History and Instructors

The founder and senior instructor of the Shotokan Karate of Williamsport dojo is Sensei William Bubb, Nidan, (Photo: on left).  In 1974, Sensei Bubb started training in shotokai karate under Roscoe Staley, Director of Safety & Security at the Williamsport Regional Medical Center.  As a student of shotokai karate, he also trained with Sensei James Ambrose at the Wyoming Valley Karate Club.  It was there he also had the opportunity to train with Sensei Kazumi Tabata, Senior Instructor of the North American Karate-do Federation (NAKF).  After Roscoe Staley moved out of the area, Sensei Bubb continued his training with Sensei Charles Russert, who had a small dojo at his home in Muncy, PA affiliated with the All New York Karate Association.  After only 2 years, Sensei Russert moved to Jacksonville, Florida leaving Sensei Bubb and his friend Sensei George Vance to continue the development and instruction of shotokan karate in Central Pennsylvania.  In 1978, Sensei Bubb through his contacts at Lycoming College including Coach's Dutch Burch and Frank Girardi a karate club was established on campus.  For several years the Lycoming College Shotokan Karate Club remained affiliated with Sensei Masataka Mori's All New York Karate Association.  In 1981, the club joined the International Shotokan Karate Federation (ISKF) in Philadelphia.  Several years later in 1985, Sensei Bubb contacted JoAnn Fremiotti and Mike Stanzione and established a karate club at the Pennsylvania College of Technology.

In 1992, Sensei Bubb, saw a need to establish a shotokan karate program that would be open to the general public of our community.  While still teaching karate classes at Lycoming College, the need was fulfilled when the Williamsport YMCA granted permission to establish a club and provided a racquetball court for training.  The karate program at the Williamsport YMCA was active until 2005 when it moved to the Becht Community Center for larger floor space.  In May 2012, because of a pending sale of the Becht Community Center and need for even more floor space the Shotokan Karate of Williamsport dojo moved again to its present location at Trinity Episcopal Church located at 844 West Fourth Street in Williamsport.

Sensei Vance Cohick, Nidan, (Photo: on right) started training in August 1997 with Sensei George Vance and Sensei William Bubb.  Sensei Cohick is currently the Lead Instructor and Sensei Bubb, as the emeritus Senior Instructor, assists with all classes the instructs Saturday classes. Sensei Cohick is also the Head Instructor at Lycoming College Karate Club.

Sensei John Markley, Shodan, (Photo: center) started training in September 2013 with Sensei Vance Cohick and Sensei William Bubb. Sensei Markley is currently assisting and instructing Wednesday adult classes.