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Sensei Khim Torres began shotokan training at the tender age of four at his father’s dojo in the Philippines. By age ten, he received his Shodan (1st degree) black belt in 1985, under the supervision of Sensei Ruperto Torres, Luzon Director of JKA Philippines. Sensei Khim also studied other martial arts during his young age – he ventured into Arnis De Mano (Filipino stick fighting), Kodokan Judo (Japanese martial arts) and Tae Kwon do (Korean martial arts). After years of training, he decided to concentrate on helping his father propagate shotokan karate in the Philippines.  

       At eighteen, he qualified as member of the Philippine National Karate Team. Over a long experience in competitions, representing Philippines in many national, international, and world championships, he won various awards from prestigious tournaments in both kata and kumite. Sensei Khim received his Nidan (2nd degree) black belt in 1997 under Sensei Masanori Takahashi, Official JKA representative in the Philippines. Aside from teaching and competing in karate, Sensei Khim has a degree in Psychology and worked for 4 years as a Health, Music, and Physical Education instructor before migrating to San Francisco, California in 2002. 

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In the US, while a full time karate instructor at the Academy of Martial Arts (2002-2008), he was selected into the U.S National Karate Team – competing and representing in both kata and kumite. Sensei Khim received his Sandan (3rd degree) black belt in 2006 under Sensei Yutaka Yaguchi, ISKF Technical Committee. And in 2009, Sensei Khim attained his Yondan (4th degree) black belt testing with Sensei Takayuki Mikami, Sensei Yoshiharu Osaka and Sensei Takuya Taniyama at JKA/AF National Training Camp in New Orleans and also certified as Instructor, Judge and Examiner.

Currently, Sensei Khim is a Godan (5th degree) black belt tested under Sensei Takayuki Mikami and Sensei Tatsuya Naka during the 2013 JKA/AF National Training Camp. Sensei Khim actively works to expand JKA karate, he is one of the founding members and board of directors of JKA Northern California (JKA NorCal) and JKA Lipa City, Philippines. He also has a great influence in the establishment of JKA Las Vegas and JKA in Taiwan and JKA Maine. He is now currently the chief instructor of JKA Lipa, Philippines.

JKA/WF QUALIFICATION: Instructor B, Judge B, Examiner C

Major Tournament Record:

2017

  • 14th Funakoshi Gichin Cup World Karate-do Championship (Limerick, Ireland) US Team member, Made it to semi-final round (Top 16) in individual kata.
  • 1st Place Individual Kata, 2nd Place in Kobudo at Battle Of Maine.

2016

  • 10th South America JKA Karate Championship (Santiago, Chile) US Team member, Placed 2nd in Team Kata event.
  • 1st Place Senior Individual kata, 3rd Place in Men Black belt kata & 1st Place Team kata, JKA/AF Nationals, New Orleans, Louisiana.

2015

  • Member of officiating panel and served as one of the main referees at the 8th JKA/AF National Karate Championship in New Orleans, LA.

2014

  • 13th Funakoshi Gichin Cup World Karate-do Championship (Tokyo, Japan) US Team member, selected to compete in all 4 events (Individual Kata & Kumite and Team Kata & Kumite). Placed 6th in Team Kata event.

2013

  • 2nd Place Men’s Individual Kata & Kumite, 1st Place Team Kata, JKA/AF Nationals, New Orleans, LA.
  • 3rd Place Men’s Team Kumite, Ozawa Cup, Las Vegas, NV.

2012

  • 2nd Place Men’s Individual Kata & Kumite, 2nd Place Team Kata, 3rd Place Team Kumite, JKA/AF Nationals, New Orleans, LA.

2011

  • 12th Funakoshi Gichin Cup World Karate-do Championship Tournament (Pattaya, Thailand) US Team member, selected to compete in Individual Kata.
  • 2nd Place Men’s Individual Kumite, 3rd Place Men’s Individual Kata, JKA/AF Nationals, Miami, FL.

2010

  • 2nd Place Men’s Individual Kata, Men’s Team Kumite and Kata, JKA/AF Nationals, New Orleans, LA.
  • 1st Place Men’s Individual Kumite 18-34yrs, 1st Place Team Kata, Ozawa Cup, Las Vegas, NV.

2009

  • 3rd Place Men’s Individual Kumite and Kata, 2nd Place Men’s Team Kumite and Kata, JKA/AF Nationals, New Orleans, LA .

2008

  • 2nd Place Team Kumite, ISKF Shoto Cup, Toronto, Canada.
  • 2nd Place Team Kata, ISKF Nationals, Los Angeles, CA.

2007

  • 2nd Place Individual Kumite, 3rd Place Individual Kata & 1st Place Team Kata, ISKF Master Camp, Philadelphia, PA.
  • 1st Place Individual Kumite, 1st Place Team Kata & 2nd Place Team Kumite, ISKF Nationals, San Francisco, CA.

2006

  • 2nd Place Individual Kumite, ISKF/JKA Nationals, Alaska, USA.

2004

  • 2nd Place Team Kata, ISKF/JKA Nationals, Ohio, USA.

2003

  • 3rd Place Team Kata, ISKF/JKA Nationals, Hawaii, USA.

2002

  • 3rd Place Team Kata, ISKF/JKA Nationals, Orlando, Florida, USA.

2001

  • 3rd Place Team Kumite, Sea Games, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
  • 1st Place Indiviual Kumite, 2nd Place Team Kumite. AKF, Kowloon, Hong Kong.

1998

  • 1st Place, Individual Kumite, 3rd Place Individual Kata & 2nd Place Team Kata, All Shotokan Karate Invitational, Lipa City, Philippines.

1997

  • 1st Place, Individual Kumite, PKF, Dagupan, Philippines.
  • 3rd Place, Individual Kumite & Team Kumite SEA Games, Jakarta, Indonesia.
  • Represented Philippines, 6th World Karate Cup, Manila, Philippines.

1996

  • Represented Philippines, WKF, Sun City, South Africa.

1995

  • 2nd Place, Individual Kumite, PKF, Cebu, Philippines.

1993

  • 1st Place, Individual Kumite, PKF, Baguio, Philippines.