6th Degree Blackbelts

 Dave Taylor

2024/03/23 Rokudan
2020/02/04 Godan
2006/12/02 Yondan
2003/08/08 Sandan
2000/12/09 Nidan
1998/10/18 Shodan

Jeff Sanders

2003 Rokudan Isshinryu

1975 Shodan   Isshinryu

Mr. Sanders started his karate career in 1968, training at the Melrose Wadoryu Dojo, under the lineage of Cecil T. Patterson, who brought Wadoryu to TN in 1957, and Sensei Roy Hinkle.  

Mr. Sanders soon felt the call into military service, and served honorably with the US Army.  He explored several different martial arts during his military tenure.

Upon completing his service, he next began studying the Isshinryu style of karate, at the Nashville Dojo, under the lineage of Harold Long who brought Isshinryu to TN in 1959, and Sensei Denny Shaffer.  

Mr. Sanders received dan blackbelt grade promotions in the Isshinryu system between 1975 to 2003, culminating in promotion to Roku (6th)-dan.

In 2024, Mr. Sander’s grandson Matthew began training with us at Conrad Jones Karate.  We soon realized there was more to him than a kid-chauffeur, and soon after, we began to come to know him and his history, and welcomed him to begin dressing out and enjoying to continue training again with us, bringing his Wadoryu training full-circle from his beginning days 6 decades ago. 

We are very happy to have him training with us, and our students greatly enjoy hearing his experience and wisdom as he shares with them.