You can read more about Grandmaster Su Kong Tai Djin, Grandmaster Ie Chang
Ming, and Grandmaster Sin Kwang Thé on our history page.
Masters
A Shaolin-Do student is considered a Master once he or she has
attained the rank of 5th Degree Black Belt or higher. Each rank also has a
title — 5th Degree Black Belts are referred to as Associate
Masters, 6th Degree Black Belts are Masters, 7th Degree Black Belts
are Senior Masters, and 8th Degree Black Belts and higher are Elder
Masters.
Many martial arts schools are lucky to have an instructor with a rank of 2nd
degree black belt or higher teaching classes. Here at the Sin Thé Karate
School, we have a plethora of masters and high ranking black belts to help the
students increase their skill sets. The following is not a complete list of
Masters in Shaolin-Do. However, it is a list of Masters who are active at the
Sin Thé Karate School.
Eldest Master Bill Leonard
10th Degree Black Belt, Head Instructor
Eldest Master Bill Leonard is Grandmaster Sin Thé's most senior student, having
been with him since 1967 and was the first non-Chinese to ever attain the rank of
10th Degree Black Belt, having been promoted to that rank in March 2023.
Eldest Master Leonard is the head instructor at the Sin Thé Karate School and
brings his unparalleled 50+ years of teaching experience to the students there. He not
only teaches all ranks of students at the gym, but as a nationally respected instructor,
he is often sought out by Shaolin-Do students and masters from across the country for
private lessons. He has personally trained more than 10,000 students to the rank of
black belt, not to mention the countless other students who have trained under his
guidance over the years.
While known for his intense dedication, loyalty, and sense of honor, he is also known
as an incredible instructor. He is often the reason many students give for continuing
their studies in Shaolin-Do. He is regarded as the premier fighter in Shaolin-Do,
having won countless Shaolin-Do and open tournaments over the years.
His wife, Dale, who tragically passed away in 2017, was also 1st Degree Black Belt.
Eldest Master Leonard has five children and seven grandchildren.
8th Degree Black Belt — Elder Master
Ben Collins
Started in August 1989
Promoted in June 2023
Herman Collins
Started in September 1976
Promoted in June 2023
Tim Ray
Started in October 1974
Promoted in September 2019
Rick Reynolds
Started in January 1969
Promoted in June 2023
7th Degree Black Belt — Senior Master
Scott Frasure
Started in July 1976
Promoted in September 2011
Bev Razor
Started in March 1982
Promoted in September 2018
Bill Standafer
Started in November 1979
Promoted in September 2019
6th Degree Black Belt — Master
Bill Bivins
Started in March 1973
Promoted in March 2012
Rosie Bivins
Started in November 1976
Promoted in March 2012
Andra Collins
Promoted in May 2021
Don Enzweiler
Promoted in May 2021
5th Degree Black Belt — Associate Master
Mark Bongard
Promoted in September 2020
Barbara Elzey
Promoted in March 2017
Kelly Hunter
Promoted in March 2022
Lonnie McCoy
Promoted in September 2015
Cody Shackelford
Started in May 1991
Promoted in March 2009
Black Belts
Belts and sashes are used to distinguish between the external and internal
students. Our external students wear a traditional gi (uniform) and belt
while the internal students wear a sam (uniform) and a sash. While belts
and sashes are not equivalent, they are comparable in gauging the abilities and
progress of a student. Attaining the rank of a black belt or sash is by no
means the end of the journey in Shaolin-Do. Rather, it is just the beginning
— you are now considered a serious student and your real training begins.
Essentially, each rank of black belt or sash is at least equivalent to training
from white to black all over again!
Below is an incomplete (but growing) list of students
who have received their black belt or sash while studying with us.
4th Degree Black Belt
Lee
Fields
Robert
Newton
Reggie
Smith
3rd Degree Black Belt
Daniel
Carey
Dianne
Gray
Bahram
Kakavand
Matt
Kazlauskas
Claude
Meares
Steve
Pruitt
Shane
Schmidt
Remy
Simpson
Miles
Thomas
Chris
Wells
3rd Degree Black Sash
Cindy
Blood
David
Fannin
Christian
Kephart
2nd Degree Black Belt
Adi
Antoni
K.C.
Baker
Tiffiney
Baker
Liam
Barnes
Cindy
Blood
Tyler
Branham
Scott
Calhoun
Mila
Chitwood
Jenny
Corbin
Trey
Corbin
Wesley
Davis
Brian
Decker
Christa
Dowell
David
Duncan
Stephen
Dundon
Ian
Edwards
David
Fannin
Lisa
Fields
Terry
Filter
Ellen
Gould
Charles
Granville
Michael
Holmes
Will
Holmes
William
Holmes, Jr.
Meridith
Howes
Andrew
Jackson
Christopher
Jaynes
Ross
Leonard
Rob
Lutes
Mason
McCoy
Billy
Mullins
Will
Sloan
Joel
Stevenson
Joe
Walden
Scott
Walker
2nd Degree Black Sash
Kim
Blackburn
Rachel
Bongard
Erin
Mills
1st Degree Black Belt
John
Adaniel
Jun
Adaniel
Moshin
Ali
Courtney
Allison
Paul
Anaya
Jacob
Ang
John
Ang
Tiffany
Antoni
Andy
Armatorio
Aiden
Barnes
Austin
Barnes
William
Bencz
Kim
Blackburn
Alex
Bongard
Matt
Bongard
Braxton
Bosshart
Brett
Bosshart
Arwen
Careaga
Saul
Cervin
Elijah
Corbin
Taylor
Corbin
Porter
Corum
Bill
Davis
Rebecca
Davis
Richard
Dienst
Kayla
Duncan
Travis
Earlywine
Stephanie
Edelmann
Chuck
Emerich
Asher
Feddock
John
Gonterman
Caster
Grande
Pollux
Grande
Ulysses
Grande
Jasmine
Hall
Zach
Hamblen
Brad
Hammers
Lee
Hoffman
Anna
Holmes
Jonathan
Ingram
Nathan
Ingram
Fred
Karem
Eric
Kilten
Jeff
Leddy
Robert
Lee
Clay
Lefler
Doug
Lefler
Kelli
Lefler
Dale
Leonard
Bradley
Lutes
Crystal
Lutes
Kennan
Maxwell
Kevin
McCorkle
Stuart
Michael
David
Miles
Robbie
Moore
Lyle
Morgan
Sandy
Morgan
Dean
Morton
Nick
Mudd
David
Napier
Steve
Olshewsky
Kim
Otis
Mike
Painter
Lora
Popolizio
Tony
Prater
Adam
Reynolds
Todd
Reynolds
Hunter
Rulo
Tony
Sammons
Wade
Schwendeman
Amy
Sheikh
Aprill
Shepherd
John
Sikura
Tina
Skees
Sean
Smith
David
Sweet
Tim
Swerczek
Don
Tegt
Scott
Thompson
Anna
Thornton
Sean
Turner
Tommy
Wahudi
Brandon
White
Jarrod
Wilde
Eddie
Willett
Sherry
Wilson
Wayne D.
Wilson
Robert
Wood
Michael
Yusefzadeh
Will
Zibell
1st Degree Black Sash
Richard
Bartholomew
Jessica
Bedell
Meg
Daugherty
Michael
Flanagan
Patti
Hall
Linda
Horvay
Steve
Olshewsky
Diane
Spurlock
If you have received your black belt or sash with us and your name does not
appear on this list, or if your name or rank is incorrect, please contact the
Webmaster and we will either add
you to this list or correct your entry.