Focus Karate Instructors

All of Focus Martial Arts' instructors have been trained in the philosophies and training techniques that make us unique. Our instructors are hand picked and nurtured over years of training in order to earn the honor of teaching our students. We don't place just anyone in front of you or your child, we make sure that they are qualified; have leadership ability and big hearts! Each instructor utilizes their own unique gifts which make them special and will bring out the very best in our students both young and older. Focus is also the industry leader in requiring each of our instructors to submit to a yearly background check assuring every parent of the quality of each of our instructors and the safety of our students.

Sensei Marianne O'Hara                        Head Instructor    Sensei Marianne O'Hara  has been  teaching children for over 24 years. She has a  Master's Degree in Special Education  specializing in the areas of Learning Disabilities  and Behavior Disorders.    Sensei O'Hara is the Head Instructor of  our Little Ninja and PeeWee Programs. As a  competitor, Sensei has numerous state,  regional and national rankings in Kata and  Kumite.    Sensei is an Amateur Athletic Union's  (AAU) and ASEP certified coach, a loving  wife, mother of five beautiful children and role  model to hundreds of young children and  adults. Her passion for teaching and the  gentleness she conveys in her teaching style   are second to none.

Sensei Jim O'Hara                       Chief Instructor    Sensei Jim O'Hara  has been teaching  Shotokan Karate for over 22 years. He is an  NFICA (National Federation Interscholastic  Coaches Association) Certified Instructor and  holds a 4th degree black belt in the Japanese  Martial Art of Shotokan Karate. He's a Junior  and Senior United States Karate Team Coach  for the Amateur Athletic Union and the World  Karate Confederation's (WKC) US Teams, as  well as a  senior level AAU Referee.    Sensei O'Hara  has numerous state, regional,  national and all-American titles in Kata (forms)  and Kumite (sparring). He is also the 1996  World Karate Organization (WKO) World  Champion in Kumite. Sensei has been awarded  the Coach of The Year awards on two  occasions, has been nominated and inducted   into the prestigious AAU Karate Hall of Fame  and has won the Presidential Leadership Award  from the Amateur Athletic Union for all sports.  He has coached eight world championship teams  for the WKO/USA (World Karate  Organization) and the WKC/USA (World  Karate Confederation).    He is the loving father of five children as well  as a father figure and role model to hundreds of  children and adults.                       Sensei's Bio

OTHER INSTRUCTORS
John Thomas Jeanne Barciszewski Pete Nenni Mike Butkus Stephanie Hayashi	Ryan Bruess Matt Cox Gail Kalinsky Kelly Buchweitz Sam Deem