Gulf Coast Karate Dojo

Specialties

WELCOME to the Gulf Coast Martial Arts (GCMA) dojo!

At the Gulf Coast Karate Dojo (a family-​oriented traditional Okinawan karate school), on Tuesday and Thursday nights, we practice/​teach a traditional style (Shorin Ryu) of Karate founded on the small Japanese island of Okinawa, and accordingly we try our very best to promote and preserve the true essence/​spirit of karate-​do (karate-​jitsu) and its Okinawan heritage.

We also practice/​teach Brazilian Jiu-​Jitsu under ‘Coach’ Alonzo Mayers and Tae Kwon Do under Sabumnim Richard Santiago on Monday and Wednesday nights as well.

We accept students from 6 years of age and sometimes younger (in fact, why not come along with your children and train right there alongside them).

We all know the hardest step is often the first one, i.e., visiting a new dojo and/​or deciding to try something new, but rest assured, we were all beginners once, so why not make that important first step with us here at the Gulf Coast Martial Arts dojo!

History

Established in 2010.

After teaching for my Sensei (Shihan Frank Williams) at his dojo back in Havelock NC, I started teaching a martial arts class in 2010 at the NCBC fitness center in Gulfport, and then opened a dojo in Biloxi in 2011.

The pages contained within our dojo website (www​.gulf​coastkarate​dojo​.com) will provide you with information about the style of karate we practice, what to expect when you start your training, our instructors, history and much more.

Thank you for your time and interest, and I sincerely look forward to training with you in the future!

Bowing…sincerely and respectfully,

Kevin R. Bonner

Sensei, Gulf Coast Karate Dojo

Meet the Business Owner

Kevin R.

Business Owner

Sensei Kevin Bonner

Martial Arts background:

After studying various forms of martial arts throughout my life, including 20 years in the Marine Corps, I began studying Shorin Ryu karate under Shihan Frank Williams in Havelock NC during 2002. I taught Shorin Ryu karate as an instructor for Shihan Williams at his Havelock dojo since 2005, and from 2007 – 2010, I was his Havelock dojo’s chief instructor/​manager.

2005 — NC State Champion (empty hand kata and kobudo) — Gold Medal

2005 — AMAA National Grand Champion (kata, kobudo, and kumite)/Hall of Fame Inductee for Competitor of the Year

2007 — FKC ‘Leadership’ award

2009 — UMAA ‘Instructor of the Year’ award

2012 — AMA ‘Excellence in Teaching Martial Arts’ award

Currently serves as the UMAA State Director for MS

Black Belts in:

* Sandan (Shorin Ryu Karate) — 2010

* Nidan (Shorin Ryu Karate) — 2008

* Shodan (Shorin Ryu Karate) — 2007