The following information was provided by Mr. Dave Burt, retired head instructor of Texas Kobukan:

What is now the Texas Kobukan began back in 1984 as the Way of the Peaceful Warrior School, when Dave Burt left the AKBBA (American Karate Black Belt Association) to continue training with his Instructor, Bob Click, at a local dance studio in Duncanville, Texas. Soon after his leaving the Association, Mr. Click retired altogether from Tae Kwon Do. Only a Brown Belt at the time, Mr. Burt inherited his two eight year old students. Slowly, the school grew with as many as 15 students attending regularly.

It was at the former school that Mr. Burt met a guest instructor, Mr. Godsil. Teaching there only a few times, Mr. Burt was impressed with Mr. Godsil’s teaching, knowledge and ability. Mr. Godsil’s top student was Troy Amason. Before long, the three had struck up a close friendship and began training almost every day together. Mr. Godsil was a Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do, but he was currently training in Shuri Ryu, an Okinawan system under the direction of Master Robert Trias.

For two years Mr.Burt trained on his own in Tae Kwon Do when Mr. Godsil moved back to his hometown in Gailsburg, IL. Mr. Godsil arranged for Mr. Burt to have his Kata reviewed in Texas by 7th Degree Master, Tim Tieyah, the teacher of Allen Stein, the founder of the Texas Karate schools. Mr. Tieyah approved his kata and gave permission for Mr. Burt to test for his Black Belt. For the past two years, Mr. Burt had honed his fighting skills by inviting himself to area martial art schools and fighting all takers. By combining the principles of Tae Kwon Do and Shuri Ryu, Mr. Burt more often than not, turned out to be the superior fighter, defeating 4th Degree Black Belts and tournament champions. When Mr. Burt felt he was ready, he flew to Illinois and on the 16th day of July, 1986, received his Black Belt certificate, sanctioned by Tim Tieyah, the director of the Southwest Karate Black Belt Association. Upon his return, Mr. Tieyah presented Mr. Burt not only with his patch, but also an Instructor’s patch, one of only five, (at the time) Mr. Tieayh had ever handed out. This was a great honor for Mr. Burt, but his heart now belonged to Okinawa. In the meantime, Mr. Godsil and Mr. Amason had left Shuri Ryu in favor of another Okinawan system, Matsumura Kenpo. Mr. Burt soon followed and both Texas schools were soon training together in the same system, for the first time. Sometimes Mr. Amason’s School would train at the dance studio and sometimes Mr. Burt’s students went to the elementary school gym down the road. This continued for a few years until the rent got too high at the dance studio. Mr. Amason invited Mr. Burt’s school to permanently train with them. Though under one roof, the two schools retained separate instruction, for the most part, with Instructors switching off in their areas of expertise. This worked very well for several years. It was during this time, that Mr. Burt accredits much of his learning Matsumura Kata to Mr. Amason. In 1988, both attained their Shodan, signed by Master Yuichi Kuda. Mr. Burt then named his school the Matsumura Budo-Kai. Upon receiving his Directorship in 2001, the school’s name was again changed to the Texas Kobukan.

Due to an unforeseen neck injury, Mr. Amason was forced to retire from Karate. Mr. Burt was a 3^rd Degree Black in Matsumura Kenpo when Mr. Amason’s top student inherited his school. Unfortunately, the new arrangement did not go as smoothly and Mr. Burt was forced to remove his school and students to a new location. The school met at a local church for several months, and then moved to its current location in DeSoto, Texas where the Texas Kobukan remains today.

After eighteen grateful years, Mr. Burt retired from the Okinawan Shorin Ryu Matsumura Karate and Kobudo Association in 2004 as a 6^th Degree Black Belt, Regional Director, having attained the honor of Renshi and his Kyoshi license. He is honored to have as his former students Mr. Bob Finley and Mr. Jecku Jacob, the instructors of the Texas Kobukan. They superbly exemplify Karatedo.