Sensei Bill Gibbs: send an email

Sensei Gibbs began training at the age of 39. At that time he was a B ranked Squash player looking for a good cross training activity. His son, Jay, was just beginning Isshinryu Karate, and he realized what a rounded set of skills it employed. In October of 1996 he walked onto the deck at a local Isshinryu school for the first time, and has never looked back.

His training took the same route through the belts that any younger student would take, with a fairly successful tournament record on the way. On December 6th 1999, he tested for, and earned his Shodan.

His training continued, and the tournament circuit got tougher, but still Sensei Gibbs always had time to assist in the instruction of other students. In fact, many of these students have gone on to achieve great things in Martial Arts, competition and education.

After several years of more advanced studies, Sensei Gibbs was promoted to Sandan on Sept. 28, 2003.

When Master Al Panazzola opened his dojo in September of 2005, Sensei Gibbs realized what an opportunity this was, and contacted him to request to be accepted as a student. After a few months of observation and instruction, he was accepted as a student at Karate Rocks Family Martial Arts where he continues to advance his knowledge of Isshinryu.

Sensei Gibbs is very involved in Auto Racing having held a Sports Car Club of America National Flagging License, and an IndyCar World Series Observer's License. He travelled internationally with Indycar assisting in the safe execution of their events in Detroit, Toronto, Vancouver, Mid Ohio, Michigan Int'l Speedway, Monterrey Mexico as well as others. From 1986 to 1988 he served as Chief of Flagging and Communications at Waterford Hills Road Racing in Waterford, Michigan, where he still attends races a few times every year.

Sensei Gibbs continues to enjoy instructing other students, and particularly enjoys bringing Isshinryu to older students. Come on out, and discover what he learned...

It's never too late to start a life-changing activity.

Sensei Guy Hewson: send an email

In his almost three decades of study of Isshinryu Karate, Sensei Hewson has had the good fortune to have trained with and been instructed by, some of the finest Martial Artists in the area. He began his studies at one of the Isshinryu Schools in Windsor where he met and trained with instructor, Sensei Al Panazzola. During this period, he was an active tournament competitor, and won numerous trophies for Sparring, Kata and Weapons. Although he excelled in all disciplines, his passion has always been sparring.

In July of 1990, Sensei Hewson was awarded his Shodan, with his Kabudo Shodan in July 1993.In July 1993 he earned his Nidan, and his Sandan in 1996. He obtained his current rank of Yondan in June of 2004 from Sensei Summerfield and Master Mady.

He was Senior Instructor with Sensei Robert Atherton at the Belle River Dojo, and co-instructor in the LaSalle Dojo with Sensei Ted Summerfield. He has also recently been one of the instructors at Mady's Isshinryu Karate.

Sensei Hewson has attended seminars with some of the greatest Martial Artists alive including Joe Lewis, Nick Adler, Angi Uezu, Grandmaster Remy Presas, Bill "Superfoot" Wallace, Arcenio Advincula, Billy Blanks, Benny the Jet Urquidez, and Steve "Nasty" Anderson.

He was awarded outstanding Black Belt Instructor of the year in 1992, and Black Belt of the year in 2004 and 2006.

Sensei Hewson believes his greatest achievement to date has been being asked to attend and instruct at Karate Rocks Family Martial Arts by his friend and brother in Martial Arts, Master Panazzola. While he has been asked to instruct at a few schools in Windsor, he chose Karate Rocks FMA because of their outstanding reputation as having the finest instruction in all facets of Isshinryu Karate.

Sensei Hewson is the first to admit that he still has room for improvement, and is grateful that Master Panazzola is working with him to achieve these goals.

Sensei Mary Martire

Sensei Mary has been studying Ishhinryu Karate for most of her life. She was an avid and successful competitor throughout her career. She was a private student of Master Al Panazzola and was his first choice to help when he opened Karate Rocks.

Sensei Mary was instrumental in the founding of Karate Rocks Family Martial Arts, and her love of Isshinryu and her passion for teaching is obvious when you watch her with students. Even while she was working on her teaching degree, she was at the school, instructing the students and continuing her own education, achieving her Sandan (3rd Degree Black Belt) from Master Al Panazzola.

Sensei Mary is currently realizing her dream of teaching, and has recently become engaged.

Karate Rocks Family Martial Arts, it's Staff and students, owe Sensei Mary Martire a debt of gratitude for helping to make Karate Rocks the school we are today.

Sempai Audrey Rae

Sempai Rae Began training in Martial Arts at the age of 19 while attending college to become a Sign Language Interpreter, with MacVickers Karate as a white belt in the Goju system (full contact sparring, traditional forms). She received her purple belt and stopped training when the school was relocated to Amherstburg.

Sempai Rae restarted Training in the Isshinryu system at a prominent Isshinryu school, under the expert tutelage of Sensei Al Panazzola. She quickly progressed through the ranks, and excelled in tournaments. She continued taking private lessons with Sensei Al Panazola for two years.

