SHIHAN AMADOU NIANG Chief Instructor, 7th Degree Black Belt

Shihan Amadou started learning Shotokan Karate in Bamako Mali in 1976. His first instructor was one of the pioneers of Malian karate, Sensei Boubacar Bagayoko, who was a student of Kase Sensei and Enoeda Sensei (both Japanese instructors and direct students of Funakoshi Sensei, the founder of modern karate-do). However, it was under another pioneer of Malian karate (Sensei Abdoul Wahab Traore, 7th Dan, known as Sensei Bob) that Sensei Amadou Niang did most of his training in Mali.

In 2007, Shihan Amadou Niang joined Hanshi Cyrus Madani's organization (International MartialArts Association - IMA). Under the guidance of Hanshi Madani (8th Dan Shotokan), Mr. Niang trained and re-certified for the Sandan that Northern Arizona Martial Arts Association had granted him in 2001. He also obtained his US National Kumite Referee license in Louisville, Colorado under the guidance of Hanshi's wife, Sensei Fariba Madani (WKF Referee and member of the World Karate Federation Referee Council).

In 2010 while Shihan Amadou Niang was diligently working on his Yondan recertification under IMA guidelines, he had the great honor and privilege of being elevated to the rank of 5th degree back belt by his country (Mali)'s Department of Sport and the Malian National Karate Federation in recognition of more than 30 years of training, teaching, and services he dedicated to karate in Mali and in the United States of America.

Over his 34-year tenure as karate student and instructor, Shihan Amadou Niang has attended seminars and camps by many respected experts of karate-do including: Taiji Kase, Guy Chauvin, Masayuki Hisataka, Shojiro Koyama, Hirokazu Kanazawa, Masafumi Shiomitsu, Fumuo Demura, and WKF 1980's kumite legend Goeffrey Thompson (five times world champion).

We teach traditional Japanese Shotokan karate based on the philosophies of the founder of Shotokan karate-do, Gichin Funakoshi. Our students learn in a safe and fun environment, and are taught traditional karate with the use of basics (kihon), forms (kata), and sparring (kumite). They participate in karate competitions, from local to national to international, and achieve great success.

Local karate tournaments have been held in: West Valley City, UT, Sandy, UT, Cottonwood, UT, Park City, UT, Salt Lake City, UT,

National and international karate tournaments include: USA Open Karate Championships, Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada; USA National Championship and Team Qualifiers, Reno, Nevada; IMA Annual Championship in Utah, Northwest Recreation Center, Salt Lake City, Utah; Intermountain Karate Championship, Park City, Utah; IMA Rocky Mountain Karate Championship, Louisville, Colorado; IMA North Fork Karate Championship, Grand Junction, Colorado; Colorado State Championship, Eagle, Colorado.

Karate training and karate competition classes are offered throughout the Salt Lake Valley, Utah, serving: Sugar House (Sugarhouse), Millcreek, East Millcreek, Canyon Rim, Cottonwood, Cottonwood West, Cottonwood Heights, Indian Hills, Emigration Canyon, Parleys Canyon, Glendale, The Avenues, Downtown Salt Lake, Murray, Holladay, West Valley, Salt Lake Valley, Harvard-Yale, Yalecrest, Liberty Park, Mt. Olympus, 9th & 9th, 15th & 15th, University of Utah, Sandy, Draper, East Bench.