Professor Vance Murakami
Senior Associate Member

Vance Murakami initially began studying martial arts when he was 11, under Sensei Kikuchi, with the San Jose Buddhist Judo Club.  There he learned the fundamental basics of falling, rolling, and throwing. Fortuitously, in 1992, Vance’s sister and wife were taking self-defense lessons at San Jose Kenpo with now Grand Master Ted Sumner.   It was then that Vance decided to re-join the martial arts world, and hasn’t looked back since.   He’s had the privilege to study under the tutelage of Grand Master Ted Sumner, and was promoted to Kudan, 9^th Degree Black Belt on May 20, 2023. Through the years, and in Vance’s passion and pursuit of the art, he’s also had the opportunity to study not only under Grand Master Sumner, but also Grand Master Ray Arquilla.  Through these two Grand Masters, he obtained his knowledge of Kosho Shorei.  Kosho Shorei is a requirement for Nidan at San Jose Kenpo, along with knowing the entire Tracy’s system.  Vance has taken great appreciation in learning the principles and application of being effective in this art, but yet non-lethal. In 2004, through Professor Siegfried Kufferath and Professor Tony Janovich, Vance became certified in advanced Seifukijitsu, and continues to teach the Healing Arts through San Jose Kenpo School.  Vance has taken to heart the words of Professor Kufferath, “It’s easy to hurt someone.   The real skill is in healing them.” Vance enjoys giving back to the community through Kenpo.   He teaches Rehabilitation Through Kenpo (RTK) at the Services for Brain Injury, in Silicon Valley, helping veterans and those suffering from Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI).  Through this work, Vance was awarded Humanitarian of the Year at the GOE in 2019, and continues this work today. Vance was inducted as a Charter Member to the Kenpo International Hall of Fame in 2007.   In 2011, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award for his service and contribution to Martial Arts.   Vance, in 2013, received the Spirit of the Warrior award for his recognition in Kenpo. Vance is a Senior Associate Member of the Tracy’s Kenpo Karate Executive Council. Vance is the Head Master of San Jose Kenpo, and with his mechanical engineering background, enjoys bringing an analytical approach to the art.

At GOE 2022, Professor Murakami and his instructor, Professor Ted Sumner taught a 2-hour session on Completing the Circle of Knowledge, highlighting the 3 principle arts of the Tracy System (Kenpo (war art), Kosho-Shorei (non-lethal arts) and Chotaifukusu (healing arts). 

Master John DeLuca
Senior Associate Member

John DeLuca is a 9th Degree Black Belt in the Tracy System of Kenpo and is dedicated to teaching students of all ranks and styles the practical applications of martial arts for realistic use in real world conflicts.

John’s first training was in Judo in 1966 at age 8 for 2 years.

Started training in Tracy kenpo at age 14 in September of 1972 and has always continued to train and teach the complete Tracy System as his primary martial art.

Fought in K.R.A.N.E. sanctioned tournaments as a youth and young adult under his instructor and nationally ranked fighter Larry Kelly. Competed throughout New England and New York including at Madison Square Garden.

Was a member in the 1970’s of C.O.K.A. (Chinese Okinawan Kenpo Association) and cross trained with other affiliate schools in various Chinese and Okinawan Kenpo variants

Is a former instructor in Shootfighting under Bart Vale

Trained and taught Eishin Ryu Iaijutsu (Japanese Sword) under Carl Long Sensei and Masayuki Shimabukuro Sensei. (The author of the best selling Japanese sword training book “Flashing Steel”)

Other systems studied: Small Circle Jiu Jitsu, Eskrima.

Is a Charter Member of the Kenpo International Hall of Fame.

Lt. Deputy Sheriff – Hampden County Sheriff’s Department, Massachusetts. Sworn Police Officer since 1983 Deputy Sheriff since 1987 Founding member of county-wide prisoner apprehension team Founding member of county-wide tactical response team.

Master Bill Dalton
Senior Associate Member

Master Billy Dalton started his Kenpo Karate training in 1991 under GM Jefferson Davis at his Tracy Karate School in Granite City, Illinois. He currently holds the rank of Kudan, 9^th degree black belt.

Billy was a hard charging student and earned his shodan in 1994. This was a remarkable achievement due to the demands of the school curriculum. An avid competitor, Billy began competition as a yellow belt and over a 25 year competitive career, excelled in both fighting and forms. In his 25 years of competition, he won numerous local, state, regional, and national titles. He was a top-rated fighter in NASKA for several years placing at the top in both forms and fighting.

Master Dalton has owned and operated Tracy Karate in Troy Illinois for 24 years, producing excellent students and several NASKA national champion fighters. He promoted the “Land of Lincoln” Karate Championships for several years as well as helping his instructor, GM Jefferson Davis manage and direct several of his St. Louis Budweiser National Karate tournaments. His other teaching endeavors over the years include GOE Seminars with GM Davis; women’s self-defense classes, the Boy Scouts, and courses at the local high school.

Master Dalton’s honors are many and include induction into the Midwest Martial Arts HOF in 2004, the Kenpo International Hall of Fame in 2009 and the USA Martial Arts HOFs in 2009 and 2012. He was also awarded the St. Louis Budweiser National’s Lifetime Achievement Award, and awarded both the Kenpo Lifetime Achievement and Spirit of the Warrior Awards by Great Grand Master Al Tracy. Billy Dalton is a professional Kenpo Master in every respect. He follows in the Martial Arts Ethos of GM Jefferson Davis and his teacher, Hanshi Roger Greene (RIP). Billy serves on the Tracy’s Kenpo Senior Associate Council.

Master David Hopper
Senior Associate Member

David Hopper has 38 years experience training in and teaching martial arts, with blackbelts in Tracy’s Kenpo Karate, Seiwakai Gojuryu and the Gojukai organization of the Japanese Karate Federation.

Mr. Hopper holds an 8^th dan in kenpo and kenpo jujitsu, a 2nd dan in Seiwakai Gojuryu, a 1st dan in JKF Gojukai, is a certified Master Instructor of kenpo, a certified Tai Chi and Yoga instructor. He is a Charter Member of the Kenpo International Hall of Fame (2007) and in 2013, received the “Spirit of the Warrior” award from GGM Al Tracy.

He serves as a Senior Associate Member of the Tracy’s Kenpo Executive Council and has presented seminars at the 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2022 Gatherings of Eagles. Other seminars include the 2016 Al Tracy Last Man Standing event, the 2022 Middle Tennessee Martial Arts Seminars and the 2022 and 2023 Building Bridges Martial Arts Seminars.

At the 2019 Gathering of Eagles, Mr. Hopper received the “Innovative Instructor of the Year” award for his development of an application based, structured approach to integrating the Kosho Shorei concepts of James Mitose into any martial art, utilizing techniques of the individual art to teach, test and learn the concepts.

 

Grandmaster Roger Arpin, 10th dan 

Shihan Karen Conley-Greene, 9th dan

Master Mike Dancull, 8th dan

(biographies pending)