Our Instructors & Staff Members
Our Instructors have spent many years devoted to training in the art of Karate and other martial arts and have attained a certain level of expertise to qualify them as teachers and also mentors.
Through extensive testing, certification and tournament level competition, our staff has attained mastery in this martial art and now enjoy sharing their skill and passing it on to their students.
Here are a few of American Tigers Karate Dojo's instructors and other staff members, starting with Armando Colbourne:
Armando Colbourne (Kyoshi 8th Dan) 
Sensei Colbourne began his Martial Arts training in Brooklyn NY in 1969 under Hanshi Wiliam Louie USA Goju. He is a Master inTelecommunications with 29 years of professional experience. He is Married, father of 5, grandfather of 10. Started teaching Martial Arts in 1975, while in the United States Air Force. It will take a book to describe his accomplishments in Karate. In his own Words "Teaching is an Art, show me the students and I will show you the Teacher." Sensei Colbourne has an extensive track record of students he has guided from Elementary school to College graduation, from their first job to a lifetime carreer, from dating to marriage, from low self esteem to succesfully running a business, in some cases he has instructed the entire family and in others one student impacted the lives of an entire community. Seen is believing what a performance in Martial Arts instruction check him out.Sensei Colbourne rankings: 8th Dan USA Goju, 1st Dan Tae kwon Do.
Accomplishments: 1993 Grand Champion sparring International Karate Championships. 1994 First place sparring and forms TaekwodoChampionships. 1995 Grand Champion sparring and forms World Karate Championships. 1997 Center Judge National Karate and Kung fu Olympic games; He also join The United Senseis Of America Gojuryu Association (U.S.A.G.A) and became personal student of Grand Master Peter Urban, Charter #291. In the year 2004 promoted to 7th Dan by Hanshi Sinclair Thorne. 2005 selected as the senior Master for the Pan-American Goju style of Play. He is also a member of the Society of Harmonious Fists. "Karate is an Art, is the Art of living without fighting. Your Martial Arts knowledge is the vehicle to make you a noble person, one that is capable of displaying love, kindness, honor, respect and living life to the fullest. Your fighting skills are strickly reserved for the Defense of Self, Family, Country, Church and Dojo."
- Armando Colbourne
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Winnie Colbourne (Madame Sensei Sandan)
Madame Sensei
Winnie Colbourne began her Karate training in 1983 in USA Goju. She has a Masters in Education specializing in english for speakers of other languages, with 15 years of professional experience. Voted teacher of the year in 2002 at the elementary school. Winnie serves as the liason between Martial arts excellence and
superior academic achievement. Together with her husband they provide one of the best Martial Arts programs in the world, focusing on the entire individual needs of their students. "Many
like the Martial Science, we deliver it, others like the Martial Arts we teach it but we give you more "the ability to find your self."
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Armando Colbourne Jr. (Renshi 5th Dan)
Assistant Instructor Armando Colbourne Jr. started his Martial Arts career at the age of four in 1991 under the teachings of Sensei Cuthbertson, Kokami in the style of Shuri-Goju. Later that year he started Tae kwon do under the teachings of Kevin Chow and Arnold Maynard. Armando received his black belt in Tae kwon
do on November 5, 1994 at the age of 7. Armando
received his black belt in U.S.A Goju at the age of 13 on December 9, 2000. He went to Hinesville, Georgia and was tested by Hanshi Sinclair Thorne for his black belt. He is now 23 years old The Youngest Yodan in USA Goju History. He holds a 4th degree black belt in U.S.A Goju. He has competed in over 100 tournaments and has won over 300 first place trophies. He won The National Karate and Kung Fu Olympics in 1997 and the International Martial Arts Championship in 2003. He is a former member of the National Honors society, 5000 role Models and the starting point guard for the High school basketball team. He is the branch Manager for the Young Lion Dojo, Has a Bachelors from The University of Florida and studying in Graduate School majoring in Business Administration with a minor in Computer Science. He has endured despite many old school thinking and under handed plans to defeat him. GOD'S IN CONTROL.
"I know how important it is to value knowledge. Education is the key to accomplishment. Why run when you can walk?, Why fight when you can avoid it?, Take advantage of the knowledge and better your self."
- Armando Colbourne Jr.
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Desmond Diaz (Renshi 5th Dan)
Desmond Diaz Karate name Lone Wolf. Renshi 4th Dan U.S.A Goju Ryu featured on TV extreme Martial Arts performing Urban Kururunfa. Has Competed nationally and internationally. Selected as competitor of the year in 2004.
Desmond is the branch manager of the Lone wolf dojo. Won the sparring wars in 2005.He Is Nationally Certified and Licenced Orthopedic Massage Therapist and Certified Personal Fitness Trainer. Visit his School Site: Here
"" A close Minded fist will never hold what is shown to open hands""
- Desmond Diaz
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Kevin Bellamy (Renshi 4th Dan)
Kevin is an old school traditionalist who has had the honor of training with south Florida best instructors John Seagers in Okinawan Shu Ryu, Khokami Cutberson in Shuri Gojuryu, Kevin Chow in Tae kwon Do and Armando Colbourne in USA Goju. He has a Masters in Business Administration and he has been instrumental in the incredible growth of The American Tigers Karate Dojo. Sandan Kevin is employed by the Broward County School Board and he is the proud father of two beautiful daughters, Kiarra and kayla. He is the recipient of the 2009 Pan-American Goju Ryu Instructor of the Year Award.
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Leon Mark Taylor (Prize Fighter- Renshi (4th Dan))
Mark is a survivor, training in karate since age 5 with Sensei Colbourne. He serves as an Instructor in the Headquarters Dojo. He is a 3rd Dan in U.S.A Goju. Sandan Mark Karate name is Prize Fighter Black Lion due to his fly like a butterfly moves and the superior ability to sting like a bee. He is rated number one in full contact fighting by the world fighting federation.
""You Know What To Do""
- Leon Mark Taylor
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Katrina Colbourne (Shodan 1st Dan)
Katrina is a 1st dan in USA Goju with an extensive winning record in tournament competition that spans for over a decade. She is a graduate from the school of advanced studies, and preparing to enter Medical School in the fall 2010.
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Karl Brown (Nidan)
Karl Brown has numerous credentials and accomplishments. We will be updating this section shortly to detail them.
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For more information about the American Tigers Karate Dojo staff or training programs, please contact us at 954-985-5523 or by
clicking here.
