American Self-Defense Federation

Sensei Darren Gilbert, 5th Dan, Isshin-ryu Karate

Sensei Darren Gilbert began his karate training while in high school, studying Uechi-ryu with Sensei Bruce Witherell in Adams, Massachusetts. He then studied Tae Kwon Do while stationed at Camp Casey, South Korea, from 1981 to 1982. After returning to the U.S., he began his Isshin-ryu training with Sensei Allen Wheeler in 1983. Darren’s last instructor was Sensei Sherman Harrill (a first-generation student of Isshin-ryu Karate’s founder, Master Tatsuo Shimabuku) from Carson, Iowa.

Darren Gilbert is the karate instructor for the University of Tennessee’s Martial Arts Club and the chief instructor for Gilbert’s Isshin-ryu Karate School. In addition, he is a founding member of the American Self-defense Federation.

Sensei Bob Noel, 6th Dan, Uechi-ryu Karate

Sensei Bob Noel has been practicing and teaching martial arts for over 40 years. He began studying Uechiryu in the fall of 1978. He began teaching alongside his sensei, Sensei Willam Meiklejohn (Renshi, Rokudan) in 1988. After moving to TN, he continued teaching, opening the Knoxville Uechi-ryu Karate School in 2013.

A member of the IUKF, Bob was awarded his Renshi in August of 2021. He is a founding member of the American Self-defense Federation.

Sensei Danny Satterfield 5th Dan, Isshin-ryu Karate

Sensei Danny Satterfield began training in Isshin-ryu Karate as a young boy with his father, Sensei Eddie Satterfield. He has many years of training with top instructors in several martial arts including Sensei Sherman Harrill, Sensei John Kerker, Sensei Louis Grinnell, and his father.

Sensei Satterfield’s years working as a teacher and high school football coach in Union County schools give him some unique insights into both teaching and analyzing teaching methods, karate techniques, and body mechanics. Danny is a founding member of the American Self-Defense Federation.

Sensei Michael McGee, 7th Dan, Uechi-ryu Karate

Sensei Michael McGee began training in Uechi-ryu in 1991 when the Air Force transferred him from The Pentagon to MacDill AFB, United States Central Command in Tampa, FL where he met Joe Guidry Sensei, 8th Dan, and Sensei Charlie Blackmon, 4th Dan.

Sensei McGee has trained with and tested before notable Uechi-ryu Masters such as Shinyu Gushi, 10th Dan, Ken Nakamatsu, 9th Dan, and Frank Gorman, 9th Dan. On three occasions, Mike had the opportunity to train with Master Kiyohide Shinjo, 10th Dan, of the Kenyukai. He also holds a 1st Degree Black belt in Ryukokaku Karate and a 2nd Degree Black Belt in Kobudo in Master Shinyu Gushi’s Ryukokaku Karate & Kobudo Association. His accreditations and certifications are from Okinawa.

Sensei McGee is a 20-year veteran of the United States Air Force and served as the headmaster for the Okinawan Martial Arts & Sciences (OMAS) in Brandon FL. He is a founding member of the American Self-Defense Federation.

Sensei Eddie Satterfield, 6th Dan, Isshin-ryu Karate

Sensei Eddie Satterfield began his Isshin-ryu Karate training with Sensei Allen Wheeler in 1978. Moving to Union County, Eddie began training with James (Brother) Phillips at the Union County School of Isshin-ryu in 1987. In 1996, he assumed ownership of the Union County School of Isshin-ryu which became the Satterfield School of Isshin-ryu Karate. Sensei Satterfield trained regularly in Isshin-ryu with Sensei Louie Grinnell, and in 1998, became a student of Sensei Sherman Harrill. Eddie co-ran the Satterfield School of Isshin-ryu Karate with his son, Danny, from 2000 to 2008.

A 6th Dan in Isshin-ryu Karate, Sensei Satterfield also trained in Modern Arnis, first with Sensei Darrell Caldwell and later with Sensei Louie Grinnell. Currently, Sensei Satterfield trains with ‘The Dojo’ in Knoxville run by Sensei Michael Allen and helps organize the monthly black belt training sessions. Sensei Satterfield is a founding member of the American Self-Defense Federation.

Sensei Richard Rosenthal, 7th Dan, Isshin-ryu Karate

Sensei Richard Rosenthal began his martial arts training in Shuri Gojo Ryu in 1983 with Sensei Andy Horne, a student of Hanshi John Pachivas. He started his Isshin-ryu training with Sensei Millage Murphy and Sensei Mike Rosenblatt in 1989. In 2001, Richard continued his Isshin-ryu training with Sensei Arcenio Advincula, a first-generation student of Isshin-ryu Karate’s founder, Master Tatsuo Shimabuku. In addition, Richard has trained in judo, jujitsu, and iaido. Then, in 2003, he began his training in Largo Mano Escrima with Sensei Advincula, who’d practiced Escrima since childhood.

In addition to being a 7th Dan in Isshin-ryu Karate, Sensei Richard Rosenthal holds the rank of 3rd-degree black belt in Largo Mano Escrima. He is a founding member of the American Self-Defense Federation.

Sensei Daniel Gilbert, 4th Dan, Shunpookan Aikido

Sensei Dan Gilbert first started training in martial arts as a child in 1976. He has trained in jiujitsu, European fencing, taekwondo, karate, vita saana, Thai kickboxing, and aikido. Dan trained in aikido while living in the United Kingdom from 1998 to 2005. On returning to the United States in 2005, he started teaching Aikido in North Carolina.

Dan Gilbert is a 4th Dan Aikido instructor and was awarded his teaching certificate by Sensei Brian Burrows, the head of Shunpookan UK, and affiliated with the founder’s Hombu Dojo in Tokyo. Sensei Gilbert is the head of Shunpookan North Carolina and a founding member of the American Self-Defense Federation.