Steven M. Franz, Shihan

Franz Shihan's history in the martial arts began as a child who was almost 8 years old. His parents enrolled him in a local Karate dojo that taught Goju Ryu on May 22, 1978 under the guidance of Tom Smith Sensei who had trained in Okinawa and was promoted by the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai (All Japan Virtue Society). Shihan would train with Smith Sensei from 1978 until 1982. During this time he was the only child in the dojo and the other students (15 total) were all adults. The training was brutal and very strict due to the traditional nature of Karate. Shihan earned up to his 5th Kyu green belt under Smith Sensei in Goju Ryu when he was informed that the dojo would be closing.

Smith Sensei had been offered a great job transfer and chose to take it thus ending the dojo in Angola, Indiana. With no black belts at this time many of the adult students chose to re-enroll in a local Tae Kwon Do school that was also in Angola. Back then there most Tae Kwon Do schools were much like Karate but simply practice different Kata. Shihan would also enroll at this school eventually transferring to train in Edgerton, Ohio under one of the black belts of the school. In 1986, after getting his driver license, Shihan began training again under the lead instructor of the Tae Kwon Do school, Randy Duhamell. Shihan would spend from 1982 to 1988 training in Tae Kwon Do earning up to his nidan, 2nd degree black belt in Moo Duk Kwan Tae Kwon Do...one of the oldest and most hard core of the systems used to make modern Tae Kwon Do.

During his years in the Tae Kwon Do school Shihan met and trained with various other martial artists including Master Ed Bethea of Kokomo, Indiana. He had also studied Danzan Ryu Jujitsu at a local school in Hamilton, Indiana and Shotokan Karate at a garage dojo in Edgerton, Ohio but primarily spent his time learning the Tae Kwon Do. It was during the years of 1982 to 1990 that Shihan competed the most. He earned the Indiana State Karate Champion title in 1986 and 1987 as well as being selected as an alternate on the US National AAU Karate Team. He was rated in the black belt division as the number 3 fighter in the world in 1990.

After graduating High School in 1988 Shihan spent some time in the US Army completing 95 Bravo Military Police and 82nd Airborne Training but was injured in a Humvee accident that set him back over 9 months. It was during this time that he enrolled at Vincennes University in 1989 and met Junishiro Takanami who became his best friend and primary Sensei. Takanami Sensei taught Shihan some of the Naha and Shuri systems of older Okinawa Karate but referred to it as Goju Ryu. Shihan would earn up to his Godan, 5th degree black belt, under Takanami Sensei. This was during the years of 1989 to 1999.

In 1992 Shihan opened his first dojo in Hicksville, Ohio called Bushido Kan Karate. From the years of 1992 to 1999 the Bushido Kan Dojo amassed 11 State, 32 Regional, 15 National and 6 world Karate champions including Shihan himself. From 1991 to 1999 Shihan competed heavily but his most dominating years were from 1991 to 1992 at which time he was the number one rated black belt fighter in  the world by four different associations. In 1993 he earned his second world title and began refocusing on teaching more than competing. Even though teaching became a full time job in 1994 Shihan was undefeated in every competition he entered from 1993 to 2000 at which time he retired from active competition. In 1999 Shihan had to close the dojo in Hicksville because he was offered the chance to travel to Okinawa and train there for six months.

During the years of 1989 to 2004 Shihan spent time training with many great Masters to develop his understanding of the entire picture for martial arts. It was during these years that Shihan would earn black belts in various systems and was awarded Master rank in Iaido, Goju Ryu, Shotokan Karate, Aikijutsu, Tae Kwon Do and American Kenpo.

In 2006 Takanami Sensei passed away due to cancer which stunned Shihan heavily. Throughout the earlier years in Shihan's life he always could turn to Takanami Sensei for training, guidance and just general conversation about the martial arts. It was a great loss to Shihan but he endures to pass on the great gift of knowledge handed down from Takanami Sensei to him. To this date in the Honbu Dojo in Bryan there is a Kamidana filled with items from Takanami Sensei at the front of the dojo. This is to respect, honor and make sure that Takanami Sensei's spirit lives on at our dojo.

Shihan has spent more than two thirds of his life training in the martial arts and is just as passionate about them today as he was when beginning his training 1978. He is very respected and well known for both his knowledge and fighting ability throughout the United States but prefers the walls of his own dojo over fame. To him the martial arts is not about ranks, titles, awards, trophies or ego. It is simply his destiny...and believe or not he never thought this would be what he should be doing in his life. Shihan always loved computers and went to college for programming. He spent a few years a programmer for CTN Data in Hamilton, Indiana and several years working in sales both as a manager and sales person but he was always pulled back into teaching Karate. In 2005 Shihan finally gave in again and went after teaching full time.

Although this is simply view of Shihan's long history in martial arts it is important to remember that it is the passing on the knowledge that is important. Shihan is a rather simple person with no real big needs. His goal is to maintain his dojo and spread proper martial arts teaching now since the world is full of crappy, unethical and non authentic martial artists. Over the years Shihan has trained and become friends with incredible martial artists such as Joe Lewis, Bill Wallace, Steven Seagal, Chuck Norris, Glen Keeney, Parker Shelton Sr. and many more. He does not see them as famous people though...just as brother martial artists who share a common love for training, improving and learning.

For more about Shihan please visit the following page by click HERE.