How Merritt Island Karate Began

After several years of operating schools in Titusville and at Tropical Elementary School in Merritt Island, Sensei Kurt Tezel founded the Ueshiro Merritt Island Karate Dojo on October 17, 2011, to be closer to his home. The Merritt Island Dojo was built with the sweat and hard work of senior students of area dojos. In October 2021, Sensei Tezel turned over operation of the Merritt Island Dojo to his son, Sensei Trevor Tezel, who is the current shihan (director) of the school.

To learn more about our worldwide organization, Ueshiro Shorin-Ryu Karate USA, follow this link to our website.

To learn more about the history of Okinawan Karate, follow this link to our Hombu (Headquarters) dojo.