Who is the Chief Instructor?
The Association was formed in 1985 by Master James Sinclair. On this web site we have a profile on the chief instructor. To access the page on him click here: MASTER JAMES SINCLAIR. You may read some of his views as expressed in an interview for Martial Arts Illustrated in Deb 1999 which has been reproduced in our site, please click HERE to read it now.
The chief instructor of the Traditional Karate Association of Missouri is Mr. Karl Burgart, 3rd Dan with 33 years of training experience. 1974…………Began traditional karate training 1982…………Received rank of Shodan (black belt) Japan Karate Association 1982-83……Taught traditional karate elective course at Stephens College (Columbia, Missouri) 1985…………Competed in U.S. National International Traditional Karate Federation Tournament 1985…………Received rank of Nidan (2nd level black belt) Japan Karate Association 1986-87……Taught local karate club at University of Missouri-St. Louis 1987…………Founded Traditional Karate Association of Missouri (Affiliated with Japan Karate Association) 1988…………B.S.B.A. University of Missouri-St. Louis 1989…………Graduate St. Louis County Police Academy 1989-95……Full time Police Officer and Certified Defensive Tactics Instructor (St. Louis, Missouri) 1996-2008..Developed the traditional karate program
