National Coaches
National Coaches
Title: Director of Sport
Email: bburns@usankf.org
Cell Phone: 469 233-0968
State/Region: Texas/Region 3
Years in Karate: 34
Rank: 6th Dan (USA NKF), 6th Dan (WIKF)
Style: Wado Ryu
USA NKF previous roles held: Tournament Director, Team Leader, National Coach, Head Kumite Coach and Administrative Head Coach
Major Accomplishments: Olympic Coach. He has coached every level of competition from Regional Championships to the Olympic Games. He is the only karate coach in the US to have produced two Olympians and two Pan Am Games Champions in the same year. He is one of two karate coaches in the world who personally coached two karate athletes who qualified for the 2020 Olympic Games. USA Olympic Development Coach of the Year, USA NKF Coach of the Year.
Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice and a second Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, both from Sam Houston State University
Other: In addition to his work in the karate world, Burns is a Federal Law Enforcement Officer
Title: Head Coach – Kumite Program
Email: dbaldis@usankf.org
Cell Phone: 412-728-6223
State/Region: Pennsylvania/Region 4
Years in Karate: 40
Rank: 6th Dan (Japan Karate Do Jinen Kai), 3rd Dan (USANKF)
Style: Shotokan
USA NKF previous roles held: USA National Coach 2005-present, 2011 USA Olympic Developmental Coach of the Year, 2010-2011-2023 Coach of the Year, 2011 & 2023 Pan American Games Coach, World Combat Games Coach, Junior Pan American Games Coach
Major Accomplishments: Member of the USA National Team 1989-2000 (kumite), Pan American Games Bronze medalist, Junior Pan American Champion, Senior Pan American Champion, North American Cup Champion, Multiple time USA Karate National Champion & International medalist.
Education: Sports Management, Robert Morris College
Other: Dojo Owner 1992-present, previous owner of Per-Fit Gym & Personal Training, off season strength and conditioning coach for NHL, NFL, Collegiate and Olympic level athletes.
Title: Head Coach – Kata Program
Email: jmantilla@usankf.org
Cell Phone: 720-300-8044
State/Region: Colorado/Region 2
Years in Karate: 51
Rank: 7th Dan (Shito Ryu), 5th Dan Ryuei Ryu
Style: Shito Ryu
USA NKF previous roles held: 2020 Tokyo Olympics Kata Coach, National Kata and Kumite Coach since 2018
Major Accomplishments: 2021 USA NKF Coach of the Year, only Karate coach to coach and have their athlete medal in the Olympics, only coach to have athletes with medals in WKF Junior and senior in Kumite and Kata with Venezuela, Egypt, France, Colombia, Dominican Republic and Taiwan. Coached at the ANOC Beach Games. Only Coach with Medals in all multisport Events: Olympic Games, PanAm Games, Asian Games, African Games, Oceania Games, Combat Games, World Games, FISU World Sport University Federation, European Karate Federation, Asian Karate Federation, UAKF African Karate Federation, Oceanian Karate Federation
Education: Degree in Graphic Design (Venezuela)
Other: Most decorated Coach in the History of Venezuelan Karate.
Title: Head Coach – Youth Development Program
Email: mchinen@usankf.org
Cell Phone: 916-230-4657
State/Region: Hawaii/Region
Years in Karate: 43
Rank: 4th Dan (Goju Ryu) & 3rd Dan (USANKF)
Style: Goju Ryu (formerly Shito)
USA NKF previous roles held: Team USA athlete from 1995-2007, she has transitioned over to the national coaching staff and has been a part of their junior and senior program since 2017. Team USA host liaison for the pre-games camp in Koga City for the Tokyo Summer Olympic Games. Pan American Games Coach.
Major Accomplishments: Pan Am Games Medalist, Pan American Championship Medalist, World University Championship Medalist. She has helped to produce many of her personal athletes to make the USA Jr. & Sr. National Team to compete at both the PKF and WKF level competitions. Over the years, her students have found success at the international level bringing home medals both for Team USA and her personal dojo.
Education: Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology from CSU, Sacramento.
Other: Chief Instructor for Kachi Karate Hawaii
Title: Head Coach – Para Karate Program
Email: jkohn@usankf.org
Cell Phone: 847-721-2423
State/Region: Illinois/Region 4
Years in Karate: 55
Rank: 7th Dan (USA NKF)
Style: Shotokan
USA NKF previous roles held: National Coach, Kata and Kumite, 1984-2014, Head Para Karate Coach 2014-present, current Para Karate committee member and Head Coach. Pioneer in the founding of the Para Karate Program for USA NKF
Major Accomplishments: Paralympic Coach of the Year, USA NKF Coach of the Year, longest serving member of the National Coaching staff. Coached Para Karate athlete to World Championship Gold Medal (2021), multiple Jr PKF medalists, has coached multiple world champions and world medalists, world university games medalists, PUKO and Pan Am games coach. Multiple time Maccabiah Games Coach and athlete.
