On May 21st, 2002 The UPKUDO International Karate Federation was assigned document number T12000000860 with the Florida Department of State Division of Corporations. The trademark is held by Grandmaster Gary L. Baker. Alpha UPKUDO is a certified school in the UPKUDO International Karate Federation #99-01. Neither Black Lion or Gallop's Karate are associated with UPKUDO. Only the schools listed below are recognized as authorized UPKUDO schools.
The UPKUDO International Karate Federation was founded by 9th Dan Grand Master Gary L. Baker, fondly known to the fight world as the "Human Tornado". He is registered with The World Head of Family Sokeship Council #930724005. Grand Master Baker was inducted into the World Hall of Fame in 1993 and established as the Grand Master of the art of UPKUDO for his outstanding accomplishments as a competitor and instructor as well as his contribution to the Martial Arts world with his unique style.
Several times a year, Grand Master Baker instructs karate seminars at Alpha UPKUDO. His seminars focus mainly on point fighting strategy and technique. Grand Master's seminars are always a tremendous learning experience for everyone who attends. Grand Master's seminars usually last two hours, with an additional third hour for the high rank students, although Grand Master often extends the length of his seminars because of his love for teaching and his love for his students.
Grand Master Baker is affiliated with Grand Masters and Masters world wide. Some of the great competitors you may recognize are, in no particular order: Grand Master Pachevas, Grand Master Sanchez, Grand Master Pack, Master Henry Williams, "Superfoot" Bill Wallace, Don "The Dragon" Wilson, Chuck Norris, Mike Green, Tony Young, Joe Hess, Mike McCoy, Donna Judge, Stan "The Man", Mike Sawyer, Pete Cunningham, Kevin Thomas, Steve Shepard, James Cisco, Mike Smith, Manny Caberas, James "The Widow Maker" Warren
In addition to teaching champions and instructors over the years, Grand Master Baker has achieved numerous accomplishments. Below are just a few:
Master Anne Radke is one the few women who has built her own karate school, Alpha UPKUDO Karate & Fitness in 1999 after teaching at Lafayette Community Centers since 1992. Master Anne named her school "Alpha" as a testimony that she puts God first in every aspect of her life. She has trained thousands of students.
In 2008 she founded the 501(c)(3) non profit A Better Body organization to educate persons needing health and safety training. Her focus since 2000 has been on the holistic approach to healing. Her students have won over 5,283 trophies, 384 district championships, and two World Titles. Her karate team demonstrates at community events.
Master Anne is the founder and Executive Director of A Better Body and 7th Degree Black Belt Master in UPKUDO. In 2004 she was appointed President of the UPKUDO International Karate Federation. Master Anne is a Certified as a Master Fitness Trainer, REAL Essentials Life Coach, Senior and Youth Fitness Specialist, Sports Nutritionist, and created the ABB4Me for mental and physical health, Victors not Victims, and Stand Up To Bullies programs. She is a Mental Health & Personal Development Consultant.
Teaching experience spans over years and she has received many letters of commendation from the Gadsden County School Board, Senator Rick Scott, House of Representative Alan Williams, Department of Health, Gadsden Health Council and many others for her work in the community.
Alpha UPKUDO Karate and Fitness was founded in 1999 in Tallahassee FL. The school has become the main office for the UPKUDO International Karate Federation which was started by Grand Master Gary Baker, the man who founded the style of UPKUDO.
Over the years our competition team has won over 5,283 trophies, 250 division titles and two World Titles. Our students range from ages 4 up to adults. We have an on going philosophy that there is no age in UPKUDO. Once you start identifying yourself as a number you fall into the traps of either : not old enough or too old to do something. Therefore all UPKUDO students train with the positive mindset of " Love Always Wins" and "Positive In is Positive Out." Both these philosophies are Grand Master mottos he lives by and has taught them to me and I teach them to my students. But there is more to our style of karate than winning trophies.
The power of UPKUDO comes from family and love. Loyalty means a lot to members of UPKUDO especially at Alpha. The school was created to not only honor Grand Master Baker but to have a place where traditional karate can flourish without getting caught into the debates of other styles. I am a Christian and while I do not preach in the classroom, the life values of honor, love, loyalty, and respect are taught to all those who attend.
