Hanshi Barnes began
his pursuit of martial arts training in 1954 when he was introduced to the
sport of Judo through the Chicago park district. He continued his training
with Master H. Kim of Chicago, Illinois...a Tang soo do specialist. By the
time Hanshi entered the Military he had earned a black belt in both systems.
Hanshi Barnes began training in the Okinawan Isshin-ryu system of Master Shimabuku,
Tatsuo during 1962. Hanshi continually trained and taught a pure form of Isshin
ryu until Master Shimabuku’s death in 1975. Hanshi began his formal
training in Northern Shaolin under the great Chinese Sifu C.Y. Tai and continued
his studies with Sifu Tai for seventeen and a half
years. Hanshi Barnes also teaches Aikido, Jujitsu, and Tai Chi and presents
training seminars around the world. Hanshi was a National and World competitor
during the sixty and seventies. He retired from competition in 1978, it was
during the sixties that Hanshi Barnes met and became a member of Master Trias's
United States Karate Association. Hanshi Barnes recalls two events that top
his list of martial arts first, He was present at Ed Parker's now famous 1964
Long Beach Tournament at which Bruce Lee gave his public demonstration of
Jeet Kune Do. The second, which was actually the first, was attending Master
Trias's 1st World Tournament in Chicago, Illinois during 1963.
Hanshi Barnes teaches both Okinawan kobudo and Chinese weapons he has also established a Bushido society that focuses on the art of kenjutsu. Classes focus on batto, the draw; kiritsuke the cutting action; chiburi, the removal of blood from the blade; and notto, or the returning of the blade to the scabbard. Iaido (the way of the sword), and Iaijutsu (sword-drawing art).
Hanshi Barnes retired from the United States Army in 1987. During his military career he provided martial arts training to elements of the 82nd Airborne as well as teams of the 5th and 12th Special Forces Groups. Hanshi’s formal education includes a B.A. in psychology, an M.A. in counseling and he is a certified school counselor with the Arizona Dept. of Education
In addition to holding 9th degree (Shihan), and 5th degree (Renshi) master ranks, Hanshi is 10th degree Grand Master of the Tai Shin Ki Do/Isshin-Shorin-Go ryu Karate system.Hanshi Barnes is CEO and Founder of:
The American Okinawan Karate Academies, International
The National Isshin-Shorin-Go-Ryu Karate Association
The International Black Belt Association
Tai Shin Ki Do
In addition, Hanshi holds memberships in:
The American Okinawan Karate Association
The International Isshin Ryu Karate Association
The Arizona State Karate Alliance