Our instructors

Shu Takahashi

7th Dan

Master Takahashi is the Chief Instructor of Shotokan Karate-Do International (SKDI), our headquarters in New York City. SKDI is one of the major North American branches of the Japan Karate Association World Federation, with member dojos and affiliations from Central America to Canada.

Appointed Chief Instructor in 2018, Takahashi-sensei also serves as Chief Instructor of JKA Brooklyn, which he founded in 1972. He has lectured and instructed at annual seminars in Canada, Haiti, and Venezuela, and has served as chief judge of AAKF and Shoto World Cup tournaments.

He taught karate for nearly two decades at the City University of New York and the State University of New York. He is a graduate of Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and a member of the university’s karate team.

M. Hanjani

5th Dan, JKA

38 years of active experience

M. Hanjani is the Chief Instructor of Japan Karate Association of Virginia (JKAVA). He began training in 1988 at the Japan Karate Association of Virginia and completed Sensei Mori’s A-class instructor course at JKA of New York.

Sensei Hanjani brings a personal passion for pursuing goals and an enthusiastic commitment to helping others achieve theirs. He has trained and participated in camps and seminars conducted by many internationally known masters and instructors.

JKA New York ↗

Michael Burnham

4th Dan, JKA

32 years of active experience

Michael Burnham began training in 1994 at the University of Connecticut JKA Karate Club. He is a graduate of Master Masataka Mori’s Shotokan Karate-Do International Instructor Course in New York City.

He is a JKA Certified D-level Instructor, Examiner, and Judge, and has competed in JKA regional and international tournaments.

Lia Burnham

4th Dan, JKA

31 years of active experience

Lia Burnham began training in 1995 at the University of Connecticut JKA Karate Club. She is a graduate of Master Masataka Mori’s Shotokan Karate-Do International Instructor Course in New York City.

She is a JKA Certified D-level Instructor, Examiner, and Judge. She has competed in JKA regional and international tournaments, placing in Women’s Kumite, Men’s Team Kumite, Women’s Kata, and Team Kata.

At the 2014 SKDI Spring Championships, she placed first in Women’s Black Belt Kumite.

Ducie Le

3rd Dan, JKA

22 years of active experience

Ducie Le began training in 1997 with the Fairfax Shotokan Karate Club during her last year of law school. After several pauses in her training, she joined JKA Virginia in 2013 to resume practice.

Ducie has served as an assistant karate instructor at the YMCA and at local housing communities developed by the Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing.

She received her 1st Dan from Sensei Teruyuki Okazaki, her 2nd Dan from Sensei Masataka Mori, and her 3rd Dan from Sensei Shu Takahashi.