Sensei Geoff Mires Jr. began training in Shorin-Ryu in January of 2000 while attending St. Mary’s College in Moraga, CA. He trained under Renshi Jorge Martinez who is a student of Hanshi Dan Tosh the Grandmaster of Shorin Kwoondo-Ryu Shorin-Ryu. He received his black belt in 2002. When Renshi Martinez graduated in 2002 and went on active duty in the US Army Sensei Geoff along with 2 other black belts (Sensei Bernardo Reyes Jr. and Sensei Cammie Morris) took over the St. Mary’s Dojo. The St. Mary’s Dojo continued until May of 2003 when both Sensei Geoff Mires Jr. and Sensei Bernardo Reyes Jr. graduated. Sensei Geoff continues to train under Hanshi Dan Tosh and was promoted to 3rd degree black belt in 2011 by Hanshi Tosh and Renshi Martinez.  After several years of helping out around the dojo assisting with classes and covering for other instructors on a substitute basis Sensei Geoff developed a strong passion for teaching the art and decided to leave the restaurant industry after 13 years and start his own dojo. Sensei Geoff has experience teaching all ages and ability levels of students and specializes in breaking down kata so that it can be learned quickly and thoroughly.

                                                            

   

  

    

  

     Renshi Jorge Martinez began his training under his cousin Renshi George Del Cid in 1993. Renshi Jorge quickly learned to perform the basics and Seisan kata with strength and agility. After training with Renshi George for about a year he began to attend regular classes and was quickly accepted into the dojo family. On Jan. 3, 1996 Renshi Jorge passed his black belt exam with flying colors. He continued his training and began teaching within the dojo, ever strengthening his skill and ability as a black belt. Renshi Jorge received his 2nd degree on Nov. 17, 1996. Then in 1998 Renshi Jorge left for training in the US Army Reserves for six months upon which his opportunity to advance to 3rd degree was lost. Shortly after his return home however, on Nov. 23, 1998 Hanshi Tosh promoted him to 3rd degree. In 1999 Renshi Jorge Martinez started The St. Mary’s College Dojo through which he began the most difficult part of becoming a true sensei, that of maintaining your own dojo and students. Throughout the next four years Renshi Jorge saw many students come and go. Many of his students made it all the way to green belt before disappearing. Of all of the students who trained under Renshi Jorge only three stuck with it and made it all the way to black belt. Sensei Geoff Mires Jr., Sensei Bernardo Reyes Jr. and Sensei Cammie Morris. On the day of the St. Mary’s Black belt exam Sensei Jorge Martinez was promoted to 5th degree black belt and earned his current title of Renshi (Teacher of teachers).  Renshi Jorge Martinez has excelled in Shorin-Ryu and enjoys teaching as much as learning.

                                                

                                                                           

                              

                                                          

    

  

   

   

    Grandmaster Dan Tosh has been training in Shorin-Ryu karate since 1958. He began his studies at the Coffeyville, Kansas Boysclub, continued his training in Oklahoma and finally California in 1967 under the direction of Sensei Joe Spriggs.  In 1966, Tosh was promoted to Shodan.

In 1970, Tosh pursuaded Grandmaster Musashi Miyagi to become his teacher and mentor in Hawaii.  In 1974, Tosh returned to California, and at the request of his teacher, put on a white belt and trained in a shorin-ryu school taught by Sensei Ed Perkins under Eizo Shimabukuru.  At the end of six months, Perkins promoted Tosh to blackbelt.  Hearing that Tosh complied with grandmaster's wishes, he was promoted to 5th degree blackbelt in 1976 by Grandmaster Miyagi.  To wear a white belt after having been a blackbelt, as it turns out, was a test of humility.

In 1976, Tosh was promoted to Godan (5th degree blackbelt).  In 1987 he was promoted to 7th degree blackbelt and in 1998 to 9th degree blackbelt by Professor Sig Kufferath, 10th degree blackbelt and friend of Miyagi from Hawaii.  Sid Campbell, a shorin-ryu master, was a board member and authenticated the quality of Tosh's kata and technique.  It was long ago decided by Miyagi, that on the celebration of Tosh's 40 years in Shorin-Ryu, he was to become Hanshi or Soke; the official grandmaster of this interpretation of Shorin-Ryu.

On January 13, 2007 at the WOSKKA annual gathering, Tosh was promoted to 10th degree blackbelt by the counsil.  This honor was bestowed on Tosh in the presence of several Great Grandmasters and Grandmasters including such dignitaries as Bob Wall, Sid Campbell, Al Novak, Carlos Navarro, Eric Lee, Bob Maschmeier, Ernie Reyes, Sr., Tony Thompson, Harry Mok, John Oliver, Gary Lee, Mark Gerry, Greglon Lee and Max Pallen.

Grandmaster Tosh is known for his incredible speed of both hand and foot.  He is an authority in tuite and kata application.  Tosh has been involved in choreography, movie production, stunt work,  workshops and tournament competition for many years.