Sensei Al Gagne

     Sensei Al Gagne began his karate training in 1969 while serving in the U.S. Air Force, stationed in New Mexico.
     In 1972 he attained the rank of Sho-Dan (1^st Degree Black Belt), and 3 months later was honorably discharged.  Upon returning to Rhode Island, he began his formal karate instruction at the YMCA and YWCA in Woonsocket.
     In 1974 he was promoted to Ni-Dan (2^nd Degree Black Belt) by his first teacher, Vince Weigand, Yon-Dan (4^th Degree Black Belt). Mr. Weigand studied under Fusei Kise and Hohan Soken while in the U.S. Army and serving in Okinawa.
     In 1976, Sensei Gagne attended a karate seminar conducted by Sensei James H. Coffman, Nana-Dan, (7^th Degree Black Belt) in Clairemont, New Hampshire. Upon completion of the seminar, Sensei Gagne joined S.M.O.K.A. (Shorin-Ryu Matsumura Orthodox Karate Association) and was accepted into Sensei Coffman’s Dojo.
     In 1977, Sensei Gagne attained the rank of San-Dan (3^rd Degree Black Belt). Sensei Gagne then traveled from Rhode Island to Maryland several times a year to train with Sensei Coffman. 
     In 1980 Sensei Gagne hosted his first Annual Karate Seminar conducted by Sensei James H. Coffman.  Students from Maryland, Delaware, New Hampshire and Rhode Island came to attend this seminar.
    
In 1984 he attained his Yon-Dan rank (4^th Degree).
    
In 1994 he attained his Go-Dan rank (5^th Degree).

On May 20, 2005, Sensei Gagne was promoted to Roku-Dan (6th Degree). 

     Sensei Gagne has been teaching Karate for over 36 years and is still teaching the same traditional Okinawan karate system today. He has opened Dojos throughout Rhode Island and currently has a branch in Florida. Sensei Gagne currently works as a corrections officer for the Massachusetts Department of Corrections and is a certified defensive tactics instructor and weapons specialist.