Teaching martial arts in Monroe, Wisconsin since 1991
Instructors
Head Instructor
Timothy Burns
Timothy Burns earned his Black Belt from Kim Yee's Karate West in Fort Collins, Colorado. He has been practicing the martial arts since 1984, and earned his black belt in 1988. In December 1987 he began teaching karate at the Activities Youth Center in Fort Collins. After moving to Monroe, he founded the Ronin Karate program in November, 1991.
He began the formal study of Judo in 2003 at Rock Valley Judo in Janesville, Wisconsin, where he studied until the program closed in late 2008. He currently holds the rank of brown belt.
Mr. Burns is a general practice lawyer in Monroe. He is also the Green County Family Court Commissioner and a Judicial Court Commissioner.
Other Instructors
Ryan Colden
Ryan Colden started studying karate at Ronin Karate in 1991, and earned his black belt in 1997. In 1999 he was the Men's Grand Champion at the ABBA tournament in Oshkosh. Ryan took time off of competition but returned in 2008, when he again won the Grand Championship.
He began the formal study of Judo in 2007 at Rock Valley Judo in Janesville, Wisconsin, where he studied until the program closed in late 2008. He currently holds the rank of brown belt.
He attended Madison Area Techical College and after graduation joined Ironworkers Union 383. He became a jouneyman in 2004.
Michael Kohl
Mike started studying karate at Ronin Karate in 1991, and continued to study when he was home from college. He currently holds the rank of Brown with Black Stripe, which is the last belt before black belt.
He attended the University of Wisconsin - Platteville, and graduated in 2009 with a B.S. in Computer Science. He is currently seeking employment in his field. While looking, he is helping teach at both kids and adults classes.
Historical Instructors
Colin Burns
Colin originally studied at Kim Yee's Karate West in Fort Collins, Colorado. He earned his Black Belt from Ronin Karate in 1998, and his Black Belt from Rock Valley Judo in 2004. He was active in athletics at Monroe High School, where he was a 3-time qualifier for the Wisconsin State Wrestling Tournament and an All-State running back in football.
He attended the University of Wisconsin - Whitewater, where he was an All-Conference and All-Region running back.
From 2005 to 2006, he was a member of the Texas A&M judo team and a nationally ranked judo player. From 2006 until his graduation in 2010, he attended the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, and was a nationally ranked judo athlete at the United States Olympic Training Center. He attained a ranking of 4th in the United States in judo in the 90kg weight class.
Colin has worked as a student intern in strength and conditioning at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado, for the University of Wisconsin football team and cheerleading squad, and for the University of Michigan women's water polo team. Colin is currently working in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and working out at the Olympic Training Center. He has changed sports and is now an Olympic-style weightlifter, placing 5th at the United States National Meet in 2010 and 7th in 2011.
Brendan Burns
Brendan originally studied at Kim Yee's Karate West in Fort Collins, Colorado. He earned his Black Belt from Ronin Karate in 1993, and his Black Belt from Rock Valley Judo in 2004. He was active in athletics at Monroe High School, where he received All-State honors as a football lineman.
He attended Lawrence University and the University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh, where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Biology, with a Chemistry minor. Brendan played defensive tackle on the UW-Oshkosh football team, and was also well known for his powerlifting ability. He has also been a nationally ranked judo player.
Brendan received his teaching certification from Concordia University in Madison and is currently employed as a science teacher at Waupun High School.
Kim H. Yee
Timothy Burns studied under Mr. Kim H. Yee of Fort Collins, Colorado. A native of Madison, Wisconsin, Mr. Yee began studying Tae Kwon Do in 1969 under Master J.B. Chung at the Madison Tae Kwon Do School. Mr. Yee earned his Black Belt in Chung Do Kwan Tae Kwon Do in 1973. He taught at the Madison Tae Kwon Do School, and became head instructor of the Madison East YMCA Karate Club and the University of Wisconsin Karate Club. Mr. Yee also studied boxing under Mr. Andy Hollibush of Madison, Wisconsin. Mr. Yee competed in PKA full contact karate, retiring in 1981. At that time he was ranked 10th in the world in the bantamweight division.
Mr. Yee opened Karate West in 1978 and continues to teach there today. A fantastic competitor and teacher, he was inducted into the Colorado Karate Association Hall of Fame in 2006.