A Brief History of Reneau's Yoshukai Karate

Reneau's Yoshukai Karate applies a modern approach to traditional martial arts. Yoshukai Karate was founded in 1963 by Grand Master Mamoru Yamamoto. Grand Master Yamamoto trained with the founder of Chito Ryu Karate Do, Dr. Tsuyoshi Chitose, becoming his top student. In 1966 Mike Foster, who had begun training with Mamoru Yamamoto while the Grand Master was still Dr. Chitose’s senior student, brought Yoshukai Karate to the United States. In 1974 Jim Reneau began his studies in Yoshukai Karate, training under Master Yuki Koda, Hanshi Mike Sadler, Shihan Gerry Blanck, Sensei Jim Falbo, Kancho Mike Foster, and especially Grand Master Yamamoto, who personally awarded Shihan Reneau with his shodan rank.

Shihan Jim Reneau is a 5th degree black belt in Yoshukai Karate who brings his extensive studies and training of the style together with the principles of Judo and Aikido, not only enhancing the effectiveness of Yoshukai Karate, but bringing forth a more well-rounded style of martial arts. Reneau's Yoshukai Karate takes the well-deserved reputation of Yoshukai Karate and combines it with a self-defense infrastructure which is easily adapted to, highly effective outside of the training dojo, and encourages and allows its students to add its philosophies to their martial arts techniques. Shihan Reneau has over 30 years of combined martial arts experience which include, Wing Chung Kung Fu under Sifu Lao, American Karate under Joe Corey and Larry Black, and worked with eight-time world point-fighting champion, Mafia Halloway. He holds a 5th degree Brazilian Black Belt with the Federacao de Full Contact Kickboxing e Derivados do Estado de Goias. Shihan also spent five years as a professional wrestler, and four years in dance theater. Shihan Reneau has choreographed and starred in the movies, Fighting Chance and Razor Sharp, and has also choreographed the music videos, "No Scrubs" for TLC and "I Do" for Blaque.

Sensei LaBar is a 2nd Degree Black Belt in Yoshukai Karate. He began his Martial Arts career on December 12, 1990 at the Dojo in Buford, GA under the instruction of Sensei Michael Dale Webber. Sensei Webber had an epileptic seizure while swimming and passed in 1992. Sensei Webber's death along with engrossing himself in more work in 1993, eventually caused him to leave his Martial Arts Training for a period of time. During the years until his return to training he would sporadically come to testings, tournaments, and classes. Then during Summer Camp in 1999 Sensei LaBar made a decision to continue his Martial Arts training in earnest. After seven months of an intense and rigorous training cycle he tested for his Shodan Rank. His instructor, Shihan Jim Reneau, personally awarded him his Shodan Rank on Saturday December 18, 1999.

Sensei LaBar tested for the rank of Nidan on Saturday March 23, 2002 at the Winter Camp in Rome Georgia. On Sunday March 24, 2002 he was awarded the rank of Nidan from his instructor Shihan Jim Reneau.

Currently he teaches at the main location in Suwanee, GA. He teaches the Saturday classes from 11 AM to 3 PM.