Johnny Linebarger
Gold Life Member - United States Ju-Jitsu Federation (USJJF) ®
Gold Life Member - USA Traditional Kodokan Judo ®
Member - US Ju-Jitsu Senior Masters Caucus
Member - USJJF National Technical / Promotion Committee
Arizona USJJF Regional Representative
Pioneer of Ju-Jitsu - USJJF Hall of Fame
State Director - United States Taiho Jutsu (USTJ) TM for Arizona
Martial Arts & Martial Sciences Background -
1969 ✦ Began grappling training, wrestling and Judo
1972 ✦ Began karate training with Master Kale Makaio in Hickory, North Carolina
1974 ✦ Opened the first KoSho Self-Defense Studio in Conover, North Carolina
1975 ✦ Promoted to 1st Dan in Karate
1976 ✦ Joined the US Air Force and spent 3 years in Tokyo, Japan
1977 ✦ Started training in orthodox Okinawan Karate by Toshio Hanaue (head of The All-Japan Jojutsu Federation)
1978 ✦ Started teaching Air Force Security Forces unarmed combat techniques
1979 ✦ Promoted to 1st Dan in orthodox Okinawan Karate by Toshio Hanaue
1980 ✦ Assigned to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base
✦ Began training with Grandmaster Robert A Trias (Father of Karate in the United States and
founder of the United States Karate Association)
1981 ✦ Formed Davis-Monthan Self-Defense Club, teaching martial arts to military, military dependents, and base civilians
✦ Promoted to 2nd Dan in Karate by Grandmaster Trias
1982 ✦ Appointed Trias Dojo Assistant Chief Instructor as back-up for Dojo Chief Instructor Dale Benson
1983 ✦ Promoted to Tachi in Okinawan Kobudo (one of the first martial artists in the US to earn this title)
✦ Promoted to 3rd Dan in Karate by Grandmaster Trias
✦ Opened KoSho Self-Defense Studio in Tucson, Arizona
1985 ✦ World Champion (Light Heavyweight) for USKA and runner-up to World Champion Herb Johnson
✦ Won the Weapons title at the Panama Kempo Internationals in Panama City, Panama
✦ Promoted to Assistant Chief Instructor for all Shuri Karate by Grandmaster Trias
1986 ✦ Won the Triple Crown (1st place in Fighting, Forms and Weapons) at the USKA World Championships in Chicago, Illinois
✦ Selected as a member of the Elite Trias International Society (personally nominated by
Grandmaster Trias and inducted by unanimous decision)
✦ Promoted to 4th Dan in Karate by Grandmaster Trias
1987 ✦ World Champion of All Black Belts – USKA
1988 ✦ World Champion of All Black Belts – USKA
1989 ✦ World Champion of All Black Belts – USKA
1990 ✦ Began training with Hanshi George Anderson in Akron, Ohio
✦ Became member of the USA Karate Team
✦ National Champion (80+ kilo) for the USAKF
✦ Appointed as Chairman of the USA Karate Federation of Arizona
✦ Became the first Martial Artist ever to receive an Outstanding Athletic Achievement Award from the Tucson Conquistadors
✦ Promoted to 5th Dan in Okinawan Shuri-Ryu Karate
1991 ✦ Received the title of Shihan (Professor or Teacher of Teachers)
✦ Promoted to 6th Dan in Karate from the World Union of Karate-do Organizations
(WUKO) which was the IOCʼs international governing body for sport karate
✦ Promoted to 7th Dan in Jujitsu (from International Jujitsu Federation)
✦ Appointed as Team Captain for the USA Karate Team
✦ Became member of the USOC Coaching Development Committee for Karate
Appointed Assistant Coach for the USA Karate Team (USAKF)
✦ Received All-American Award from USAKF for Karate
✦ National Champion (80+ kilo) for the USAKF
1992 ✦ Ph.D. in Chinese Martial Sciences (a non-university degree granted by the International Martial
Arts Union, the Hong Kong Dragon Martial Arts Union, and the HuaLin Tai Chi Martial Arts
Union and signed by the Kung Fu teacher for the last emperor of China)
✦ Promoted to 8th Dan in Chinese Martial Arts
✦ Appointed as one of three Head Coaches for the USA Karate Team (USAKF)
✦ Received All-American Award from USAKF for Karate (2nd consecutive year)
