007. The Way to Black Belt : A Comprehensive Guide to
Rapid, Rock-Solid Results. Boston, Mass: Ymaa Publication Center. Page 154.
Feelin' Good
Mark Soderstrom
4th Dan AKS
I am not good at sparring. I am too slow. Why? Because I am a slow thinker. Wait! What? What will happen in a self-defense situation? Oh no!
In 1977, it became famous to "go with your feelings, Luke." I hate that expression. My feelings lie. If I went with my feelings, I would weigh 400 pounds and be in jail, because I do not feel like exercising, I feel like more ice cream, and I know way too many people that I feel need to be punched. Hold that thought.
In his book, "How We Decide," Jonah Lehrer gives this example. On pro football teams, the quarterbacks have, at best, a few seconds to decide who to pass to. That means that they must look at each of the five potential receivers, pick the best, and pick the moment. This decision must be made in milliseconds. So they must be really good at math and logic. Right?: Now remember, someone had to pick these quarterbacks based on their college performance. Many millions of dollars are at stake in the team manager's decision of who to pick for quarterback.
To that end, they administer what is essentially an IQ test called the Wonderlic test. The average is 25. Over the long term, the results were surprising. Remember, 25 is average. Dan Marino scored 14. Terry Bradshaw and Randall Cunningham both scored 15. Yet, they were all inducted into the Hall of Fame. Hmmm . . .
How did they know what to do? ---They went with their feelings. Arggg! But, to do that, they had to work --- very hard. It turns out that we think and make decisions with a large part of our brain in the front called the prefrontal cortex. It is very complex and it is relatively slow.
Our dopamine neurons (those neurons that use dopamine to communicate) communicate before a reward. Think, they send 'a jolt of joy off before a reward to lab animals.' It turns out that feelings are taught. If you give a reward to an animal every time a light goes off, then when that light goes off, they feel joy before they receive the reward. The feelings are "Taught."
So, the great quarterbacks review their plays. What worked, what did not. They are teaching their feelings. They look at other quarterbacks, what worked in what situations. They practice hard and learn from it. They are teaching their feelings. Another source said that when a group of highly successful men of various career paths were studied, they all had one thing in common: they reviewed their day. What was worthwhile? What was a waste of time? In the future, they avoided things that wasted time and emphasized the good. Think about how this would change your life, spending time on the things that were good and pure and worthy of praise, and avoiding things that dragged you down.
The bottom line is this. If I want to be good at sparring, I have to train my feelings by actually sparring and then thinking about what worked and what did not. If I only do floor exercises or only do Kata, I will not get there. I have to spar and study sparring. This will also help in self-defense as I study how people stand, hold their guard and react.
Mark Soderstrom 4th Dan AKS
Chief Instructor
Shores Community Martial Arts Club
The Passing of Master Allen Horton
by Dave Thomas
Last month I was notified of the passing of Master Allen Horton. He was a good friend to Mr. Lieb and to Sensei Yamashita. While they respectively stayed true to their own styles, they shared and supported each other over many years.
I first saw Master Horton in a demonstration with Sensei Yamashita at a tournament Mr. Lieb held at Mona Shores High School. I hadn't gone to any classes yet and went to watch as an interested spectator. During the demo, Master Horton did a tension form of Sanchin kata while Sensei Yamashita broke boards over his body!
I was so impressed with the strength and concentration of the demonstration that I was pretty sure I would never join martial arts.
I can remember Mr. Lieb telling our class about his good friend, Al Horton. He loved sharing stories of their training and attending tournaments together. Mr. Lieb emphasized the friendship and respect he had for Al.
I met Master Horton several years back when he visited our AKS Summer Camp with one of his top students, Mr. Bobby Goff. It was a wonderful time of training, sharing knowledge and friendship. The time we spent together is one I will always treasure.
Like Mr. Lieb, Master Horton was a martial arts pioneer in America. Even though he is no longer with us, his legacy lives on through his students, his friends and his many years of teaching.
Rest in peace my Friend.
Dave Thomas 9th Dan AKS
AKS Chief Instructor
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Following are thoughts from two former students of Mr. Horton.
