Kyoshi Paul Sookdar, a Fifth-Degree Black Belt and co-founder of the Kenshikai Karate Association, has been studying martial arts for over thirty years and teaching for over twenty. He began training at the age of six at Jerome Mackie’s school in New York City, and after two years moved to the Kyokushin school of Kaicho (Grandmaster) Tadashi Nakamura at 14th Street in Manhattan. Here, he first found his love of traditional Japanese style karate based upon the principles of discipline, self-respect, and courtesy. He went on to study for many years under the direct supervision of Kaicho Nakamura, Sensei Kishi, and legendary martial artist Shuseki- Shihan William Oliver. At the age of fifteen, Kyoshi Paul was the youngest person ever to be promoted to First-Degree Black Belt in Seido Karate, and at the age of seventeen he accepted his first teaching assignment at the Riverdale YMHA. For the next eight years, Kyoshi Paul continued to train consistently under Shuseki-Shihan Oliver. While maintaining a rigorous training and teaching schedule, Kyoshi Paul put himself through college, earning a B.S. in Computer Science from Long Island University. Under his leadership, the program at the YMHA flourished, and he looked for an opportunity to open a wider array of classes to more students. He opened his Riverdale dojo in 1992, and continued his own intense training while teaching full time. Kyoshi Paul received his Fifth-Degree Black Belt in October 1999, and the thriving Riverdale dojo celebrated its fourteenth anniversary in 2006.

A national and international fighting champion whose trademark is his spinning hook kick, Kyoshi Paul entered his first World Oyama Knockdown Tournament in 1996, held in Connecticut. There, he won Second Place and realized his talent and passion for fighting. Returning to the World Oyama Knockdown Tournament, Kyoshi Paul took First Place four years in a row between 1998 and 2001, winning all his final fights by knockout. In 1998 he traveled to Italy for the World Seido Karate Benefit Tournament, where he won First Place. In 1999 he won First Place at the World Seido Benefit Tournament in New Zealand. In 1998, 1999, and 2000, Kyoshi Paul won the Sogo (first overall) Men’s Championship in the World Seido Benefit Tournament held in New York City, taking First Place in fighting each year. In 2000, at the 25th Anniversary World Open Kyokushin Knockdown Championship in Britain, Kyoshi Paul received the prestigious “Most Spirited Fighter” Award. Competing against participants from 26 countries in all styles, Kyoshi Paul was honored with the William Oliver Award for Technical Excellence at the World Tournament in Tokyo, Japan in April 2005. Winning the award named for Shuseki-Shihan William Oliver, his teacher since the age of eight, is Kyoshi Paul’s most meaningful and heartfelt victory.

A passionate advocate for the power of martial arts to instill the values of discipline and respect, as well as to foster patience, tolerance, and compassion, Kyoshi Paul has devoted his career to teaching both young and adult students. He is deeply committed to helping students of all levels improve themselves and grow physically, mentally, and spiritually through Kenshikai Karate. Kyoshi Paul is also deeply committed to supporting the community through yearly benefit tournaments and neighborhood clean-up events.

Outside of the dojo, Kyoshi Paul is an avid scuba diver and snowboarder. He also enjoys hiking and running, and completed his fifth New York City marathon in 2007.