✦ Won 80+ kilo division at USA Karate Team Trials and represented the US at the World
Championships in Grenada, Spain
1993 ✦ Received Master Instructor - Teaching Certification in Tae Kwon Do
✦ Promoted to 7th Dan in Tae Kwon Do by Grandmaster Park Chull Hee, head of the World Tae Kwon Do Federation
✦ Received All-American Award from USAKF for Karate (3rd consecutive year)
1995 ✦ Promoted to 7th Dan in Karate from Kwanmukan International
1996 ✦ Promoted to 6th Dan in Kobudo from Kwanmukan International
1997 ✦ Inducted into the USA Karate Federation (USAKF) Hall of Fame
1998 ✦ Promoted to 3rd Dan in Judo by Philip Porter, president of US Judo Association
2000 ✦ Received Robert A. Trias Lifetime Competition Award from the USA Karate & US Jujitsu Federationsʼ Hall of Fame
✦ Promoted to 8th Dan in Karate from Kwanmukan International
2003 ✦ Promoted to 9th Dan in Taiho Jitsu (Advanced Self-Defense Training Techniques for Law Enforcement) from the PSDI, the Police Self-Defense Institute
2005 ✦ Promoted to 8th Dan in Kobudo (study of ancient Okinawan weapons) from Kwanmukan International
2008 ✦ Member - Senior Masters Caucus for the USA-NKF (the US Olympic NGB for the sport of karate)
2009 ✦ Began training with John Viol Menkyokaiden, president of Martial Sciences International
2011 ✦ Founding Member - US Martial Tactical Association (US-MTA)
2014 ✦ MSI Menkyo Shidoin License (Assistant Instructor in Sogobujutsu)
2015 ✦ MSI Instructor of the Year Award
2016 ✦ MSI Menkyo Jokyo License (Instructor in Sogobujutsu)
✦ Honorary Commander 357th Fighter Squadron, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, AZ
2017 ✦ International Sogobujutsu Federation Ishokujo (International branch representative)
✦ Promoted to MSI Sogobujutsu 7th Dan
2019 ✦ MSI Instructor of the Year Award
✦ MSI Dai Ichi No Kagemusha (First Shadow Warrior)
2020 ✦ MSI Menkyo Renshi License (Trainer for all instructor levels)
✦ MSI Lifetime Achievement Award
2023 ✦ Promoted to Shuri Ryu Chief Instructor by Hanshi Robert Bowles
✦ Promoted to MSI Sogobujutsu 8th Dan
✦ Promoted to MSI Kenjutsu 6th Dan
✦ MSI Menkyo Shihan Dai License
2024 ✦ MSI Menkyo License Shihan
2024 ✦ Appointed as USTJ (United States Taiho Jutsu) State Director for Arizona and USTJ 9th Dan
Security, Military & Law Enforcement Background -
1977 ✦ Graduated USAF Security Police Training Academy and Air Base Ground Defense School
✦ Assigned to the 475th Security Police Squadron Yokota Air Base, Japan
1977-1980 Worked in the following duty positions:
✦ Security for Priority “A”, “B” and “C” resources
✦ Security Specialist for Customs Border Clearance
✦ Pass and Registration Specialist
✦ Support for Presidential Security with the Japanese Police and related agencies
1978 ✦ Assigned as the self-defense instructor for the 475th Security Police Squadron SPS)
✦ Assigned as a member of the 475th SPS Tactical Neutralization Team (TNT)
✦ Won the Most Outstanding First-Term Security Policeman of the Pacific Air Command Award
✦ Runner-up to the Most Outstanding First-Term Security Policeman of the USAF
1979 ✦ Earned Associate of Arts degree in Administrative Justice
✦ Won the Most Outstanding First-Term Security Policeman of the Pacific Air Command Award for the second time
✦ Runner-up to the Most Outstanding First-Term Security Policeman of the USAF
1980 ✦ Assigned to 355th Security Police Squadron (SPS)
✦ Appointed to the Advisory Committee for the Police Self-Defense Institute (PSDI), a branch of the United States Karate Association
✦ Assigned to Security Police Training Section at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base
✦ Quality Control evaluator for all base security procedures, including nuclear warhead and missile storage and transport, and security procedures for eighteen Titan missile complexes
✦ Assigned as a member of the 355th SPS Tactical Neutralization Team (TNT)
