Hiroko Mori (Guest Instructor)

Hiroko Mori was born and raised in Japan and moved to California with her family. She began practicing Karate under Godan (5th degree black belt) Ken Osborne in Shotokan Karate of America or SKA in 1985. Hiroko has been teaching Karate since 1990. She was promoted by Tsutomu Ohshima, founder, to the rank of Godan (5th degree black belt) in August 2018. The 5th degree black belt is the highest attainable in SKA. Hiroko trained in Jujitsu (throwing and grappling) for 3 years, and in Kendo (Japanese Fencing) since 2003. She holds brown belt in Kendo. She was Redding Dojo leader 1994-2022.

Besides teaching numerous self-defense workshops (2 hours) locally, Hiroko has been traveling across the US (Kansas City, Boise, Twin Falls, Tahoe, San Jose, Cupertino, Palo Alto, Berkeley, Sacramento and Davis) and Canada (Vancouver) teaching women’s self-defense since 1991. She gave her 100th self-defense workshop in October 2022, her 103rd in April 2023, and it keeps going on.

Now retired from teaching the Japanese language at Shasta College in Redding for 27 years, Hiroko is teaching the college’s for-credit course, PE60 Self-Defense.

Brad Marsh (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.

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: