Rodney C. Peoples Yo Dan 4th Degree Black Belt

PO Box 349

Pine Grove, CA 95665

Sensei Peoples began his training under Soke Don Madden in 1970 at the age of 14. At the age of 19 after receiving his ichi kyu brown belt; Sempai Peoples competed in an interclub tournament in Parkersburg, West Virginia and was ask to compete in the Shodan black belt division. After defeating approximately 6 black belts in the Shodan division he went on to fight for the grand championship and defeated a Nidan for the grand championship prize winning by one point in overtime. Sensei Peoples received his Shodan rank in 1976 at the age of 20. He received the rank of Nidan in 1977.

Sensei Peoples started a school in Colton, Ohio in 1978 he continued to compete in interclub and state tournaments winning several competitions culminating by winning the heavyweight division of the West Virginia State championship in1978. In 1978 Sensei Peoples was promoted to the rank of San Dan. During this time Sensei Peoples also taught Western style boxing at Don Maddens Ko Sutemi Dojo in Chillicothe, Ohio.

In 1979 Sensei Peoples moved his family to Bakersfield, CA and trained on his own for approximately 3 years. He then began competing in the Pacific region tournament circuit fighting and competing in forms in Los Angeles, San Diego, Sacramento, and Las Vegas. He trained with and helped teach classes at the Sherman Oaks Karate studio with Ron Pohnel, Alvin Prouder, and Barry Gordon.

Sensei Peoples then moved to Hesperia, CA in 1984; after living in Hesperia for several years Sensei Peoples discovered that Linda Pugliese another Ko Sutemi Seiei Kan practitioner and student of Grand Master Don Madden and George Annarino lived and had a karate studio in the nearby city of Barstow, CA. Sensei Peoples then began training and assisting Sensei Pugliese with her studio in Barstow, CA. He was promoted to the rank of Yo Dan in 1996 by Grand Master Don Madden. He trained and competed with Sensei Pugliese until moving to Northern CA in 2004 where he founded and currently operates the Sutter Creek Ko Sutemi Seiei Kan Karate Studio.

Sensei Peoples is also working on promoting the Ko Sutemi Seiei Kan style of karate and the AKJU on the West Coast. Sensei Peoples is also forming the Ko Sutemi West an organization designed to promote the AKJU and Ko Sutemi Seiei Kan on the West Coast. Grand Master Don Madden and Sensei Rodney Peoples are planning a West Coast Qualifier for the AKJU Team America; this tournament will provide karate ka on the West Coast opportunity to qualify for and travel with the AKJU internationally. Sensei Peoples has also trained in Jujitsu, Ho Chin Gung Fu, and Tai Chi Chuan. July 1^st, 2008 Sensei Peoples was inducted into the 21^st Annual 2008 U.S.A. International Black Belt Hall of Fame for Martial Arts Dedication.