✦ Received Medal of Commendation
1981 ✦ Formed Davis-Monthan Self-Defense Club, teaching self-defense techniques to civilian and military families and defense tactics to military and law enforcement personnel
1982 ✦ Received the Outstanding Achievement Award for Exceptional Duty Performance During a Life-Threatening Encounter
1983 ✦ Appointed to Board of Directors of PSDI (Police Self-Defense Institute)
1985 ✦ Established a Self-Defense class for local law enforcement officers at KoSho Karate
1992 ✦ Became instructor, technical director and advisor for Sgt. George White and Officer Mark
Zbojniewicz who were the Defensive Tactics and Proficiency Skills Instructors/Supervisors at the Arizona Law Enforcement Training Academy (ALETA)
✦ Director of the only martial arts school in Arizona given the authority to teach Defensive tactics to Law Enforcement Training Officers by ALEOAC
1993 ✦ Developed a comprehensive self-defense program for civilians called A.R.R.M.S. (Awareness and Rapid Response Methods for Survival)
1994 ✦ Established KoSho Karateʼs Law Enforcement, Correctional Officer and Security Personnel Training program
The curriculum was developed in cooperation with the Arizona Department of Corrections
Academy by Sgt. George White, who was, at that time, the Proficiency Skills Supervisor for
ALETA. Now a retired lieutenant, Mr. White is still the Law Enforcement Training Coordinator
and Instructor at KoSho Karate
2001 ✦ Earned CDT (Compliance-Direction-Takedown) Master Instructor certification
2003 ✦ Received 9th Degree Black Belt in Taiho Jitsu (Advanced Self-Defense Training Techniques for Law Enforcement)
2016 ✦ Honorary Commander 357th Fighter Squadron, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, AZ
Hanshi Linebarger contact info:
School: KoSho Martial Training Institute
Phone: (520) 887-4099
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://sites.google.com/view/koshomtitucson/home
Gold Life Member - United States Ju-Jitsu Federation (USJJF) ®
Gold Life Member - USA Traditional Kodokan Judo ®
Member - US Ju-Jitsu Senior Masters Caucus
Member - USJJF National Technical / Promotion Committee
Arizona USJJF Regional Representative
Pioneer of Ju-Jitsu - USJJF Hall of Fame
State Director - United States Taiho Jutsu (USTJ) TM for Arizona
Martial Arts & Martial Sciences Background -
1969 ✦ Began grappling training, wrestling and Judo
1972 ✦ Began karate training with Master Kale Makaio in Hickory, North Carolina
1974 ✦ Opened the first KoSho Self-Defense Studio in Conover, North Carolina
1975 ✦ Promoted to 1st Dan in Karate
1976 ✦ Joined the US Air Force and spent 3 years in Tokyo, Japan
1977 ✦ Started training in orthodox Okinawan Karate by Toshio Hanaue (head of The All-Japan Jojutsu Federation)
1978 ✦ Started teaching Air Force Security Forces unarmed combat techniques
1979 ✦ Promoted to 1st Dan in orthodox Okinawan Karate by Toshio Hanaue
1980 ✦ Assigned to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base
✦ Began training with Grandmaster Robert A Trias (Father of Karate in the United States and
founder of the United States Karate Association)
1981 ✦ Formed Davis-Monthan Self-Defense Club, teaching martial arts to military, military dependents, and base civilians
✦ Promoted to 2nd Dan in Karate by Grandmaster Trias
1982 ✦ Appointed Trias Dojo Assistant Chief Instructor as back-up for Dojo Chief Instructor Dale Benson
1983 ✦ Promoted to Tachi in Okinawan Kobudo (one of the first martial artists in the US to earn this title)
✦ Promoted to 3rd Dan in Karate by Grandmaster Trias
✦ Opened KoSho Self-Defense Studio in Tucson, Arizona
1985 ✦ World Champion (Light Heavyweight) for USKA and runner-up to World Champion Herb Johnson
✦ Won the Weapons title at the Panama Kempo Internationals in Panama City, Panama
✦ Promoted to Assistant Chief Instructor for all Shuri Karate by Grandmaster Trias
