Island Karate Kobudu Kai Instructor Bios
		Left to right: Jim Benson, Tim Viens, Donovan Parrott, Masaaki (visiting from Japan, 2nd Dan), Jim Wyman, Master Tom Meno, and Rob Rousseau. Not Pictured Lisa Sturgis.
	Tom Meno 7th Dan Master Meno was born on the US island of Guam and was educated in Alemeda, California. There he studied Shaolin Kenpo Karate with Manny de la Cruz, Shorinji Ryu Karate and Kobudo with Richard Kim, Shotokan with George Carmignani, and Ji Do Kwan with Bong Choi. In 1982 Tom Meno Established Island 4H Karate as an sfter school program for kids through the Vermont 4H organization. Robert Rousseau 3rd Dan Sensei Rousseau started Karate with Tom Meno in 1982. He studied Shorinji Ryu Karate, Bo , and Sai with Tom Meno and Richard Kim. He has also trained in Shotokan, Kenpo, Aikijujitsu, Shaolin Chi-na, and Tai Chi, from various instructors in Quebec, New York, and Vermont. His current area of interest is Koryu Uchinadi (Ancient Okinawan Fist) and how it relates to Shaolin Five Ancestors Fist and Fukien White Crane Fist. Jim Wyman 3rd Dan Sensei Wyman comes to Island Karate with thrity-three years of karate training, twenty-five of those years as an instructor. He is an Alburg resident and has taught school at Missisquoi Vally Union Middle School for Twenty- three years where he coached track and field and cross country. As a karate competitor, he has won numerous tournament championships in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. Donovan Parrott 2nd Dan Tim Viens 2nd Dan Sensei Viens started martial arts in 1983 at age seven doing Tae Kwon Do in Florida where he received his green belt. In 1986 he joined Island Karate as a 4H member and studied Shotokan with Tom Meno and received his brown belt in 1992. In 2000, Sensei Viens was promoted to 1st Dan and in 2001, 2nd Dan. His primary weapon of study is sword. Jim Benson 1st Dan Sensei Benson started Tae Kwon-Do with his dad, Albert Benson on Loring Air Force Base, Limestone, Maine when he was nine years old.  In 1992,  he started training with Master Steve Barrett and Andrew Skyler at KOJO Academy of Tae Kwon-Do in Williston, Vermont.  He joined Island Karate Kobuto Kai in 1998 and studied Shotokan Karate and later received his black belt. Lisa Sturgis 1st Dan Sensei Sturgis joined Island Karate in 1998 as a way to get in shape and enjoy an activity with her husband and children. She studied with Sensei Tara Brennan, Sensei Tad Landry, and Sensei Rob Rousseau and received her black belt in January 2003. Her primary discipline of karate is Shotokan and Shorinji Ryu.