Education: Bachelor’s Degree in English from Illinois State University
Other: WKF Para Karate Commission member (2012-2017), PKF Para Karate Commission Chair (2012-2018), Founder of North Shore Dojo (1978-present), Founder of Karate Can DO! Foundation (2010 – present)
Title: Head Coach – Sports Performance Program
Email: cstratis@usankf.org
Cell Phone: 972-984-0227
State/Region: Texas/Region 3
Years in Karate: 41
Rank: 2nd Dan (USANKF & WIKF)
Style: Wadu Ryu
USA NKF previous roles held: former team athlete, Junior National Team, National Coach, National Sports Performance Coach
Major Accomplishments: Junior Pam American Gold & Silver Medalist, 5x National Champion, 7x National Team Athlete. Has helped develop many athletes who have made the Junior and Senior National Teams and earn podium finishes at Youth Leagues, Pan American Championships, Series A, Premier League, World Championships and Pan American Games. He is the only Sports Performance Coach in the nation to coach Olympic Karate Kumite Athletes through the qualification process and competition in the Olympic Games.
Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Information and Decision Systems from Carnegie Mellon University, Master’s Degree in Business Administration Carnegie Mellon University
Other: With over 25 years of coaching experience, he owns a Sports Performance coaching business that trains athletes from around the country reach their greatest potential across a broad range of sports.
Title: Lead National Coach - Region 1
Email: jlimcaco@usankf.org
Cell Phone: 916-849-8292
State/Region: California/Region 1
Years in Karate: 50
Rank: 5th Dan in both Shito-Ryu and for USA NKF
Style: Shito-Ryu
USA NKF previous roles held: National Coach since 2000
Major Accomplishments: Practiced karate under Sensei Chuzo Kotaka from Hawaii. Coached and developed 3x World Champion Elisa Au, 2x World Champion and Pan Am Games Gold Medalist George Kotaka, 2x Pan Am Games Gold Medalist and 2x WKF Bronze Medalist Shannon Nishi. Has produced numerous Jr. and Sr. WKF World Champions and medalists and Jr. and Sr. PKF gold medalists.
Education: Major in Political Science
Other: Coached the 1st time the women’s team kumite placed at the WKF World Championships, earning the bronze.
Title: Lead National Coach - Region 2
Cell Phone: 720-635-8183
Email: kmadani@usankf.org State/Region: Colorado/Region 2
Years in Karate: 22
Rank: 4th Dan IMA, 3rd Dan USA NKF
Style: Shotokan
USA NKF previous roles held: Member of the Junior National Team, Member of the Senior National Team. A total of 16 year4s on the National Teams.
Major Accomplishments: Pam American Games Gold Medalist, World Games Bronze Medalist, University World Champion, Junior World Championship Bronze medalist.
Education: Undergraduate degree in Psychology, Master’s Degree in Sports Psychology.
Title: Lead National Coach - Region 5
Email: cmuccini@usankf.org
Cell Phone: 516-606-2086
State/Region: New York/Region 5
Years in Karate: 40
Rank: 4th Dan Shotokan, 3rd Dan USA NKF
Style: Shotokan
USA NKF previous roles held: Junior National Team member, Senior National Team member Coaches Committee member, Team Leader, National Coach since 2007
Major Accomplishments: 8-time National Champion, PKF Gold Medalist and 2 time Bronze Medalist, Pan Am Games 2 time Bronze Medalist, coaches Senior Female Kumite Team to Bronze medal in the World Championships, Coach multiple Junior and Senior team members to Gold medals in PKF, USA NKF Coach of the Year 2015
Education: Real Estate License, Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Phoenix University, and a degree in Business Management from Long Island University (in process)
Other: Fitness Coach, Real Estate Broker, Substitute Administrator for the Port Washington School District, works in the HS in the main office, nurses office and assistant principals office.