1986 ✦ Won the Triple Crown (1st place in Fighting, Forms and Weapons) at the USKA World Championships in Chicago, Illinois
✦ Selected as a member of the Elite Trias International Society (personally nominated by
Grandmaster Trias and inducted by unanimous decision)
✦ Promoted to 4th Dan in Karate by Grandmaster Trias
1987 ✦ World Champion of All Black Belts – USKA
1988 ✦ World Champion of All Black Belts – USKA
1989 ✦ World Champion of All Black Belts – USKA
1990 ✦ Began training with Hanshi George Anderson in Akron, Ohio
✦ Became member of the USA Karate Team
✦ National Champion (80+ kilo) for the USAKF
✦ Appointed as Chairman of the USA Karate Federation of Arizona
✦ Became the first Martial Artist ever to receive an Outstanding Athletic Achievement Award from the Tucson Conquistadors
✦ Promoted to 5th Dan in Okinawan Shuri-Ryu Karate
1991 ✦ Received the title of Shihan (Professor or Teacher of Teachers)
✦ Promoted to 6th Dan in Karate from the World Union of Karate-do Organizations
(WUKO) which was the IOCʼs international governing body for sport karate
✦ Promoted to 7th Dan in Jujitsu (from International Jujitsu Federation)
✦ Appointed as Team Captain for the USA Karate Team
✦ Became member of the USOC Coaching Development Committee for Karate
Appointed Assistant Coach for the USA Karate Team (USAKF)
✦ Received All-American Award from USAKF for Karate
✦ National Champion (80+ kilo) for the USAKF
1992 ✦ Ph.D. in Chinese Martial Sciences (a non-university degree granted by the International Martial
Arts Union, the Hong Kong Dragon Martial Arts Union, and the HuaLin Tai Chi Martial Arts
Union and signed by the Kung Fu teacher for the last emperor of China)
✦ Promoted to 8th Dan in Chinese Martial Arts
✦ Appointed as one of three Head Coaches for the USA Karate Team (USAKF)
✦ Received All-American Award from USAKF for Karate (2nd consecutive year)
✦ Won 80+ kilo division at USA Karate Team Trials and represented the US at the World
Championships in Grenada, Spain
1993 ✦ Received Master Instructor - Teaching Certification in Tae Kwon Do
✦ Promoted to 7th Dan in Tae Kwon Do by Grandmaster Park Chull Hee, head of the World Tae Kwon Do Federation
✦ Received All-American Award from USAKF for Karate (3rd consecutive year)
1995 ✦ Promoted to 7th Dan in Karate from Kwanmukan International
1996 ✦ Promoted to 6th Dan in Kobudo from Kwanmukan International
1997 ✦ Inducted into the USA Karate Federation (USAKF) Hall of Fame
1998 ✦ Promoted to 3rd Dan in Judo by Philip Porter, president of US Judo Association
2000 ✦ Received Robert A. Trias Lifetime Competition Award from the USA Karate & US Jujitsu Federationsʼ Hall of Fame
✦ Promoted to 8th Dan in Karate from Kwanmukan International
2003 ✦ Promoted to 9th Dan in Taiho Jitsu (Advanced Self-Defense Training Techniques for Law Enforcement) from the PSDI, the Police Self-Defense Institute
2005 ✦ Promoted to 8th Dan in Kobudo (study of ancient Okinawan weapons) from Kwanmukan International
2008 ✦ Member - Senior Masters Caucus for the USA-NKF (the US Olympic NGB for the sport of karate)
2009 ✦ Began training with John Viol Menkyokaiden, president of Martial Sciences International
2011 ✦ Founding Member - US Martial Tactical Association (US-MTA)
2014 ✦ MSI Menkyo Shidoin License (Assistant Instructor in Sogobujutsu)
2015 ✦ MSI Instructor of the Year Award
2016 ✦ MSI Menkyo Jokyo License (Instructor in Sogobujutsu)
✦ Honorary Commander 357th Fighter Squadron, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, AZ
2017 ✦ International Sogobujutsu Federation Ishokujo (International branch representative)
✦ Promoted to MSI Sogobujutsu 7th Dan
2019 ✦ MSI Instructor of the Year Award
✦ MSI Dai Ichi No Kagemusha (First Shadow Warrior)
2020 ✦ MSI Menkyo Renshi License (Trainer for all instructor levels)
✦ MSI Lifetime Achievement Award
