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# Founder - SOKE Salaka

# Soke Stephen Salaka

I have been training in the Martial Arts for over 32 years now. I originally started an interest in Karate when I was 4 - with some lessons on an airforce base in Ramestin Germany, later moving to New York taking several lessons there. When I was 11, we moved to Florida, and I studied under Robert Vanelli, his instructor Steve Lavalli, and then various other instructors over the years - Bill Hicks, Paul Mills, Jack Morris, Al Tracy, Lary Tatum, Lee Wedlake, Vic LaRoux, Chuck Sullivan, Huck Planas, Kevin Lamkin, Jim Mitchel, Julio Sabates, Joe Whelan, Jeff Speakman, Paul Britton and many others. First studying under the Tracy system, moving onto the Mills branch, as well as extensive exposure with the Ed Parker lineage. I’ve taught martial arts since I was 16, and have numerous individuals whom I’ve promoted up through the black belt ranks.

In addition to American Kenpo karate, I hold rankings in various other systems - Shotokan, Goju-Ryu, Taekwondo, Hsing Yi Kung Fu, Bagua, Kyokushin, Krav Maga, Arnis, Yang style Tai Chi, - and many, many others.

## Belt Ranking and Training History

- 1983 - First Karate Lesson
- 1995 - Taekwondo (Melbourne Florida)
- 1996 - Shodan American Kenpo Karate (Melbourne Florida)
- 1998 - Yang style Tai Chi (Blacksburg Va)
- 1999 - Hsing Yi Kung Fu (Blacksburg Va)
- 2000 - Bagua (Talahassee Florida)
- 2000 - CMATOS founded
- 2000 - American Kenpo Karate (Talahassee Florida)
- 2001 - Shotokan Karate (Talahassee Florida)
- 2002 - Goju Ryu Karate (Talahassee Florida)
- 2002 - Taekwondo (Talahassee Florida)
- 2005 - Shotokan Karate (Osaka Japan)
- 2005 - American Kenpo Karate Studios Japan opens in Osaka Japan
- 2005 - 10th Degree Black Belt (Combat Martial Arts)
- 2006 - Goju Ryu Karate (Osaka Japan)
- 2006 - Yondan American Kenpo Karate (International Kenpo Karate Academies)
- 2007 - Arnis (Cebu, Philippines)
- 2007 - Kyoukushin (Osaka Japan)
- 2007 - American Kenpo Karate Studios Japan opens branch in Tokyo Japan
- 2009 - Fast Defense
- 2010 - Krav Maga (Tokyo Japan)
- 2011 - Rokudan CMATOS (World Martial Arts College)
- 2011 - Godan American Kenpo Karate (International Kenpo Karate Academies)
- 2011 - 5th Degree Black Belt (International Independent Martial Artists Association)
- 2015 - Rokudan American Kenpo Karate (International Kenpo Karate Academies)
- 2016 - 6th Degree Master (Combat Martial Arts)
- 2016 - Hachidan CMATOS (International Independent Martial Artists Association)
- 2018 - Nanadan - American Kenpo Karate (International Kenpo Karate Academies)
- 2018 - 7th Degree Master (Combat Martial Arts)

# Rank Certificates

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# Archives

- March 2018
- January 2017
- October 2016
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