Sensei Marty Schrager |
Regional Director
Assistant Instructor |
Sensei Marty Schrager began studying karate in 1993 as an undergrad with the Ohio University Shotokan Club in Athens, Ohio under Sensei Howard Beebe. He earned his Shodan in 1997 under Sensei Greer Golden while completing his Master of Arts in Sociology.
After returning to his hometown, Cincinnati, Ohio, he began his study with Sensei James Oberschlake, our Chief Instructor at Brown County Shotokan Karate. He made the hour-long trek to Brown County almost every day for over 10 years, absorbing everything he could. Sensei Oberschlake had what he wanted and he was determined to work hard to get it.
In 2007 after starting a family with his wife, Kathy, finding it more and more difficult to make the trip to Brown County he approached Sensei Oberschlake with the idea of starting a club near his home in Wyoming, Ohio. In 2010 he founded Ohio Valley Karate where he is currently the Chief Instructor.
Over the years, Sensei has been fortunate to train under many instructors with some regularity, each offering a unique perspective and giving him a well-rounded foundation in karate. In addition to Sensei Oberschlake, he has studied with Sensei Martin Vaughan, Sensei Greer Golden, Sensei Jerry Baker, Sensei Jim List, Sensei Maynard Miner, Sensei James Field, Sensei Yakuta Yaguchi, Sensei David Jones, and of course, Shihan Okazaki. All these instructors had a profound influence on his life.
He credits his success to the tutelage of Sensei Vaughan and Sensei Oberschlake and their extraordinary gift for teaching. One of his favorite things to do is quote Sensei Oberschlake when teaching - “Karate is better than you” and “The journey is the destination” being two of his favorites.
After many years of competing with mixed results, through consistent training, coaching, and encouragement from Sensei Oberschlake and Sensei Vaughan, he began to see success. He was selected as a member of the ISKF US Men’s team in 2016, 2017, and 2018, competing nationally and internationally. As a competitor in the Senior Division in 2022, he was US National Champion in Kata, runner up in kumite, and International runner up in both events.
Sensei Schrager has earned the rank of Roku dan (6th Degree Black Belt). He is a licensed ISKF instructor and Judge. He is currently the Director and Assistant Chief Instructor of the Mid-America Karate Region.
After returning to his hometown, Cincinnati, Ohio, he began his study with Sensei James Oberschlake, our Chief Instructor at Brown County Shotokan Karate. He made the hour-long trek to Brown County almost every day for over 10 years, absorbing everything he could. Sensei Oberschlake had what he wanted and he was determined to work hard to get it.
In 2007 after starting a family with his wife, Kathy, finding it more and more difficult to make the trip to Brown County he approached Sensei Oberschlake with the idea of starting a club near his home in Wyoming, Ohio. In 2010 he founded Ohio Valley Karate where he is currently the Chief Instructor.
Over the years, Sensei has been fortunate to train under many instructors with some regularity, each offering a unique perspective and giving him a well-rounded foundation in karate. In addition to Sensei Oberschlake, he has studied with Sensei Martin Vaughan, Sensei Greer Golden, Sensei Jerry Baker, Sensei Jim List, Sensei Maynard Miner, Sensei James Field, Sensei Yakuta Yaguchi, Sensei David Jones, and of course, Shihan Okazaki. All these instructors had a profound influence on his life.
He credits his success to the tutelage of Sensei Vaughan and Sensei Oberschlake and their extraordinary gift for teaching. One of his favorite things to do is quote Sensei Oberschlake when teaching - “Karate is better than you” and “The journey is the destination” being two of his favorites.
After many years of competing with mixed results, through consistent training, coaching, and encouragement from Sensei Oberschlake and Sensei Vaughan, he began to see success. He was selected as a member of the ISKF US Men’s team in 2016, 2017, and 2018, competing nationally and internationally. As a competitor in the Senior Division in 2022, he was US National Champion in Kata, runner up in kumite, and International runner up in both events.
Sensei Schrager has earned the rank of Roku dan (6th Degree Black Belt). He is a licensed ISKF instructor and Judge. He is currently the Director and Assistant Chief Instructor of the Mid-America Karate Region.