TY  APONTE

ROKUDAN
(6th Degree Black Belt)
SHOTOKAN KARATE

CHIEF INSTRUCTOR
Upland Shotokan Karate - Defense Arts Center

Shihan Ty Aponte began his Martial Arts training (Shotokan karate) in New York City (1972-74) under Sensei Hector Martinez (9th dan). In 1974 Ty moved to California and began training in Shorin Ryu karate under Shihan Dean Pickard (5th dan) and received his 1st degree black belt (1976) and all subsequent Shorin (dan) ranks thereafter.

In 1977, fresh out of High School, Ty opened and named his school USKL Defense Arts Center in an effort to create and offer a complimentary mix of the Japanese Budo arts (Karate-do, Judo, Aikido, Iaido, etc.) and other disciplines, such as the eclectic Jeet Kune Do. Each art was taught by instructors qualified in their respective martial art.   Upon Professor Pickard's retirement from teaching in 1994, Ty was awarded the rank of 5th degree black belt, along with the title of Shihan and the reins of the USKL organization.

In 1994, Shihan Aponte made the decision to shift the core foundation of his training and instruction from a Shorin based style to Shotokan.  Coming full circle, Ty sought out the very best and trained with the late venerable Shotokan Master Hidetaka Nishiyama, (9th Dan) from 1995 until his passing in 2008.  Ty is registered as a Sandan (2007) with Sensei H. Nishiyama (central dojo Los Angles).

Shihan Aponte is the chief instructor of the Upland Shotokan Karate League/Defense Arts Center dojo in Upland and heads the Claremont Colleges and University of La Verne Shotokan Karate/self defense elective Physical Education programs. Considering himself a perpetual student and having nothing less than a passion for learning, teaching and training in the martial arts, Sensei Aponte has, in over 35 years of training, broadened his scope with Black belt rankings in: Okinawan Tanzenbukan Goju-Ryu karate (1st. deg.) & Okinawan Kobudo (weaponry 3rd deg.) - both under Soke Anthony Marquez - 9th dan. Sensei Aponte also has had extensive training in Motubu-Ha Shito-Ryu under Sensei Bayani Adlawan - 6th dan, and JKD/Escrima (Bruce Lee's Jeet Kune Do) under senior JKD instructors Tim Tackett and Ernie Franco.  He holds a shodan (Black Belt) in Judo from Sensei Gary Goltz - 8th Dan, and a brown brown belt in Dan Zan Ryu Jujitsu from Senseis Greg Fernandez and Gary Goltz.

In his early years, Shihan Aponte competed extensively and has been the recipient of many awards, including a small string of full-contact victories in 1975-77. Ty is one of the few to take First Place in Kata (1985) at the highly competitive Ozawa (Cup) International Tournament in Las Vegas, Nevada, prevailing over 75 other Black belts.

During the late 70's and early 80's Ty met and became friends with many awesome competitors of the day, one of which was Sensei Steve Fisher; a formittable and gifted California karateka.  

In the summer of '1995 Ty traveled with Soke Marquez and company to Okinawa to train under some of Okinawa's legendary kobudo and karate masters, and compete in Okinawa's pre-World tournament. (Ty later took a solo detour to train in Japan).

In 2005 Ty won a fellowship through the Claremont Colleges; Avery China Adventure Program to study the Foster Care system in China. While there he engaged himself with various volunteer groups (China Care orphanages and Habitat For Humanity-China). During his three-month stay, Ty did plenty of sightseeing - traveling to five different provinces. The highlight of his trip came when he spent three intensive and austere weeks training in Gung-Fu at the Shaolin Temple in Henan province under the guidance of Sifu Ha.

In addition to the above named masters, Shihan Aponte admires and credits many other individuals with having helped shape and inspire his martial arts ability and with whom he has had the pleasure of calling friends for the many years. 

Shihan Aponte continues his martial art studies through self study, and attending seminars and taking training classes whenever possible with some of the best martial artists and Shotokan instructors in the world. Sensei Aponte has trained extensively with Hiroyasu Fujishima, Hanshi, an 8th dan, Shotokan Karate International Federation (SKIF) master who has taught Shotokan karate in the Department of Kinesiology at Cal State University Northridge (CSUN) since 1969. In 2018 Ty received his SKIF Yondan (4th Deg. BB) from Hanshi Fujishima and Kancho Nobuaki kanazawa, SKIF 8th Dan. 

Ty also trains with a small yet passionate group of Wing Chun Gung Fu enthusiasts under the direction of veteran Wing Chun Sifu Stanley Tang. Ty incorporates his years of training and experience into his classes. In terms of teaching, he emphasizes tradition, while remaining creative, open-minded, constantly devising, and progressive.

Aside from the warm USKL dojo family, Shihan Aponte is joined by his lovely wife Lynn Aponte, herself an instructor and 5th Degree Black Belt, and their two boys, Kieran (Kelsey) and Keelan, both of whom are Shotokan Black Belts. Kieran (Kelsey) Aponte is a graduate of Cal Poly Pomona, where he majored in mathematics and has a passion for Robotics. Keelan Aponte is a graduate from Loma Linda University where he received his Masters Degree and currently works in Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT). Ty’s daughter, Sarajoy Salazar Aponte (SJ), is a graduate of Azusa Pacific University and works in finance.  

Shihan Ty Aponte can be reached by e-mail at: TyAponte@yahoo.com

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