One of the true American pioneers, “Duke” Moore was a student of Sensei Kim’s right when he came back to the USA in 1959. In fact, Sensei Kim taught at Duke Moore’s dojo at 1819 Market Street where he also taught Duke privately Shorinji Ryu Karate, Daito Ryu Aiki Jitsu and Judo.

In 1965, Moore Sensei received the rank of 7th Dan (Shichidan, Prof.) in Aiki-Jujutsu from Master Richard Kim, representative of the Dai Nippon Bu Toku Kai of Kyoto, Japan.

We all owe Duke Moore a great deal of gratitude for he was the conduit to Sensei Kim getting started in the USA. Duke also was responsible for getting Mas Oyama started in the USA and it was he and Sensei Kim that invited Sensei Nishiyama to San Francisco in 1961 for a Shotokan Karate Tournament. This was the beginning of a friendship that would last for over 40 years between Sensei Kim and Sensei Nishiyama.

It was Duke Moore and Sensei Kim that started the Northern California Karate Federation.