My Years with Allen Horton and Pangainoon
by David Heaton
My name is David Heaton, and I met Allen in the summer of 1981. My family and I had moved to Florida from Ohio. I got a job in Sarasota in a tile and carpet warehouse. I met Allen when they transferred me from the tile section to the carpet section. As we were working, he told me that he had a fifth-degree black belt. I had always wanted to study martial arts but there was no dojo near where I lived in Ohio.
He invited me to his house to train. This was the first time I saw someone perform kata. I had no idea what kind of kata he did, but I was completely confused and I wanted it. I received my black belt in 1984 and kept training with him until he moved to Georgia in 2006.
I received a 3rd Dan in Uechi ryu in 1996 from Homer Ordaz (6th Dan Uechi Ryu). When Allen moved to George in 2006, I was a fifth degree under him. On March 4, 2014, he presented me with a sixth degree and in March 2017 I received an eighth degree in self-defense from Dr. Jerome Barber (10th Dan Tracey Kenpo, 10th Dan Kali-Arnes), Prof. Karl Holland (9th Dan Karate Juijitsu, 7th Isshin Ryu) and Grandmaster Bryant Harrell (9th Dan Karate Jujitsu, 8th Dan Hapkido). Jan 1, 2023, Allen promoted me to 8th Dan. July 24, 2024, Allen promoted me to 9th degree, and on April 2, 2015, Allen issued a certificate of linage to me to be Soke when he passed. In 2015 John Enger, 10th Dan Shinja Martial Arts awarded me with the Christian Master Artist of the Year. Also, in 2025, he presented me with the "Hanshi Vernon Bell Spirit & Leadership Award." In 2023, I was inducted into the U.S.A. Martial Arts Hall of Honors with the "Living Legend Award." In 2016 at a tournament in Bradenton, Fl I received first place in kata and weapons.
Allen taught me the katas and their bunkai. He taught me to study the katas and search out different uses for the moves. We trained using different blocks. Were they usable? Did they work against different attacks? We trained in blocking and striking at the same time. We worked on blocks against kicks. Training to use blocks that stopped or damaged the legs. He taught me to move fast, tight, and smoothly. We tried to remember our roots in kung fu and karate. Many nights I went home with black and blue arms but knowing that we had done our best to have blocks that could be used by people of all sizes, genders, or ages. We changed from the 8 katas to 3 by taking moves from the 8 and adding them to the 3 original that Kanbun brought from China. So, our system has 3 open hands katas and 2 weapons kata, nunchaku and bo. Allen learned the weapons from one of the greatest weapons Master, Tadashi Yamashita.
He also taught me to search the katas. He wanted me to know them, make them my own, pass on the knowledge that he taught me and the knowledge that I had searched out.
He taught me humility. He taught me to have respect for other systems and for other martial artists. But he also taught me to stand up for what I believe. He taught me to teach. As I progressed through the ranks, he had meetings and visitations through the church. So, on those nights I led the class. I learned to share what I was taught and I learned as I taught. I believe that teachers should learn along with their students. We should always be learning and be willing to learn from other martial arts. All systems have information to share.Allen has trained with some of the best in the world: Ryuko Tomoyose, George Mattson, Ernest Lieb, Tadashi Yamashita.
I met Robert Goff in 2008 and taught him Horton Pangainoon. He must have liked it as he continued to train with me every chance he had. He brought his students to me for training. When he visited me, we would explore the katas, and he would post them on Facebook. It was always a pleasure when I showed him something new and a few days, I would see on social media Robbie teaching his students what I had shown him. I told him that he is our PR man for Horton Pangainoon.
I trained with Allen from 1981 to 2006 when he moved. I would call him when I found a new application for a kata move to see what he thought. He enjoyed that we found new applications. I have trained with different generations that have come from Allen. They may do katas a little different, but we all have come from the same roots.
The most important thing that he taught me was to have love and respect for my savior, Jesus Christ.
