Instructor Profile

Bud Shafer

8th Dan Yamashita Shorin-Ryu Karatedo

“Everything I am I owe to Master Yamashita.”

Bud Shafer began his training in 1957.  As a retired manager of Bellsouth, Sensei Shafer has found that the principles of martial arts gave him the strength to endure the daily routine and difficult relationships found in the work place and in his personal life.  No matter how difficult the adversity, he never gave up.  Sensei Shafer’s passion in life has been achieved through visits to Okinawa and mainland Japan.  He wishes he could have gone when he was younger.  As an instructor, he would like to see students adopt the bushido qualities of loyalty and self-sacrifice; Loyalty to your Sensei and to the principles of martial arts; Willingness to put others before yourself in all matters and practice moderation in everything.  Sensei Shafer practices these principles as a Red Cross disaster relief volunteer.  He is also a volunteer Master Gardener for the state of Florida.  The art of Bonsai has been a hobby for him and allows him to be one with nature.