Adrian Hutber
AKDS President, 1st Dan...
Adrian grew up in the UK and, after completing his bachelor's degree in Sports Science at Loughborough University in England, moved to Canada where he received his Master's degree. His studies then took him to the United States where he completed a Ph.D. in Physiology at BYU. During this time, Adrian continued to commute to the UK to train with the KDS as often as possible. He was awarded the rank of 1st Dan by Harada Sensei in August 1989. With Sensei's approval, Adrian became the first to teach the unique KDS principles in the United States. In 1995 he created American Shotokai Karate, which was later adopted as the official arm of Harada Sensei's KDS in the States and renamed American KDS. He currently serves as the President of American KDS.

Matthew Spackman
Vice-Pres., 2nd Dan...
Matt was born in California and lived in Utah until his family moved to Hong Kong where he attended high school. His bachelor's and master's degrees in psychology were received at Brigham Young University (BYU) in Provo, Utah. He earned his PhD, also in psychology, from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. Matt was one of the original members of the first Shotokai club in the U.S. (the BYU club), and assisted in its structure and transition to American KDS. He has trained with the KDS for over ten years and received his 1st Dan from Harada Sensei in March of 2000. He was awarded his 2nd Dan in March of 2004 and currently resides with his family in Iowa and currently serves as one of the Vice-Presidents of American KDS.

Jeremy Crook
Vice-Pres., 2nd Dan...
Jeremy was born in Colorado and has lived in Idaho, Utah, Washington, England and Louisiana. He received his bachelor's degree in psychology with a minor in Hebrew from BYU, and a master's degree in Adult and Organizational Learning from the University of Idaho. Jeremy has practiced various martial arts for over 20 years, but gratefully discovered Harada Sensei's KDS principles in 1993 and has been studying them ever since. He received his 1st Dan from Harada Sensei in March of 2000. One of the original members of the first Shotokai club in the U.S., Jeremy assisted Adrian Hutber with its creation in 1994. He was awarded his 2nd Dan in February of 2006, helps instruct at the Lousiana Tech Club, and currently serves as one of the Vice-Presidents of American KDS.

James Hickenlooper
Instructor, 1st Dan...
James was born in Salt Lake City, Utah. He graduated from BYU with an MS in Chemical Engineering and worked as a process Engineer for Flour Daniel in Southern California for 5 years before accepting a position at CEntry in Utah. He started practicing with AKDS in 1995 and was awarded the rank of 1st Dan in February of 2006.

Gina Cooley
Instructor, 1st Dan...
Born in Provo, Utah, Gina has also lived in California and Venezuela. She holds a degree in Print Journalism from BYU. Gina began practicing with AKDS in 1998 and was awarded the rank of 1st Dan by the KDS in 2006. She holds the honor of being the first woman in American KDS ever to receive this high rank. Gina currently orders all AKDS equipment, and helps instruct at the BYU club in Provo, Utah.

Kyle Brunner
Instructor, 1st Dan...
Born in Las Vegas, NV, Kyle holds a Bachelor's Degree in Chemical Engineering from BYU and is completing a PhD with an emphasis in catalysis. He will spend one year on his dissertation research in Taiyuan, China in 2009. Kyle began practicing with the BYU club in 2003 and was awarded the rank of 1st Dan by the KDS in March of 2008. Kyle is the Instructor for the BYU club in Provo, UT.

Jamie Cummings
Instructor, 1st Dan...
Born in Provo, UT, Jamie is completing coursework for a Bachelor's Degree in Information Technology with a minor in Computer Science at Brigham Young University. Jamie began practicing Harada Sensei's principles at the BYU club in 1998. She was awarded the rank of 1st Dan by the KDS in March of 2008. Jamie currently helps instruct at the BYU club in Provo, UT.

Brayton Wight
Instructor, 1st Dan...
Brayton was born in Clovis, New Mexico and grew up in Salt Lake City where he completed coursework toward a degree in chemistry from the University of Utah. He currently works and resides in Idaho where he started practicing with AKDS in 2001 and was awarded the rank of 1st Dan in March of 2009. Brayton is an instructor at the Idaho Falls Community Club.

Dustin Passey
Instructor, 1st Dan...
Dustin was born in Logan, Utah and grew up in Bear Lake, Idaho. He holds a degree in Geology from Idaho State University. Dustin studied Kenpo for a number of years before joining the Idaho Falls AKDS Club in 2002 and was awarded the rank of 1st Dan in March of 2009. Dustin is an instructor at the community club in Idaho Falls, Idaho.

Christian Whitehead
Instructor, 1st Dan...
Christian was born in Kingston, Ontario Canada and lived in Gananoque as well as having resided in Utah, California, and Washington state. He holds a degree in computer science from BYU and works for Microsoft in Seattle. Christian began practicing with AKDS in 2003 and was awarded the rank of 1st Dan in March of 2009. He is currently living in the Seattle, WA area.

Peter Enyeart
Instructor, 1st Dan...
Peter was born in Idaho Falls, Idaho and has lived in Utah, Nevada as well as in Japan. He has a bachelor's degree in biochemisty, and is working on a PhD in cell and molecular biology at the University of Texas at Austin. Peter began practicing with the Idaho Falls Club in 1999 and was awarded the rank of 1st Dan in March of 2009. He is the instructor for the university club at the University of Texas at Austin.

Jared Greenwald
Instructor, 1st Dan...
Jared was born in Massachusetts and has lived in New Hampshire, Florida, Utah and Texas. He has a bachelor's degree in Math and Physics from Brigham Young University, and is currently working on a PhD in Theoretical Physics at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. Jared began practicing with AKDS at the BYU club in 2005 and was awarded the rank of 1st Dan in March of 2009. He is the instructor for the university club at Baylor.

Tony Dunlop
Instructor, 1st Dan...
Tony was raised in Choudrant, Louisiana. He has also lived in Canada, Mexico and currently works and resides in Ruston, Louisiana. Tony began practicing with the LA Tech club in 2007 and received his black belt in March of 2010. Tony has a bachelor's degree in elementary education from Louisiana Tech University and teaches 5th grade at a local elementary school. He is the instructor for university club at Louisiana Tech University.

Dan Howell
Instructor, 1st Kyu...
Dan was born in Winchester, Virginia and has also lived in Utah, Portugal and Cape Verde. He is an artist holding a degree in Industrial Design and Product Development from BYU, and his work has taken him to his current residence in New Jersey. Dan began practicing with AKDS in 1999 and received his brown belt in 2005. He oversees the instruction at the Princeton University club in New Jersey.