2023 ✦ Promoted to Shuri Ryu Chief Instructor by Hanshi Robert Bowles
✦ Promoted to MSI Sogobujutsu 8th Dan
✦ Promoted to MSI Kenjutsu 6th Dan
✦ MSI Menkyo Shihan Dai License
2024 ✦ MSI Menkyo License Shihan
2024 ✦ Appointed as USTJ (United States Taiho Jutsu) State Director for Arizona and USTJ 9th Dan
Security, Military & Law Enforcement Background -
1977 ✦ Graduated USAF Security Police Training Academy and Air Base Ground Defense School
✦ Assigned to the 475th Security Police Squadron Yokota Air Base, Japan
1977-1980 Worked in the following duty positions:
✦ Security for Priority “A”, “B” and “C” resources
✦ Security Specialist for Customs Border Clearance
✦ Pass and Registration Specialist
✦ Support for Presidential Security with the Japanese Police and related agencies
1978 ✦ Assigned as the self-defense instructor for the 475th Security Police Squadron SPS)
✦ Assigned as a member of the 475th SPS Tactical Neutralization Team (TNT)
✦ Won the Most Outstanding First-Term Security Policeman of the Pacific Air Command Award
✦ Runner-up to the Most Outstanding First-Term Security Policeman of the USAF
1979 ✦ Earned Associate of Arts degree in Administrative Justice
✦ Won the Most Outstanding First-Term Security Policeman of the Pacific Air Command Award for the second time
✦ Runner-up to the Most Outstanding First-Term Security Policeman of the USAF
1980 ✦ Assigned to 355th Security Police Squadron (SPS)
✦ Appointed to the Advisory Committee for the Police Self-Defense Institute (PSDI), a branch of the United States Karate Association
✦ Assigned to Security Police Training Section at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base
✦ Quality Control evaluator for all base security procedures, including nuclear warhead and missile storage and transport, and security procedures for eighteen Titan missile complexes
✦ Assigned as a member of the 355th SPS Tactical Neutralization Team (TNT)
✦ Received Medal of Commendation
1981 ✦ Formed Davis-Monthan Self-Defense Club, teaching self-defense techniques to civilian and military families and defense tactics to military and law enforcement personnel
1982 ✦ Received the Outstanding Achievement Award for Exceptional Duty Performance During a Life-Threatening Encounter
1983 ✦ Appointed to Board of Directors of PSDI (Police Self-Defense Institute)
1985 ✦ Established a Self-Defense class for local law enforcement officers at KoSho Karate
1992 ✦ Became instructor, technical director and advisor for Sgt. George White and Officer Mark
Zbojniewicz who were the Defensive Tactics and Proficiency Skills Instructors/Supervisors at the Arizona Law Enforcement Training Academy (ALETA)
✦ Director of the only martial arts school in Arizona given the authority to teach Defensive tactics to Law Enforcement Training Officers by ALEOAC
1993 ✦ Developed a comprehensive self-defense program for civilians called A.R.R.M.S. (Awareness and Rapid Response Methods for Survival)
1994 ✦ Established KoSho Karateʼs Law Enforcement, Correctional Officer and Security Personnel Training program
The curriculum was developed in cooperation with the Arizona Department of Corrections
Academy by Sgt. George White, who was, at that time, the Proficiency Skills Supervisor for
ALETA. Now a retired lieutenant, Mr. White is still the Law Enforcement Training Coordinator
and Instructor at KoSho Karate
2001 ✦ Earned CDT (Compliance-Direction-Takedown) Master Instructor certification
2003 ✦ Received 9th Degree Black Belt in Taiho Jitsu (Advanced Self-Defense Training Techniques for Law Enforcement)
2016 ✦ Honorary Commander 357th Fighter Squadron, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, AZ
Hanshi Linebarger contact info:
School: KoSho Martial Training Institute
Phone: (520) 887-4099
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://sites.google.com/view/koshomtitucson/home