| Karl Patz
Background/Special Achievements Karl A. Patz began his martial art career in 1999, training under Shifu Joel Timmons in the style of Chang Quan (Long Fist). A year later, he began studying Shotokan Karate under Sensei Cooper. He continued to take both styles of martial arts until 2001, when he traveled to Beijing, China and trained with the famous Beijing Wushu Team headed by Wu Bin (Jet Li’s original instructor). Two months after his return from China, he enlisted in the United States Air Force and was stationed at Shepard Air Force Base, Texas, where he began training in Muay Tai Kickboxing and Filipino Kali until he was transferred to Tinker AFB, Oklahoma in April 2002. From there he began training in Tae Kwon Do at Choctaw TKD Academy under David Cravins. He both trained and taught there until he transferred from active duty Air Force to the Air National Guard in 2004, returning him to his home of Jacksonville, Florida. He met up with Shifu Kam Lee (an associate of Karl’s original instructor, Joel Timmons) and began studying Wu Zu Quan and continues to do so to this day. "To me, martial arts have been like a buffet. I’ve been able to sample many different styles and have drawn from their own distinct strengths to help give me a real unique and interesting perspective on self defense." Currently, Karl is part of Shifu Lee’s Leadership program and is head instructor for the Young Lions children’s program (ages 10-12). Due to Karl’s military experience and extensive martial arts background, he believes a solid foundation and strong self-discipline are key to a successful martial arts career, and trains his students with that mentality. "My one goal as an instructor, especially a children’s instructor, is to train my students to be better martial artists than I am." |
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