The Empty Hand Seiji Saeki

Minoru Saeki is a 7th dan from the Japan Karate Association (JKA).  He is a karate pioneer in North America and has received the Prime Minister’s Award for his contributions to community development.

Jorge Torres is a Physical Therapist and has extensive karate experience as a member of the USA JKA Team. He is currently an Assistant Instructor at JKA Karate Shiroma in New York.

Jan Martin Huus is an up-and-coming JKA karateka and competitor on the Norwegian National Team. He qualified for the JKA All Japan Championships in his first year in Japan as a representative of Ibaraki Prefecture.

Martin Buchstaller and Nadja Körner are the founders and producers of Karate@Home. With over 110 countries and 25 thousand members, this online dojo has been a major contributor to keeping the karate flame alive for people around the world during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Simon Phaneuf is currently CSO of Dymedso, a Canadian medical technology company. He is specialized in Emergency Medicine and in Sports and Exercise Medicine. A long-time karateka and the first physician in the Province of Québec to be certified by the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine.

D.J. Lortie has trained 18 years at the Aikikai Hombu Dojo in Tokyo and is a 5th dan in Aikido under 8th dan Yokota Yoshiaki.  During his time in Japan, he also obtained his 1st dan from the JKA as a regular member of the JKA HQ.