Title: Lead National Coach - Region 6
Email: galfonso@usankf.org
Cell Phone: 786-339-0285
State/Region: Florida/Region 6
Years in Karate: 24 years
Rank: 3rd Dan (USA NKF)
Style: Shito Ryu
USA NKF previous roles held: Junior National Team Member
Major Accomplishments: Many students who have medaled at WKF Junior Championships, PKF Junior Championships
Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Union University (Florida)
Title: National Coach
Email: adavis@usankf.org
Cell Phone: 516-236-3601
State/Region: New York/Region 5
Years in Karate: 26
Rank: 3rd Dan in both Shotokan and USA NKF
Style: Shotokan
USA NKF previous roles held: Junior Team Member, Senior Team Member, AAC member
Major Accomplishments: 2017 Pan American Championships Gold Medalist, 2016 World Championship Bronze medalist (Team Kumite), North American Gold Medalist, Shotokan Worlds Gold Medalist
Education: Certified in Motor Planning and Fine Motor Skills
Other: Founder and Main Instructor of A+ Martial Arts
Title: National Coach
Email: jleiker@usankf.org
Cell Phone: 816-716-3123
State/Region: Kansas/Region 4
Years in Karate: 35
Rank: 6th Dan in Goju Ryu, 3rd Dan USA NKF
Style: Goju Ryu
USA NKF previous roles held: Leiker joined the National Coaching staff as a National Teams Trainer in 2022 and in 2024 was promoted to National Coach. His focus as a National Coach is to contribute to the growth and expansion of the National Kata Program.
Major Accomplishments: As a coach, he has had 9 athletes reach the top 10 WKF World Ranking, 24 WKF/PKF/K1 international medals, 21 National Team members trained from 5 countries.
Education: Undergraduate degree with majors in History and Political Science, minors in Theology and Business from Rockhurst University and Law Degree from University of Missouri-Kansas City.
Title: National Coach
Email: tmendonca@usankf.org
Cell Phone: 503-857-5450
State/Region: Oregon/Region 1
Years in Karate: 43
Rank: 6th Dan in Shot Ryu, 3rd Dan in USA NKF
Style: Shito Ryu
USA NKF previous roles held: National Teams Trainer, USANKF National Referee
Major Accomplishments: AAU All American, AAU Joel Ferrell award recipient, AAU Oregon Coach of the Year, WKO and WKC World Championships, 3 gold medals, 3 silver medals, 3 bronze medals. Former National Champion in Kata, Kumite and Kobudo. Shito Ryu Japan Taikai 3x Kumite champion.
Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering.
Other: WKF accredited coach, WKF Certified Kumite Coach, NSPA certifications for Strength and Conditioning, SAQ, Program Design, and Nutrition.
Title: National Coach
Email: cmurphy@usankf.org
Cell Phone: 718-926-2468
State/Region: New York/Region 5
Years in Karate:
Rank: 35+
Style: Shotokan
USA NKF previous roles held: National Team athlete, USA NKF board member, coach, AAC council member, JEDI council member
Major Accomplishments: Athlete of the year, 3x Jr Pan American Medalist, 17x National Team member, 2x Bronze WKF Womens Team, Bronze Pan Am Games, Bronze World Games, Silver and Bronze World Combat Games, 5x Pan American Championships
Education: Masters Degree
Other: Loves to dance, bake, and cook
Title: National Coach
Email: lsanchez@usankf.org
Cell Phone: 305-305-0286
State/Region: Florida/Region 6
Years in Karate: 37
Rank: 6th Dan Shito Ryu and 3rd Dan USANKF
Style: Shito Ryu
USA NKF previous roles held: WKF Judge A
Major Accomplishments: Student Zoe Meszaro made 5 consecutive JR PKF Finals in Kata, winning 3 Golds and 2 silvers. Also, she has won Nationals 7 times in a row. IN 2023 had 7 students make the JR National Team and 3 make the SR National Team.
Education: Lived in Japan in Headquarters of Shito Kai for two years, just training karate.
Other: Grew up on Margarita Island in Venezuela.
Title: National Trainer
Email: rpalomino@usankf.org
Cell Phone: 480-430-8585
State/Region: Arizona/Region 2
Years in Karate: 41
Rank: 3rd Dan (Shotokan and USANKF)
Style:
USA NKF previous roles held: no previous roles
Major Accomplishments: Accomplishments: as a sensei and coach he has produced 10 National Champions, 1 Bronze medalist in Pan American Championships, 2 Silver Medals in the WKF K1 Youth League.
Education: 3 years of College
Fun Facts: Grew Up in NYC trained under Toyotaro Miyazaki Sensei & Moved to Arizona at age 30.
Title: National Trainer
Email: cwood@usankf.org
Cell Phone: 816-716-3123
State/Region: West Virginia/Region 2
Years in Karate: 36
Rank: 7th Dan in Shoshin Kan and 3rd Dan in USA NKF
Style: Shoshin Kan
USA NKF previous roles held: Member of the Jr National Team and member of the Senior National Team
Other: He is a 5th Dan in Judo