Our Instructors & Staff Members

Our Instructors have spent many years devoted to training in the art of Karate and other martial arts and have attained a certain level of expertise to qualify them as teachers and also mentors.

Through extensive testing, certification and tournament level competition, our staff has attained mastery in this martial art and now enjoy sharing their skill and passing it on to their students.

Michael Buttermark-shihan  (5th Degree Black Belt - IKGA Godan/Shihan/Renshi - IKGA Licensed Master Instructor)  Michael Buttermark-shihan is the founder and chief instructor of both TKC dojo locations. He has been continuously involved in Goju-Ryu Karate-Do since 1982 (28 years). In 1985, Michael-shihan enlisted in the United States Air Force as both a means to serve his country and to eventually station him in Tokyo, Japan near the Goju-Kai international headquarters. While living in Tokyo for nearly four years, he trained in the hombu dojo(headquarters school) under the late Grandmaster Gogen Yamaguchi, Hanshi. The actual instruction was overseen by his teacher - the current President of the International Karate-Do Goju-Kai Association (IKGA), Saiko Shihan (Grandmaster) Goshi Yamaguchi. A great wealth of information was available in Japan from many great master instructors. Michael-shihan would like to acknowledge several of these Goju-kai masters who he had the distinct honor of learning from as well as being inspired by: Yukio Ohira-shihan (at Yokota Kichi Goju-Kan); Masatoshi Yamaguchi-shihan (at the hombu dojo); and Reiji Setoguchi-shihan (at Mitaka Goju-Kan). Through additional exposure at Goju-kai Training Seminars the following masters have also had a profound influence on Michael-shihan: Masahiko and Yoshi Futawatari-shihans; Horst Baumgurtel-shihan; Jan van den Dries-shihan; Peter Brandon-hanshi; Paul Starling and Sandy Starling-shihans; Brian Mackie-shihan; Shin Tsuki-shihan; Ian McGarrity-shihan; Shigeki Yamada-shihan; John Kakinuki-sensei; and many exceptional practioners of Gojukai Karatedo. While living in Japan, Michael-shihan also taught in his own dojo on Yokota Air Base. The Yokota-kichi gojukan club was presented to him by Ohira-shihan as he was departing Japan to live in Australia. In inter-military karate championships held throughout the 'Pacific military theater', he was the undefeated U.S. Armed Forces kata champion for three consecutive years. Upon returning to the United States in the early 1990's, he became a nationally ranked top-10 kata competitor for six years and was 3-time U.S. Goju Karate Team captain. In July 2006, he exited from retirement and became the National Champion for Men's advanced Kata with his Gold medal performance of the kata Suparinpei. TKC students have proudly followed in their instructor's footsteps. From 1995 to present, our Warriors have garnered 50 International Championship medals, 2 Pan-American Championship medals (GOLD & BRONZE), 1 World Championship medal and 195 National Championship medals (noting a six season hiatus from competitions from 2000 ~ 2005 inclusive). In Rotterdam, Holland at the 4th Goju-Kai Karate-Do World Championships 10 TKC Warriors were part of Team USA. Though the team only brought home one Bronze Medal, our team members were involved up to quarter-final matches in 8 out of 16 divisions (50%). As respectable as that percentage is for most, not one team members was a black belts BUT they were all competing in black belts divisions. Like most of TKC's instructors, Michael-shihan is a father and brings that compassion and understanding of children onto the mat. He works extremely well with our young children, especially in the Little Warriors program which caters to ages from 2 through 7 years old. He is the chief instructor over all programs taught in TKC with 22 years of teaching experience. "Karatedo has been the greatest influence in my life. It's a wonderful way to impact young people lives teaching them skills that help them all their lives. My greatest desire is to exemplify the belief of my teach (Saiko Shihan Goshi Yamaguchi): he says, "Karatedo offers something for everyone". With this mindset, I strive to seek the best ways to serve my students and I preach inclusion in my dojos - not elitism and exclusion ideologies." - Michael Buttermark-shihan

Torsten (TJ) Johnson-sensei  (3rd Degree Black Belt - IKGA Sandan/Shidoin - IKGA Licensed Instructor) Torsten ("TJ") Johnson-sensei is a 3rd Degree Black Belt and certified Karate Instructor by the IKGA in Tokyo, Japan. TJ-sensei has earned rank from Goju-ryu Grandmaster Goshi Yamaguchi, Ian McGarrity-shihan and Michael Buttermark-shihan. TJ-sensei is primary instructor of our Senior Program and works extensively with our Junior Program as well. He has been a student of TKC for over 16 years. While competing, TJ-sensei garnered several national championship medals including 1 Gold and 2 Bronze placements. Also to his competition credits, is a top-16 finish internationally in Sao Paulo, Brazil (1997). In recent years, he has offered our students the value of his experience as a coach. In 2005, TJ-sensei became very active in officiating in karate competitions. After studying with USA-NKF Chief Referee & WKF Referee Council member Cleveland Baxter-sensei, he achieved a National "A" Kumite Referee & "B" Kata Licenses. Sensei quickly put his newly honed skills to good use volunteering his time judging at the 2005 - present USA-NKF National Championships, the USA Junior Olympics, the North American Cup, the US Open and also at the 2005 Gojukai World Championships in Rotterdam, Holland. In addition to his function as a senior instructor, TJ-sensei has been a fair and compassionate "Student Advocate" in TKC. His experience as father of four grown children and as a grandfather has given him valuable communication skills with understanding children and adults. "After sitting on the side watching my family members train for nearly 9 months, I finally was driven to start training - that was 16 years ago and I haven't stopped yet. Karatedo is a life-long pursuit of knowledge and I'm patient enough to keep seeking its little pearls of wisdom. My inspiration to earn my Black Belt came from seeing my own children stop training shy of their Black Belt goals. I wanted to serve as a good example to them: set your goals - then work to achieve them." - Torsten (TJ) Johnson-sensei

For more information about the Traditional Karate Center staff or training programs, please contact us at (718) 981-3139 Cell. or by clicking here.