Our Instructors
Steve Banchick - 9th Degree Black Belt - Hanshi
Senior Advisor
Master Instructor - Shihan
Steve Banchick, the director of programming, is a 9th degree black belt (master instructor) in Uechi Ryu Karate and a Massachusetts state certified physical education teacher. Steve has been crafting his art since 1970 with training in both the U.S. and Okinawa. He was awarded the coveted Shihan Master Instructor's Certificate from the Okinawan test board. As a certified Uechi Ryu instructor and a well-known self-defense instructor, Steve has helped many children and adults grow mentally and physically through the programs at OKC for over 45 years.
Andre Tippett - 7th Dan - Kyoshi
Master Instructor - Shihan
Advisor / Senior instructor Advanced Ranks
Traditional Okinawan Weapons Instruction
Andre Tippett was an All-American defensive end, a 3-year letterman at the University of Iowa, and was also a 2 time All Big Ten Selection.
Andre was drafted by the New England Patriots in the 2nd round of the 1982 NFL Draft. He played 11 seasons in the NFL for the Patriots, was in 5 Pro Bowls and
entered the NFL Hall of Fame in 2008.
Andre has also studied martial arts for over 5 decades and holds a 7th degree black belt in Uechi-Ryu Karate and is certified under the Okinawa Karate-Do Association based in Okinawa. He also holds black belts in other disciplines, including Yamanni-Chinen Ryu (traditional Okinawan weapons).
Evan Dumas - 5th Degree Black Belt - Hanshi
Head Instructor
Master Instructor - Shihan
Evan Dumas, Head Instructor at the OKC, is a 5th degree black belt in Uechi Ryu Karate and a certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt process improvement specialist. Evan has been has been training with the OKC since 1985 - under the watchful eye of senseis Steve Banchick and Andre Tippett - in both Uechi-Ryu Karate and Yamanni-Chinen Ryu Kobudo (traditional okinawan weapons). He was also awarded the coveted Shihan Master Instructor's Certificate from the Okinawan test board. Evan has participated in numerous seminars and classes instructed by Okinawan masters in both traditional open-hand and weapons curriculums.