Instructors

Shihan Sen (Senthil Thiyagarajan), Founder & Chief Instructor

Shihan Sen started karate in early 1980 in South India. He trained under Sensei Kalaimani and practicing karate for around 40 years. He is currently a 7th Degree (NANADAN) Black Belt in Shito-Ryu Karate-Do, USA Karate and WKF (World Karate Federation). He is the founder and chief instructor of Champion Karate Academy. He currently holds WKF KATA Judge A, WKF Kumite Referee A, USA-NKF National Referee in Kumite and Kata. He is the President and Referee Council member of Texas Sport Karate Federation and also a Technical Committee member of Shuko-Kai International. He is the head coach of CKA's elite competition team.

In 2005, he founded Champion Karate Academy and started teaching Karate in Irving soon after winning his first USA Nationals medal in Charlotte, NC. In 2007, he met and joined Sensei Kunio Miyake, president of Shuko-Kai International. Very soon he was accepted and appointed as a Technical Committee member of Shuko-Kai International by Sensei Kunio Miyake.

He had participated over 500 karate tournaments including nationals and various internationals and won so many titles. He won the India National Champion title for 10 years consecutively and a National record holder of winning 3 Gold and 2 Silver Medals in a national championship held at Bhopal, India in 2000.

He won a Gold Medal in Men Advanced Team Kata senior division in USA National Championship 2012, Florida, a Gold Medal in Master's Kata division in USA Open 2009, Silver medal in 2010 USA Open, an international karate championship held at Las Vegas, USA. He won more champion titles in Texas State and local championships.

He participated as an athlete in Various International Karate Championships which includes 19th World Karate-do Federation championship 2008 held in Japan, 6th World Cup 1997, Manila, Common Wealth Karate Championships 2008 in Scotland, Asian Karate Championships in Manila and Singapore. He won 2 silver medals in South Asian Federation Games, Nepal 1999.

He has traveled to Japan, France, Germany, Serbia, Scotland, London, Singapore, Hongkong, Malayasia, Nepal, Manila, across USA and India as an athlete, coach and Referee.

In 2004, he came to USA to work as a software engineer. He is currently working as a Product Specialist at JDA Software Group.

In 2006, he along with his family has been invited to Raj Bhavan by Dr. Abdul Kalam, ex-President and great Scientist of India as a token of honor for his martial arts achievements.

He has been nominated for "Arjuna Award" for 3 times in the sport of Karate. This award is the highest and prestigious award in India presented to the sports person by Indian Government.

He has a Bachelor Degree in Computer Science and Engineering from Chennai University, India. He played for his high school, college Cricket and Kabbadi sports team.

His passion and dedication towards karate-do, vast martial arts knowledge, experience, tournament achievements and special training skills helps him to produce more champions not only in karate competition but also in life.

Jun-Shihan Pon (Ponmalar Senthil), Co-Founder & Senior Instructor

Jun-Shihan Pon, a Black Belt 5th Degree, started karate in 1986 in South India. She trained under Sensei Kalaimani and practicing karate for around 30 years. She is the co-founder and a senior instructor of Champion Karate Academy. She is also coach of CKA's elite competition team. Currently she holds a Referee license in Kumite and Judge license in Kata from USA Karate.

She had participated over 300 karate tournaments including nationals and various internationals and won so many titles. She won the India National Champion title for 4 years and 10 Times state champion titles consecutively.

She has a Master degree in Sociology, a Bachelor degree in Physical Education and a Bachelor degree in Corporate & Secretaryship.

Other than karate-do, she was also a national player in the sport called "KABBADI".

Sensei Sai (Saisheren Senpon), Instructor

Sensei Sai, a Black Belt 3rd Degree, started karate in 2003, currently a USA Karate Jr. Team Athlete and Captain for Jr. Team USA. Studying kinesiology at UTA, Texas. Team CKA Coach.

2019 Senior Open Kumite Champion at USA Open, Las Vegas

2017 Jr. PKF Kumite Champion, Buenos Aires, Argentina

5 Times USA National Champion
6 Times US Open Champion
5 Times USA Junior International Cup Champion
2013 Common Wealth, Bronze Medalist
11 times Texas State Champion
2015 Pan American Shito-Ryu Champion, Miami, FL

Sensei Andres Madera, Instructor

Sensei Madera, an Olympian (Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games), a Team Venezuela elite Kumite athlete started karate in 1995, a Black Belt 3rd Degree. One of the top most Kumite athlete in World Karate Federation.

2019 Shangai WKF Karate 1 Premier League Gold Medalist

WKF Karate 1 Premier League Gold Medalist

2017 WKF Karate 1 Premier League Grand Champion

2016 WKF Kumite -67kg Bronze Medalist

Multi Times PKF Champion & Central American

10 Times Venezuela National Champion

Sensei Nabil Echchaabi, Instructor

Sensei Nabil, a Silver medalist in Youth Olympic Games, a Team Morocco elite Kumite athlete. One of the top most Kumite athlete in World Karate Federation.

2022 Birmingham World Games Silver Medalist

World Karate Federation -84kg Silver Medalist

WKF Karate 1 Premier League Silver and Bronze Medalist

African Games Silver Medalist

Multi Times Mediterranean Champion

Multi Times Morocco National Champion

Sensei Abdessalam Ameknassi, Instructor

Sensei Abdes, an elite Kumite athlete from Morocco and a top most Kumite athlete in World Karate Federation.

World Karate Federation -67kg Bronze Medalist

African Games Gold and Silver Medalist

Multi Times Mediterranean Champion

Multi Times African Karate Federation Champion

Multi Times Morocco National Champion