
Photo: The Boyd Family at the Okinawa Karate Kaikan in 2019.
Our Story
Formerly, Ash's Okinawan Karate, we have entered a new chapter for the Karate School. Owners, Aaron & Erin Boyd, have proudly taken on the journey of continuing to offer professional, affordable karate instruction to the Bozeman area.
Our family of 7 can speak individually to the many benefits that karate has afforded to ourselves. We would love to share our passion of this sport with you as well.
Isshin-Ryu, a traditional form of Okinawan Karate, is known for natural stances, realistic street fighting techniques, and quick un-telegraphed movements. Proficiency with both punching and kicking is emphasized as well as elbow and knee strikes.
Bozeman Karate is a club member of the United Isshin-Ryu Karate Association, the Ryu Kyu Kobudo Tessinkan and of the USA National Karate Federation, which is one of the largest, non-profit, volunteer, sports organizations in the United States. The USANKF is the organization that will be taking Karate to the Olympics in 2020.
Bozeman Karate offers classes to students ages 4 and up. There are ten under black belt rank levels. Our program allows for each individual to excel at his/her own pace within a non-competitive format. Karate is an individual endeavor! Initially, you will learn a basic foundation of karate techniques on which to build. Fundamentals of actual street and sport karate are later incorporated into the students' training as well as the Isshinryu katas. All classes include stretching and calisthenics. Bozeman Karate is a Black Belt School. We are committed to assisting our students in achieving the level of black belt and a level of personal excellence!
Bozeman Karate offers competition training and coaching. Our students have competed in open style tournaments within the state and USA NKF tournaments in other states, regions, and nationally with much success. All students have the opportunity to compete, but it is strictly optional.
We work hard everyday to live up to our Mission Statement:
Bozeman Karate's Mission Statement: To instill confidence, courtesy, and respect while building mental and physical strength, self discipline, balance, focus, endurance, and perseverance in students so that they may empower themselves to overcome physical and mental obstacles, build character and unify mind, body and spirit.
Instructors - Sensei

Aaron Boyd
Owner & Chief Instructor
Biography
Aaron Sensei began martial arts training in 1986 in Hendersonville, Tennessee...

Brian Ash
Founder
Biography
Brian Sensei began training in the martial arts in 1981 in Toledo, Ohio...

Lisa Ash
Co-Founder
Biography
Lisa Sensei began her training in Isshinryu Karate in 1990 at Ingram’s Professional Karate...

Brian Menkhaus
Sensei
Biography
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Charissa Crayton
Sensei
Biography
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Brett Walker
Sensei
Biography
Brett Sensei was born in Bozeman. He is currently a professor of East Asian history at Montana State University...

Hannah Boyd
Sensei
Biography
Sensei Hannah started Karate at the age of 9 ...

Isaac Boyd
Sensei
Biography
Sensei Isaac started karate at the age of 7 at Ash's Okinawan Karate...

Al Parker
Sensei
Biography
Sensei Al was introduced to karate in High School in Massachusetts where he learned the fundamentals of Shaolin Kempo Karate...

Mark Hernandez
Sensei
Biography

Piper Marcella
Sensei
Biography
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Paige Marcella
Sensei
Biography
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Warren Boling
Sensei
Biography
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Ryan Schooley
Sensei
Biography
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Instructors - Sempai

Daniel DeLoach
Sempai
Biography
Sempai Daniel started Karate in 2014. It was a gift from his wife as it was something he had always wanted to do! Sempai Daniel grew up in Florida and has lived in Bozeman since 2007...

Colton Krum
Sempai
Biography
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Kimi Monforton
Sempai
Biography
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Ethan Monforton
Sempai
Biography
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Marcus Howlett
Sempai
Biography
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Connery Ritter
Sempai
Biography
Connery Sempei lives in Bozeman and started his karate training in 2011...

August Blunck
Sempai
Biography
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Deacon Toavs
Sempai
Biography
Start today...
We offer a complimentary class to each prospective student. Contact us today to schedule.