| The Team
The Kosho Kai Karate Dojo is under the directorship of:
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Patricia Fink is a shichidan (seventh-degree black belt) in Seito Matsumura ryu karate under Master Phillip Koeppel. She began her training in 1983 and has since been USKK grand champion over twelve times in both kata (forms) and kumite (sparring). She has competed and medalled twice in international competition (Italy 1998 and Greece 2000) as a member of Team USA Karate. She became the thirty-fourth inductee into the Bushido International Society making her and her husband the first married couple to be so honored. She is a recipient of the Large Double-Bladed Ax and the prestigious Mel Wise Memorial Bushido Award. Mrs. Fink is a lifetime member of the United States Karate-do Kai and the Professional Karate Commission. In addition, she serves on the USKK Academic Grant Committee and the USKK Rules Committee. Mrs. Fink has a degree in early childhood development and over fifteen years' experience as a daycare teacher. She is a registered nurse and works for a traveling agency.
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Frank Fink is a rokudan (sixth-degree black belt) in Okinawan Shuri-ryu and Goju-ryu karate with experience in judo, jujitsu, kosho kempo, and wing chun kung fu. He began his training at age fifteen in the Shuri ryu style of karate under Mr. Ron Rollins of Springfield, Illinois. Mr. Fink is a five-time USKK national champion in kumite (sparring) and kata (forms). He is a two-time medalist in European international competition and the second winner of the Trias Cup. In 2001, Mr. Fink became the thirty-third inductee into the Bushido International Society Hall of Fame. From his sensei, Mr. Ron Rollins, he inherited the role of chairman of the Mel Wise Memorial Bushido Award. Mr. Fink is a lifetime member of the United States Karate-do Kai and the Professional Karate Commission. He is a graduate of Western Illinois University with a B.A. in Education and a teacher's license from the State of Illinois. He recently retired from the Federal Correctional Institution in Pekin after twenty-one years of service. Mr. Fink is also a combat veteran of the Persian Gulf War and a retired lieutenant colonel with thirty years of service in the Illinois National Guard and United States Army Reserve. He is also a graduate of the U.S. Army Modern Army Combatives Program.
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Tarin Switzer is a sandan (third-degree black belt) in karate, a nidan (second-degree black belt) in kobudo, and a yellow belt in katame-do jujitsu. She was inducted into the Bushido International Society in 2017. She has numerous PKC and USKK regional and national titles in kata, kumite, and kobudo and has won several prestigious tournaments including the PKC International Championships in Indianapolis, The Great Lakes National Championships in Chicago, and the US Karate Alliance World Championships in New Orleans. Miss Switzer is one of a few elite competitors to accumulate over 500 points in a single season in PKC Region 1 twice. She assists teaching both children and adults on Monday and Thursday nights. She is a lifetime member of the United States Karate-do Kai and a certified referee with the Professional Karate Commission. Miss Switzer holds a Bachelors in Applied Science in Graphic Arts and Media Design.
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Robert Fink is a sandan (third-degree black belt). He began his karate training at the age of three and earned his black belt at the age of fourteen. He has numerous PKC and USKK regional and national titles in kata, kumite, and kobudo and is a holder of the Small Double-Bladed Ax. He is the primary instructor for the beginnrs classes on Monday and Thursday nights. Robert is a senior at Pekin Community High School. His hobbies include music and magic.
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Loyd Shults. Mr. Shults is a sandan (thirdd-degree black belt) with over thirteen years of training. He and his son, Nathan, train regularly in karate and kobudo and have competed very consistently throughout their careers, having both won the title of USKK National Champion in both kata and kumite in their respective divisions. He and Nathan were the first recipients of the Dojo Citizen Award for their outstanding contributions to the ongoing success of the school. Mr. Shults and his son Nathan live in Ridgway, Illinois where they own and operate their own dojo, By Faith Karate Dojo. He received the small version of Master Koeppel's Double-Bladed Ax award from Sensei Gary Walker and is a lifetime member of the USKK.
