| The Team
The Kosho Kai Karate Dojo is under the directorship of:
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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 a certified referee with 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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Patricia Fink is a rokudan (sixth-degree black belt) in Seito Matsumura Shorin 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 coveted Mel Wise Memorial Bushido Award and the chairperson for the prestigious women-competitors-only Legends Award. Mrs. Fink is a lifetime member of the United States Karate-do Kai. 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 in the critical care unit at Pekin Hospital.
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Tarin Switzer is a sandan (third-degree black belt) in karate, a shodan (first-degree black belt) in kobudo, and a yellow belt in katame-do jujitsu. 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. 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 shodan ho (junior first-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. He is the primary instructor for the Mini-Tigers classes on Monday and Thursday nights. Robert is a sophomore at Pekin Community High School. His hobbies include music and magic.
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Joshua Broomfield earned his shodan (first-degree black belt) in Isshin-ryu from Sensei Carl Miller. He is a lifetime member of the Professional Karate Commission. Mr. Broomfield assists Mr. and Mrs. Fink instructing classes on Monday and Thursday nights while learning Shuri-ryu and Seito Matsumura-ryu. In addition, he actively trains in kobudo and koshiki.
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Christina Fink 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. Miss Fink has an impressive competition career having won multiple USKK National Champion titles and several national tournaments. She is currently a sophomore at Illinois Central College and a spcialist 4th class assigned to the 333rd Military Police Company, Illinois Army National Guard. She works as an assistant manager at Planet X Roller Rink in Pekin. Miss Fink currently holds the rank of san-dan and is a lifetime member of the United States Karate-do Kai.
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Eric Swearingen is a nidan (second-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 charge nurse at the St. Francis Hospital emergency room in Peoria. He is married to his wife Elizabeth who also trains in karate.
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Michael Fink is a nidan (second-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 Axe by Master Ron Rollins in 2003.
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Mike McLeod Mr. McLeod has trainied in karate for over eleven years 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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Loyd Shults. Mr. Shults is a nidan (second-degree black belt) with over ten 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 southern Illinois where they own and operate their own dojo, By Faith Karate Dojo. He is a recipient of the small version of Master Koeppel's Double-Bladed Axe award and 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 Koshokai 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 nidan (second-degree black belt). He has competed in numerous tournaments all over the Midwest and Florida and is a five time USKK National Champion in kata and kumite. Nathan trains regularly in kobudo and chanbara as well as in karate-do and assists his father teaching classes at their family dojo in southern Illinois. He is a recipient of Master Koeppel's small Double-Bladed Axe award and a lifetime member of the USKK. Nathan is also an accomplished guitarist.
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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 Axe by Shihan 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 is currently pursuing his Master's Degree at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA.
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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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We are also affiliated with the United States Karate Alliance, a large international traditional sport karate organization co-founded by and under the directorship of Dr. David Jordan of Louisiana and Mr. James Hawks of New Mexico.
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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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