David Heaton
9th degree black belt
Horton Pangainoon Self Denfense
The following is from Dr. Robert L. Goff
Over the course of 26 years, I have had the privilege of standing on the training floor with some of the world's most sought-after martial artists. Some young, some middle-aged, and others were elderly; however, I have yet to find one who possessed the depth of knowledge in the martial arts like Al Horton. Some would say that I am biased, and that could be the case, but whenever I have been asked over the last 13 years or so who was the most knowledgeable martial artist, without hesitation, I have always answered, "Allen Horton." His artistic ability in martial arts reminded me of that famous painter, Rembrandt. His creative capacities seem to be those that that famous violin maker Antonio Stradivari possessed. And he could feel the movement of the kata, just like the famous classical composer Ludwig van Beethoven could feel music within his soul. Al Horton was simply, in my humble opinion, one of the best.
Al was old school. He came up in the era when the martial arts were in its infancy here in the United States. Rank was not a big deal because during his time, very seldom could one find one who was above a SanDan 3rd Degree Black Belt. This is why Al would proudly wear a GoDan 5th Degree Black Belt for over thirty years. He was concerned with the knowledge, skill, and ins-and-outs of martial arts. Al concerned himself with the how and why of the martial arts so that he could not only empower himself, but also those who society deemed to be the weak or the vulnerable. Al Horton believed in this, and he dedicated 67 years of his life to achieving this goal, and at the end of his life, he encouraged me to "Keep Digging! Because there is more to uncover."
Al Horton was not only my Grandmaster, but he was also a coach, mentor, spiritual advisor and a friend. Al had an incredible devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ, and his martial arts philosophy was shaped by it over the past 50 years. He did not separate the two. He believed that they ran congruently with each other. In the words of his Self-Defense Creed, "We have a God-given right to self-defense" (Al Horton). Al proudly wore a patch that said, "Christian Self-Defense." He believed in light and darkness; goodness and evil; right and wrong, and believed that spiritual warfare was just as much a part of the martial arts as the physical. He passed these lessons on to many of his students.
Al was a giant in the arts, and I could never walk a mile in his shoes. When he and his Senior student, my Sensei and New Soke of Horton's Pangainoon Self-Defense System of Defense decided in 2024 that I would be the third Soke of his system when both of them were no longer able to serve, my heart dropped. How could I be Soke? This man is light years ahead of me. However, I was made to understand by my friend Al that I would continue to move the system into the future. That I did not have to be a duplicate of him, and for that reason, he did not tell me "HOW" to do it, but to think "WHAT" and "WHY" I did what I did with the technique. Al had absolute confidence in my abilities as a person and a martial artist to entrust me with something that he took 67 years to build. This was humbling and nerve-racking at the same time. However, it is the greatest honor that has ever been bestowed upon me as a martial artist.
So, with all of that being said, I am going to do all that I can to make sure that the martial arts world remembers Allen James Horton. I will pass his teachings, principles and ideas on to another generation. I will guard the system that was not only precious to him, but also to his family and his students. After all, Al Horton was faithful to me and has given me so much, the least I could do is return the favor by doing what he has asked of me.
Dr. Robert L. Goff, Jr
6th Degree Black Belt
3rd Soke of Horton's Pangainoon Self-Defense System
Black Belt Promotions
Muskegon, MI
Fred Reinecke
9th Dan
Chief Instructor
John Folsom
8th Dan
Chief Instructor
Dave Thomas
9th Dan
Chief Instructor
Sydney E. Brooks
2nd Dan
Chief Instructor
Andrew Eckhart
5th Dan
Chief Instructor
& Self-Defense Program
Mark Soderstrom
4th Dan
Chief Instructor
John Billie
3rd Dan
Chief Instructor
CONGRATULATIONS to our black belts and all students who have been promoted this past quarter, and to those we've missed in prior newsletters.
Best wishes in your continued training!
Attention Instructors, if you have students who have been promoted, please send this information so that we may acknowledge their accomplishments.
Merry Christmas to ALL
It's Christmas Time, Again
And just like that, we come to another year-end. So much has happened this past year, in terms of the AKS. We, again, lost an AKS member and an AKS family member. As of 2025 Summer Camp, we have a new AKS Chief Instructor, Dave Thomas. And some AKS members are breathing the slow demise of the AKS due to the aging senior leaders.
