After studying Judo with his father as a youth, Sensei Sheets connected through friends in college to train in Judo for two years and then was introduced to Matsubayashi-Ryu.
In 1991 he focused his efforts on training Matsubayashi-Ryu Karate-Do and tegumi under the instruction of Sensei Dale Pike. After graduation from college, Sensei Sheets also began training with Sensei Jim Lyons. Over the last several years, Sensei Sheets continues to train with Hanshi Frank Grant, Sensei Pike, Sensei Lyons, the WSKF Board of Directors, and other instructors. Sensei Sheets now holds the rank of 6th degree black belt (Roku-Dan) with the World Shorin-Ryu Karate Do Federation (WSKF) (www.shorin-ryu.net). The WSKF granted charter to open the Gōhō Seishin Dojo and the first classes started in 2002.
His other training has included: Okinawan traditional weapons, such as the bo (staff) and sai with Ryu-kyu Kobudo Hozon Shinko Kai, under Sensei Devorah Dometrich: (Sho-Dan); Yang style Tai Chi Chuan and Jishin Tegumi (Combat Grappling) (Sho-Dan), and Matsubayashi-Ryu with the Black Tiger Dojo, under Sensei/Sifu Dale Pike; MMA with Bronswick’s Mixed Martial Arts Club (ranked), and Ueichi-Ryu with Sensei Dana Sheets, a Go-dan and co-owner of the Washington Karate Academy (Washington D.C.) .
The Sensei Sheets’ goal is to provide superior instruction in traditional Okinawan Matsubayashi-Ryu and other martial arts for the benefit and progression of the students.
Focused attention is placed on the mental and physical training required to be a warrior, scholar, and all-around better person in the arts and in life. This is accomplished through traditional training and conditioning of the mind and body, as well as meditation, sparring, practical application, self-defense, psychology and philosophy.