Instructors - Shorin-Ryu Shorinkan Karate of Williamsburg

Staff Instructors and Black Belts

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Sensei John Spence

Rokudan/6th dan

Sensei John Spence is the U.S.A Shibucho/branch director for Shorin-Ryu Butokukan karate under Hanshi Sokuichi Gibu, 10th dan/Judan. He has trained in Shorin-Ryu karate for over 20 years and is a certified instructor in Okinawan Shorin-Ryu and Okinawa Kobudo.

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John Spence(right) at 15 starting karate

He has trained with some of the top martial arts instructors in the United States and Okinawa and aside from Shorin-Ryu, Sensei Spence extensively trained in Judo while attending college.

After undergraduate studies in North Carolina, he lived in Louisiana for two years and since there were no Shorin-Ryu dojo in the Baton Rouge area, he had the great opportunity to train in Isshin-Ryu(Sensei A.J. Advincula's Association) and Shotokan Karate(Mikami Takayuki Sensei/Steve Robicheaux/Louisiana) in hopes to learn more about other styles..

He has served as the self-defense instructor for the LSU Law School and the American Institute of Banking. Sensei Spence has conducted seminars in the United States and South Africa on Shorin-Ryu karate and Okinawan Kobudo and also created an 11 video/dvd series on Okinawan Karate and Kobudo that sell worldwide today.

Sensei Spence's seminars in South Africa

Sensei Spence's greatest love is for teaching and he owns and operates the Shorin-Ryu Karate of Williamsburg where over 160 students train weekly at the traditional karate and kobudo dojo.

Aside from a karate instructor, Sensei Spence is a fifth grade teacher at D.J. Montague Elementary School in Williamsburg. He earned his B.A. from Catawba College and his Master's Degree in Education from the College of William & Mary.

He was also the recipient of the 2003 Fulbright Memorial Fund Japanese Scholarship where he studied education for a month in Tokyo and Chiba Prefecture. He was inducted into the Who's Who of American Teachers in January of 2006

He is married to Lorie Spence and they have two daughters, Emily and Madison. .

Sensei Dave Williams

Yondan/ 4th Dan

Sensei Williams began his karate training in Shorin-Ryu karate in 1992 and trained for 12 years under Sensei Vernon Mason, rokudan. He received his shodan in August of 1996 and currently holds the rank of Yondan/4th degree Black Belt. He also holds the rank of Shodan in Okinawan Kobudo. He has been training under Sensei John Spence since April of 2004 and has been a great addition to our family. Sensei Dave has a great love for teaching others and watching so many children become excellent atheletes and students is very rewarding to him. He is a firm believer that martial arts is a great tool for helping children and adults build self esteem and self confidence.

Aside from karate, Sensei Dave is a designer at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility. He is also a USA swimming certified certified stroke and turn judge and devotes many hours to help out in a sport which his children are involved in. He and his wife, Sheri and children Ryon and Kailey live in Tabb.

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Sensei Joe Wilson
Nidan/ 2nd Dan

Joe Wilson grew up on Okinawa and started his karate training in the Futenma Uechi-Ryu dojo under Kanei Uechi Sensei. This was unusual at the time as not many foriegners were allowed to train there, especially young ones. Through a friend of Joe's father, Joe and his dad were both allowed to train at the Uechi-Ryu headquarters.

He has been training at the Williamsburg dojo since 2001 and holds a Nidan/ 2nd degree black belt in Shorin-Ryu karate. Joe is one of the managers at Paul's Deli in Williamsburg and spends a great deal of his time teaching at the dojo.

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Sensei Tim Poland
Nidan/ 2nd Dan

Tim Poland began his karate training at the Williamsburg Dojo in December 2001. He holds a Nidan/2nd degree black belt in Shorin-Ryu Karate and is one of the most talented instructors at our school. Aside from karate, Tim is a professional golfer and instructor and is a class A member of the Professional Golfers Association of America. He has competed in 3 PGA Tour events and has won 10 tournaments in the Middle Atlantic PGA section.

" I feel that karate has not only helped me with my self-confidence and of course my conditioning. It has also helped my golf game and for sure made me a better instructor." Tim is currently teaching golf at Williamsburg Country Club.

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Black Belts

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Sensei Vince Zangardi

Nidan/ 2nd Dan

Sensei Vince Zangardi has been studying Shorin-Ryu under the tutelage of his instructor, Sensei John R. Spence, Godan, since he was in sixth grade. He received his Shodan, 1st Degree Black Belt, in June of 2001 and tested before Hanshi Nakazato in Okinawa for his Shodan in Okinawan kobudo in the summer of 2002. He is currently a Nidan in Shorin-ryu karate. He prefers empty hand training to weapons because all of the power and technique is generated from within. His favorite katas are Naihanchi Sandan and Passai Dai.

One of his favorite things about Shorin-Ryu karate and Sensei Spence's traditional dojo is the emphasis on training not competition. Sensei Vince believes karate should be practiced for one's self-improvement and not for the entertainment of others. Two of the most important things he has learned from karate are humility and self-confidence. He graduated from James Madison University in 2007.

Vince is currently in Manhattan pursuing an acting career.

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Sensei Felix Vlad

Nidan/ 2nd Dan

Sensei Felix Vlad began his karate training in his homeland of Romania. A black belt in Shotokan Karate, Sensei Vlad has competed as a member of Romanian National Karate team in Japan, Europe and the United States. He has served also as an AAU referee and coach and is our dojo's Kumite coach. He owns Vlad Imports and is happlily married to his wife Rene. Sensei Vlad is an excellent teacher and technician who brings a great deal of energy to every class he teaches.

Sensei Felix is co-owner and manager of one of Williamsburg's finest restaurants, Alize's Bistro.

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Sensei James Haynes

Nidan/ 2nd Dan

Sensei James Haynes has been training with Sensei Spence since elementary school. He holds a Nidan/2nd degree black belt in Shorin-Ryu karate and is a Nidan/2nd degree black belt in Okinawa Kobudo. He has competed in the 2001 Karate Junior Olympics and is a multiple Virginia AAU gold medal winner in karate and kobudo. His favorite kata to compete with is Kubo no Kun and Kusanku-dai.

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Sensei Lindsey Lord

Shodan/ 1st dan

Lindsey Lord began studying Shorin-Ryu Karate with Sensei John Spence in 2002 when she was eight years old. She earned her Junior Black Belt in November 2005. Lindsey competed in the 2005 Jr. Olympics in New Orleans, Louisiana, where she was awarded a silver metal in Kobudo, and placed 4th in her age group in Shorin-Ryu Kata.

Sensei Lindsey also competed in Okinawa, Japan in July of 2006 and won second place in the All Okinawa Youth Tournament in team kata.

Her favorite katas are Kusanku Dai, Naihanchi Shodan, and Kubo no Kun.

"I enjoy the challenge of learning and perfecting Shorin-Ryu Karate, and passing on what I have learned to fellow students at the dojo. I like the way the spirit of Shorin-Ryu has become part of everything I do in my life, and I am proud to be part of Shorin Ryu Karate of Williamsburg. "

She is an Honor Student at Berkeley Middle School where she is a member of the Berkeley Women's Chorus/Ensemble, Principals Council, and Yearbook Committee. In her spare time she is learning to windsurf and play the guitar.

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Mike Williams

2nd Dan