If, indeed, the AKS is to exist another 20 years (after the passing of its founder, Ernest H. Lieb 2006), it will take our younger black belt members to lead the way. Get involved in leadership roles and more participation in contributing to our Punchline, edited and published by yet another "aging" member (see image above). 
The New Year awaits you. 2026. Will another 365 days show growth for our tiny martial arts club? Or will Ernie's dream be a casualty mentioned in next December's Punchline?
Anne Reinecke, wife of then Chief Instructor, Fred Reinecke, passed away on March 17th.
On April 28th, we lost the head of the AKS in Germany, Andreas "Teddy" Modl.
For 2026, we wish you Peace in Your Heart, Comfort in your Sorrows, and Joy to All!
Christmas Peace and Blessing to you and yours.
Laura Werner
AKS Webmaster
✨2024 AKS Summer Camp 50th Anniversary
Summer Camp dates are TBD
Tournament News
The Muskegon Karate Club at Cassell Training Center competed in Rylee's Rumble Tournament in Grand Rapids, MI on March 28th. The results are as follows:
- Brown Belt Kata - Open
- 1st Place - Nichol Roy
- 2nd place - Zander Thomas
- Brown Belt Sparring - Adult Women
- 3rd place - Nichol Roy
- Brown Belt Sparring - Adult Men
- 2nd place - Zander Thomas
- Green Belt Men - Adult Sparring
- 3rd place - Julius Zanbrano
- Green Belt Sparring - 12-14 Years
- 2nd place - Ryder Thomas
- Men's Novice Sparring
- 2nd place - James Hines
- Men's Yellow Belt Forms
- 3rd place - James Hines
And representing Shores Community Martial Arts Club
Congratulations to all the AKS tournament participants!
Well done!
Please contact Dave Thomas.
Do You Have Member News ?
Please send news (weddings, births, graduations, etc.) so that we may share with our members and friends. Accompanying pictures are most welcome!
If you have a concern, question or suggestion, please let us know and we will address it here in the Punchline.
Please send your information to the AKS Webmaster. We look forward to hearing from you!
Available Clubs and Schedules:
231-736-3205
Schedule a phone call and I'll get in touch
AKS Karate Muskegon
Cassel Training Center
AKS is conducting classes for AGES 8 + up at Cassell Training Center, 710 Alberta Street, Muskegon, MI.
Classes are Fridays from 6:30p - 8:00p
Cost for individuals - $50.00 a month
Cost for family (immediate) - $75.00 a month
Chief Instructor - Dave Thomas, 9th Dan Black Belt AKS
Guest Instructor - Robert Essenberg, 3rd Dan AKS who was awarded 2009 Instructor of the Year by the Black Belt Hall of Fame
Assistant Instructors: Jim Roy 6th Dan AKS, Debra Roy 6th Dan AKS, Robert Roy 2nd Dan AKS.
Call Dave for more information: 231-206-3279
Attention Club Instructors. Please send your club/class schedule to me so that I can include your class schedules here.
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Contact Info
Fred Reinecke
far.photo.fred@gmail.com
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John Folsom (304) 782-3756
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Jude Gore / Chairperson
jgore@citynet.net
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Debra Roy
mr.mrsblackbelt@netzero.net
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Andrew Eckhart
aeckhart77@gmail.com
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Kristyn Reinecke
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Mike Sullenger
kick2aks@yahoo.com
The AKS Executive Board is currently working on updating the AKS Student Handbook and The AKS Rules and Regulations. This also includes techniques and requirements. If you find errors in the handbook, please let us know. We would love to hear your ideas and suggestions to grow and improve the AKS.
A.K.S. FACEBOOK PAGES AT
AKS Facebook Fan Page
AKS Karate Headquarters FB
West Virginia AKS FB
AKS Facebook Group
You will need to have a FaceBook Login for the 'Group' link.Our Official Web Address:
www.aks-usa.comIn addition: www.aks-usa.org or www.aks-usa.net will direct you to our website as well.
You can type in www.aks-usa.info and you will be taken directly to our "About Us" web page. Please check us out!!
For Questions or CommentsFred Reinecke - Chief Instructor Emeritus
Mike Sullenger - Chief Instructor Emeritus
Se habla Español
AKS Webmaster