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Nathan Shults. Nathan began his martial arts training at age four in tae kwon do and transfered to the Kosho-kai at age five. At age ten, Nathan became the youngest student ever promoted to black belt by Mr. and Mrs. Fink. He holds the rank of sandan (third-degree black belt). He has competed in numerous tournaments all over the nation and is a five time USKK National Champion in kata and kumite. Nathan trains regularly and assists his father teaching classes at their family dojo in Ridgway, Illinois. He was awarded the small version of Master Koeppel's small Double-Bladed Ax by Sensei Gary Walker and is a lifetime member of the USKK. Nathan is a member of the USA-NKF and is currently training and competing with the goal of earning a spot on Team USA. He is a student at the University of Illinois where he is studying to become an engineer.
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Michael Fink is a sandan (third-degree black belt) and has trained in karate since age six under the scrutinizing eyes of his mother and father. He is a seven-time USKK national champion in both kata (forms) and kumite (sparring). He has competed in and won several prestigious national events throughout the Midwest and Southeast and was a double medalist in the Mediterranean Karate Championships in Athens, Greece in 2000. He was awarded the Small Double-Bladed Ax by Master Ron Rollins in 2003.
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Eric Swearingen is a sandan (third-degree black belt) and has trained in karate since age twelve. He is a four-time USKK national champion who has competed and placed in several major U.S. competitions including the USKA World Championships in New Orleans, Louisiana. Mr. Swearingen is a Lifetime Member of the USKK. He is a life flight nurse at St. Francis Hospital in Peoria. He is married to his wife Elizabeth who also trains in karate. His other hobbies and interests include mountain biking, guitar, jujistsu, and gaming.
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Christina Kyrouac began her study at age four under her parents, Frank and Patricia Fink and earned the rank of shodan-ho (junior first-degree black belt) at age eleven. She currently holds the rank of sandan. Mrs. Kyrouac has an impressive competition career having won multiple USKK National Champion titles and several national tournaments. She is a graduate of Illinois Central College and a Specialist 4th class assigned to the 233rd Military Police Company, Illinois Army National Guard. She works as an assistant manager at Planet X Roller Rink in Pekin. Mrs. Kyrouac currently holds the rank of san-dan and is a lifetime member of the United States Karate-do Kai. Her other hobbies and interests include roller derby and paint ball competition.
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Joshua Broomfield earned his shodan (first-degree black belt) in Isshin-ryu from Sensei Carl Miller and is a nidan in Shuri ryu and Seito Matsumura ryu and a san-kyu in kobudo. He is a lifetime member of the Professional Karate Commission.
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Mike McLeod Mr. McLeod has trainied in karate since 2003 and was promoted to the rank of nidan (second-degree black belt) at the Koshokai Karate Dojo. He currently trains in karate under Hanshi Phil Koeppel at the USKK hombu dojo in Peoria. Mr. McLeod is the senior pastor at Calvary Baptist Church in Pekin.
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Larisa Stevens began her training in 1998 at age eleven and earned her shodan (first-degree black belt) in June of 2007. She is a seven time USKK National Champion and has competed in and placed in many national tournaments including the United States Karate Alliance World Championships in New Orleans in 2004. Mrs. Stevens was awarded the Small Double-Bladed Ax by Sensei Ron Rollins in 2004. She resides in Iowa with her husband and two children.
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Joe Miller earned his shodan in 2011. He has the distinction of being the first student to register with the Kosho-Kai Dojo after it moved to Pekin in August, 2004. Mr. Miller has a number of impressive tournament victories in kata, kumite, and grappling. He is an accomplished musician and holds a Master's Degree from the Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA. Mr. Miller manages his father's business and actively trains and competes in judo and jujitsu.
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Mitchell Sandlin earned his Shodan Ho (junior black belt) in 2011. He is a graduate of Pekin Community High School and works as a merchandise delivery driver in the Pekin area.
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We are members of the United States Karate-do Kai, an international karate and kobudo organization comprised of members from thirty-six states and Great Britain, Ireland, and Romania. The USKK was founded in 1983 by and is under the direction of Master Phillip Koeppel.
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Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Romans 12:2
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