Shihan: Sensei Bob Noel, Rokudan

It was fall of 1978 when I started my Martial Arts journey under Frank Gorman, Kudan (then Godan). Master Gorman offered a karate class as a P.E. alternative at Williams College in Williamstown, MA. where I was employed and was allowed to join the class. After the first day, I was hooked. Frank offered classes there on Monday and Wednesday afternoons, and a Tuesday night class was taught by his senior students. I took full advantage of all three classes plus attended the class in Bennington, VT. every Friday evening. I also would attend his Saturday classes at his dojo in Pittsfield, MA. whenever I could, and attained the rank of Ikkyu.
After Master Gorman sold his school, I began studying under Sensei Jeff Garrison (Yondan) and his Sensei, Master Joe Gilbert (Kudan). I met Bill Meiklejohn (then Sandan) there and we trained together under Jeff and Joe, and later just Joe for some time. Black Belt tests were always on Sundays and I had trouble getting Sundays off, so it was 1994 when I tested for and received my Shodan.
My good friend and Sensei Bill Meiklejohn, along with some others, began training and teaching at Turn Hall in Adams, MA and were there for a few years until we moved to the Youth Center, Inc. in Adams, where we taught and trained together for many years. During this time, we asked Master Bruce Witherell (Hanshi, Judan) to be our Sensei. I taught kids classes for Master Bruce and Master Jim Witherell at Berkshire Martial Arts Academy (BMAA) in Pittsfield, MA, and stayed and trained with the adult class under Sensei Bruce when the kis class was finished, where we trained in Uechiryu, BJJ, and Self Defense Strategies, as well as teaching and studying Uechiryu Karate at the Youth Center with Master Bill Meiklejohn (Renshi, Rokudan) on Monday evenings and Saturday afternoons. In 2008 I tested for and received my Nidan.
In June of 2009, my wife and I decided to move to Knoxville, TN. I began training in a nearby park, doing Hojo Undo, kata and two person drills as a kata. I was approached and asked if I would teach, and decided to start. I taught outside in the park and classes started to grow. I met with some local Isshinryu instructors and began to attend seminars and tournaments while still teaching regular classes. As there were no other Uechiryu folks in the Knoxville, TN area, I also began studying some Isshinryu weapons kata and pressure points.
In August 2011, we returned to Massachusetts for a visit and I was invited to test for, and received, my Sandan. Upon returning to Tennessee, I joined the Okinawan Karate-do Union(OKU) and attended their summer seminar. The following year, I was asked to teach, and began the spread of knowledge of Uechiryu Karate.
I was fortunate to find a dance studio that rented space, so in January 2013 I formally opened Knoxville Uechiryu Karate School and started accepting new students.
In 2016 on another visit back to Massachusetts, I tested for and received my Yondan (4th Degree), and I also received a certificate for title of Shihan.
In 2017 was honored as Black Belt of the Year by the OKU.
2019 brought some changes to the IUKF and we were honored to have Master Darin Yee (Hanshi, Judan), President of the IUKF come to our area and give a seminar for us. In addition, we were also honored by my instructor and sensei Bruce Witherell (Hanshi, Judan) attending the seminar.
I currently old te rank of Rokudan (6th Deg. Black Belt) an the title of Renshi (First Level Master)
I have students who compete in local tournaments and do very well, and I continue to teach at any seminar to which I am invited. I have enjoyed the benefits of Uechiryu Karate for over 45 years and will continue to share the virtues and joy of Uechiryu Karate for as long as possible.

Sensei-Dai: David Higgins, Nidan

David has been training in traditional karate for over 30 years, beginning his martial arts journey at the age of 12 in Gōjū-Ryū Karate at the Boys & Girls Club in Monticello, Florida. Over the years, he has studied a variety of Okinawan and Japanese arts, including Shotokan and Kishaba Juku Shōrin-Ryū in Tallahassee, Florida.

Under the guidance of Sensei Bill Lucas, he earned his Shodan (1st-degree black belt) in Kishaba Juku after six years of dedicated training. In 2012, he moved to Knoxville, Tennessee, amd continued training on his own until he later joined the Knoxville Uechi-Ryū Karate School in 2018. After several years of consistent training and study, he earned his Nidan (2nd-degree black belt) in May 2025. As he progresses towards Sandan, he has taken on the role of Sensei-Dai (Assistant Instructor) and teaches Knoxville Uechi Ryu Karate School’s Tuesday evening class.

David is passionate about helping students grow through practical, applicable self-defense and through the deeper study of kata and bunkai. He believes that the blending of hard and soft in Uechi-Ryū complements his Kishaba Juku background, which emphasizes “relaxed power” and natural body movement.