Sempai Rae came with Master Panazzola when he opened Karate Rocks Family Martial Arts, where she continued her studies as a Brown Belt where she became the first Karate Rocks Student to win the Triple Crown, 1st in Sparing, 1st in Forms, 1st in Weapons. In October of 2006, after three days of intense testing, she earned the rank of Shodan, first degree black belt. Three years later, in June of 2009, she was tested for, and was awarded the rank of Nidan, second degree black belt. Once again she performed a three day test of her knowlege in Isshinryu history, self defence, ground fighting, weapons, kata's and kumite.

From the time she started martial arts she has accomplished many things... Graduate Sign language interpreter, 2 year program Social Work, Business degree Marketing, Got Married and had three girls, now ages 8 - Alyssa, 5 - Alana, 4 Alexis.

She is currently working towards her third degree black belt, assisting teaching the little rocks and kids classes. Her three daughters also attend Karate Rocks FMA; Alyssa, 9 is a Green Belt, Alana, 6 is an Orange Belt, and Alexis a Yellow Belt. All with the support of her husband who helps to make this all possible... Soon instead of them watching her in tournaments she will be a proud mom watching them follow in her foot steps, knowing that they have had a fun, safe place to learn grow and practise thier karate skills at Karate Rocks FMA. Growing and Learning every day!

Sempai Sean LaBute RRT, BAS

Sempai LaBute started training at age 17 in 1989 in full contact karate with the Academy of Isshinryu where he trained in full contact karate for self-defense in the young adult social circle.

Mr. LaBute was a successful competitor in full contact circuits in Canada and USA and progressed through the ranks and was promoted to Shodan (first degree black belt) in 1995.

He continued to train full contact until he started training in 1998 to pursue a sport karate ranking where he developed and excellent record on the Sport Circuit.

During this time he trained with Sensei Al Panazzola and was impressed with his talent and impeccable record as a martial artist. At the same time, Mr. LaBute trained in MMA under Master Norm Rivard for a short period.

After a considerable educational and family hiatus Mr. LaBute was looking to start his daughters Brooklyn and Kennedy LaBute in Isshinryu as an excellent exercise, discipline, and self-defense activity. He was informed through other respected members of the martial arts community that Master Panazzola has started his own school.

Without any hesitation, and with respect for Master Panazzola's extensive skills decided to return to training to pursue the further development of his martial arts career. His entire family including his wife Lorie LaBute now trains with Karate Rocks representing the true "Family Martial Arts" concept that was envisioned by Master Panazzola.

Over the last 2 years he has received his coaching certification in (2009) and in July 2010, was promoted to Nidan (2nd degree black belt).

Mr. LaBute has 16 years of medical training and experience and acts as the medical liaison to Karate Rocks Family Martial Arts for the safe practice of martial arts in the club.

Mr. LaBute has a Bachelor of Respiratory Science, and practices as a Registered Respiratory Therapist in all critical care areas at Windsor Regional Hospital. He holds a current medical license with the Province of Ontario in critical care medicine with specialties in adult ICU and is certified in all areas of advanced life support (Advanced Cardiac, Pediatric, and Neonatal Resuscitation)

He functions as a teaching resource for critical care medicine for Windsor Regional Hospital and the University of Windsor faculty of Nursing and Fanshawe College Respiratory Therapy Program.

Mr. LaBute additionally holds a personal training certification and over 20 years of physical fitness experience and has been cross-trained in traditional karate, open sport karate, full contact MMA, and boxing.

Mr. LaBute attributes much of his life's success to the discipline, structure, and positive reinforcement that karate instills. He continues to perfect his martial art skills while teateaching and mentoring aspiring martial artists young and old.

Sempai LaBute is currently involved in numerous Karate, and MMA circuits. Recently he named Sparring Champion in the Great Lakes Karate Circuit, that is an active Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Practitioner, and has recently participated in a small training camp at Extreme Couture, and has trained with World Jiu Jitsu champion Rodrigo Botti, both in Las Vegas, NV.

Sempai Bryanna Pocock

Sempai Bryanna began her Karate career after watching her younger brother train, so at the age of seven she started training with. Over the next several years, she earned a Brown Belt before taking a two-year break.

She joined Master Panazzola's Karate Rocks in 2005 when he opened, and after a couple of years of hard work, she became the first and youngest Shodan Ho (Jrunior Black Belt) ever promoted by Master Panazzola.

Sempai Bryanna became a fierce competitor on the AOKA and MSKC circuits winning many trophies along the way. In July of 2009, she tested for and was awarded her NiDan.

She has accomplished many things since being involved in martial arts; completed the Disney Half Marathon in 2010, won gold medals in both WECSSAA and SWOSSAA wrestling, which qualified her to OFSAA Wrestling the past three years, received awards from school sports, such as, most dedicated for basketball and most valuable for wrestling.

Sempai Bryanna currently Attends Karate Rocks FMA with her mother who recently earned her Shodan. She is currently is an essential part of the Karate Rocks Instruction team, focusing in particular on the Little rocks and Junior classes. Over the years she has enjoyed watching "her" students grow to be great Martial Artists and fine young people.

Sempai Bryanna doesn't just sit on her past accomplishments, she is actively training to test for her Sandan.