Brad Marsh (Yodan) – Dojo leader

Brad Marsh started practice at the Redding dojo in April of 2000. He was promoted to Yodan (4th degree black belt) under Hiroko Mori’s instruction in 2016. Brad first trained in Okinawan Shorinji-ryu in Cupertino, California and attained Nidan (2nd degree black belt) in 1988.

When he is not practicing karate, Brad pursues a Primal lifestyle, enjoying time with his dogs and working on his Jeeps. He is also gainfully employed as an Information Technologist at a college textbook publisher in Redding.

Hiroko Mori (Godan) – dojo leader and instructor emeritus

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Originally from Japan, Hiroko began practicing Karate under Godan (5th degree black belt) Ken Osborne in Shotokan Karate of America (SKA) in 1985. She has been teaching Karate since 1990. She was promoted by Tsutomu Ohshima, founder, to the rank of Godan in August 2018. Godan (5th degree black belt) is the highest attainable in SKA. She was dojo leader 1994-2022. Hiroko trained in Jujitsu for 3 years, and in Kendo since 2003. She holds brown belt in Kendo.

Besides teaching numerous 2 hour self-defense workshops locally, Hiroko has been traveling across the US and Canada (Vancouver) teaching women’s self-defense since 1991. She gave her 107th in Aug 2024.

SKA Shotokan Throws

Hiroko Mori, then Yodan (4th degree black belt), demonstrates Nagewaza (throwing techniques) with Brad Marsh, now Yodan, at Stanford University during SKA NorCal 35th Anniversary demonstration in November 2008: