Defense Arts Center — Upland

TY APONTE

Shihan

Sensei Ty Aponte began his Martial Arts training (Shotokan karate) in New York City (1970-74) under Sensei Hector Martinez (8th dan). In 1974 Ty moved to California and began training in Shorin Ryu karate under Shihan Dean Pickard (5th dan) and received his 1st degree black belt (1976) and all preceding Shorin dan ranks. In 1977 Ty opened the Defense Arts Center (Upland, [original] Monte Vista dojo). Upon Professor Pickard's retirement in 1994, Mr. Aponte was handed down the reigns of the organization (bestowed the title of Shihan) and awarded the USKL Shorin rank of 5th degree black belt.

In 1994, Ty made the decision to shift the core foundation of his training and instruction from a Shorin based style to a more internationally recognized Shotokan style. Sensei Ty sought out the very best and trained with the Late Venerable Shotokan Master Heditaka Nishiyama, (9th Dan) from 1995 until his passing in 2008.

Sensei Ty is the chief instructor at the United States Karate League/Defense Arts Center Dojo in Upland (under the proprietorship of Sensei James K. Augur) and in addition heads the Claremont Colleges and The University of La Verne (Physical Education) Shotokan Karate Programs. Considering himself a perpetual student and having nothing less than a passion for learning, teaching and training in the martial arts, Sensei Aponte has, in over 35 years of training, broadened his scope with Black belt rankings in: Okinawan Tanzenbukan Goju-Ryu karate (2nd. deg.) & Okinawan Kobudo (weaponry 3rd deg.) - both under Kyoshi Anthony Marquez-8th dan. Sensei Aponte also has had extensive training in Motubu-Ha Shito-Ryu under Sensei Bayani Adlawan-6th dan, Judo & Jujitsu w/Sensei Gary Goltz-6th dan, Escrima and JKD (Bruce Lees Jeet Kune Do) under senior JKD instructors: Tim Tackett and Ernie Franco.

Sensei Aponte has competed extensively and has been the recipient of many awards, including a small string of full-contact victories in 1975-77. Sensei Aponte is one of the few to take First Place in Kata (1985) at the highly competitive Ozawa International Tournament in Las Vegas, Nevada, prevailing over 75 other Black belts.

In the summer of '95 Ty traveled with Kyoshi Marquez and company to Okinawa to train under some of Okinawa's legendary kobudo and karate masters, and compete in Okinawa's pre-World tournament. (Ty later took a solo detour to train in Japan).

In 2005 Sensei Aponte won a fellowship through the Claremont Colleges; Avery China Adventure Program to study the Foster Care system in China. While there he engaged himself with various volunteer groups (China Care orphanages and Habitat For Humanity-China). During his three-month stay, Ty did plenty of sightseeing - traveling to five different provinces. The highlight of his trip came when he spent three intensive and austere weeks training in Gung-Fu at the Shaolin Temple in Henan province under the guidance of Sifu Ha.

In addition to the above named masters, Sensei Aponte admires and credits the following individuals with having helped shape and inspire his martial arts ability and with whom he has had the pleasure of calling friends for the many years: Sensei Marvin Wolf (5th dan, ASKD), John Santiago 6th Deg. BB, Moo Duk Kwan-Tae Kwan Do, Sensei Steve Fisher (6th dan), 1970's/80's open tournament kata/kumite champion), Shihan Tom Serrano (6th dan Gosoku Ryu), Sensei Ray Dalke (8th Dan), Sensei Penny Ringwood (6th dan, International Traditional kata champion), Sensei David Blair (7th Dan), Sensei's Mike Whiteside and James V. Doiron (5th/4th dans, senior instructors/members USKL), and Sensei Ron Vance (5th dan, ITKF central dojo).

Mr. Aponte has over the years and continues his martial art studies through self study and attending seminars and taking training classes whenever possible with some of the best martial artists, and Shotokan instructors in the world. Sensei Aponte incorporates his years of training and experience into his classes. He emphasizes tradition, while remaining creative (devising new methods of training for his students), open-minded, and progressive.

Aside from the warm USKL dojo family, Sensei Aponte is joined by his lovely wife Lynn Aponte, herself an instructor and 4th Degree Black Belt, and their two children, Kieran and Keelan Aponte, both of whom are brown belts and have been successful athletes, as well as honor roll students, displaying excellent citizenship in and out of school.

Ty can be reached by e-mail at Ty_Aponte@uskl.org