About Our Instructors

Sensei Paul Enfield has owned and operated the Goju Karate Center since 1992.

Sensei Paul Enfield                              1986 Magazine cover, Japan

Sensei Paul Enfield began studying the martial arts in Oxford, England in 1979 with Paul Coleman Sensei.  He obtained his black belt in 1984 and shortly afterwards journeyed to Okinawa, the birthplace of karate, to study karate full-time under the instruction of Higaonna Morio Sensei.  He remained in Okinawa and Japan for three years and became uchi-deshi (live in student). While in Asia he traveled to Korea, Taiwan and China to further his research into the martial arts. At the end of 1987 he came to the United States where he has taught karate ever since.  Sensei Enfield has translated three martial arts books from Japanese to English, and has written numerous martial arts related articles that have been published in the United States and the United Kingdom. Although Goju-ryu karate is Sensei Enfield’s main area of study he has also studied Tai Chi Chuan, Lau Gar Gung Fu, and Brazilian Jujutsu. Ten Years after leaving Japan, in December 1997, Sensei Enfield returned to Okinawa to study Goju-ryu karate under World Headmaster for the style, Miyazato Eiichi Hanshi. While there he was awarded the rank of Godan (5th degree black belt), and Goju karate Center was appointed the rare honor of San Diego area shibu dojo (branch school) for the Okinawa Goju Ryu Karate-do Association.   Sensei Enfield is a sixth degree black belt and head instructor at the Goju Karate Center.

                           Sensei Michelle Enfield                                                 Sensei Michelle working with Jacob

Sensei Michelle is joint owner, program director, and a full time instructor at Goju Karate Center. She teaches Tiny Tiger, Little Dragon, Junior, Black Belt Club and adults. Her infectious energy and attitude infuses students and helps them to aspire to the very highest levels of physical achievement and mental mastery. She has been a part of Goju Karate Center since April of 2002, and due to her dedication to martial arts earned her shodan (first degree black belt) after only four years. Sensei Michelle has an Early Childhood Education Certfiication, is a former preschool owner/teacher, Special Olypics coach and fundraising coordinator and has been a certified fitness instructor. She has been working professionally with children most of her life and has three daughters of her own.  Sensei Michelle was awarded her second degree black belt by Kancho Miyazato (Head of the Okinawa Goju Ryu Karate do So-Honbu) in October 2007.

Sensei Michelle coordinates educational talks and interactive demonstrations within Carlsbad schools and privately owned pre-schools. She can be contacted for special demonstrations, coporate team building, self-empowerment, and or special self-defense seminars (for more information on school presentations she may be contacted at - gojukaratecenter@sbcglobal.net

                                                                                        

                            Sensei Tim Schinhofen                                         Sensei Tim working with "chiishi"

                                                                                                                       (traditional "stone lever weight")

Sensei Tim teaches the Thursday evening adult class at the GKC, and is manager of "kangeiko" (annual winter training camp). He began his Karate training at the GKC in 1993 and now holds the rank of San Dan, Third Degree Black Belt. He is a life long mountaineer with a 1st ascent to his credit on a new route on Annapurna IV, North Face 1987, in the Himalaya's, Nepal. He has taught beginning and lead climbing classes for Orange Coast College for 4 years. He is also an avid golfer.

Sensei Eli DePalma

Sensei Eli has recently opened his own dojo in Anza (Mountain Goju Karate Center). His interests extend to native american languages, traditional healing therapies, and wilderness survival, to name but a few. Sensei Eli holds the rank of Shodan, 1st degree Balck Belt.

Sensei Yosuke Tanaka                                                                  Sensei Yosuke with Little Dragon students

Sensei Yosuke holds the rank of Shodan (first degree black belt). He was born in Hamamatsu City, Japan. He began his karate training there in the style of Tani-ha Shito-Ryu. Sensei Yosuke has been training with the GKC since 1995. He holds a degree in International Business from Cal State San Marcos (Sensei Yosuke moved back to Japan in September 2004).