Instructors — Kobayashi Dojo | Cape Coral Karate

About our instructors

Bernard J. Dougherty, Established Kobayashi Dojo in Cape Coral 1986 and is the master instructor (Shihan).

Shihan Dougherty is a 45-year practitioner in the art of Hayashi-Ha Shito-Ryu Karate-Do. He currently holds the rank of Nana-dan (7th degree black belt) in International Hayashi-Ha Shito-Ryu Karate-Do Federation (IHSKF) and holds the rank of San-Dan (3rd degree black belt) in International Kenshin-Ryu Kobudo Association (IKKA) Okinawa Kobudo (weapons).

A 60-year resident of Lee County, Shihan Dougherty is very involved in the community in which he lives and is committed to providing quality teaching to students of all ages.

The City of Cape Coral Municipal Charter School System is one example of this involvement. As a founding volunteer board member of this system, he was fortunate to be able to guide and see the system through its formattable years to get to the thriving municipal K~12 system it is today and serving as its board chair for several years.

Shihan Dougherty has demonstrated the stamina, determination, and persistence worthy of his teaching status. Having trained extensively in the United States and Japan directly under Grand Master Teruo Hayashi and his top-ranked Japanese national and international coaches and competitors.

Yuki Yamada Dougherty is the administrator and instructor for Kobayashi Dojo. She has been training in Hayashi Ha Shito Ryu for over 25 years and has completed the rank of San-Dan (Third Degree black belt). Sensei Yuki has completed in National and International competitions placing First
in several events. She trained directly under Grand Master Teruo Hayashi and several of his top-ranked female competitors.

Sensei Yuki was born in Osaka, Japan 1966, has lived in the United States since she was 18 years old. She studied at schools in Japan and the United States. With her background and understanding of both cultures, she is adept at instructing adults, teens and children.
She is especially in tune to the needs of female students of all ages in helping them achieve their goal in Karate with her self-discipline and knowledge of Life and Karate-Do.

A 30-year resident of Lee County, her dedication and patience are displayed in her teaching style and classes. She sets a positive role model as a Mother, Teacher and Female Athlete for all the members of the Dojo community to follow.