As a 7th Degree Master Instructor and student for over years with Grand Master, I have seen thousands come through the doors and still happy to say some who started with us still remain since the school was started. Those who have moved out of town or the country still remain loyal to UPKUDO. Once you are family -you are always family. My reward comes when a young adult comes up to me and says I remember when you taught me.....They are grown now but they still remember the lessons.
Self Defense has always been my first love in karate. I teach personal safety seminars and stop bullying seminars to many people each year. A lot of people just want to know how to protect themselves and not really want to train in karate. Children need to know they have the right to stand up for themselves when being picked on but never to be rude or disrespectful to others. Life is so crazy, things get out of balance. It is in discovering your strengths , your weaknesses and how to balance your life, that happiness can take root.
Another precious moment is when you see a student's eyes light up because they learn something about themselves. I never grow tired of hearing the little ones say "I love me" and the adults "I am happy with who I have become". Then I know they are truly discovering the way of UPKUDO. True traditional karate heals, not kills and preserves life. Alpha UPKUDO Karate, a journey of one in the martial arts way to discover life and how to enhance the lives of others.
Master Anne Radke
Renshi Lisa Roddenberry
Renshi Liz Tatum
Lafayette UPKUDO is located in the Lafayette Community Center. Master Anne originally started teaching classes at Lafayette in 1992. Classes are currently taught by Stephanie Vega Forbes.
Students pay the Community Center for Dues but must purchase a uniform from Alpha UPKUDO. Each student is eligible to test for an additional fee and are allowed to participate in a tournament provided they have their own mouthguard, cup and supporter through Alpha UPKUDO and have purchased an UPKUDO Federation patch. The center buys sparring gear from Alpha when needed.
Classes are held every Tuesday from 4:30-6:30 for ages 6 years to Adult. Located in the Lafayette Community Center at 501 Ingleside Avenue, Tallahassee FL 32301. For more information contact the Federation office at 850-514-4334 or email masteranne@upkudo.com .
Tully's UPKUDO was founded by Renshi Debbie Tully, assisted by Mr. Will Blanton over the years. Since its inception, the school has produced two black belts. Weekly classes are offered for students as young as six years old.
Uniforms and gear can be purchased through the Federation office. Belt testing is available for an additional fee. Students wishing to compete in tournaments are required to have at least the Federation patch. Dues are paid directly to Renshi Debbie Tully. Gear, testing and uniforms are paid to the UPKUDO Federation Office, Master Anne Radke. For more information, contact 850-556-2030 or 850-514-4334.
Renshi Debbie Tully
Master Anne Radke
Renshi Lisa Roddenberry
Renshi Debbie Tully
Renshi Liz Tatum
Master Anne Radke is one the few women who has built her own karate school and is the Chief Instructor of Alpha UPKUDO Karate & Fitness in 1999 after teaching at Lafayette Community Center since 1991. Master Anne named her school "Alpha" as a testimony that she puts God first in every aspect of her life. She has trained thousands of students with love and a positive attitude. Under the guidance of her faith and teacher, Grand Master Gary Baker, the founder of the UP KUDO system, her resilient and tenacious spirit have helped her overcome many obstacles in life and teach 1,000s of martial artists.
In 2004 she was appointed President of the UPKUDO International Karate Federation to oversee the other UPKUDO schools Lafayette and Tully's. She was awarded 7th Degree PHD Black Belt Master in UPKUDO in 2023.
In 2008 she founded the 501C3 non profit A Better Body.US organization as is the Executive Director to educate persons needing health and safety training. Since 1991 she has been teaching and helping others heal and learn to defend themselves. Her students have won over 5,350 victories in competition, 250 District State Championships and 2 World Hall of Fames, to which she credits faith and family as the driving force.
Master Anne is a Certified as a Master Fitness Trainer, Certified Life Coach, Senior, Youth Fitness Specialist, Sports Nutritionist, she created the Victors not Victims, and Stand Up To Bullies programs in 2010 that still continues to this day. The Cane DO self defense system for persons with vision impairment and special challenges was created her in 2008.
She is a Mental Health & Personal Development Consultant and Certified Life Coach. to help others learn how to defend themselves and deal with bullying behavior through her programs. Teaching experience spans over 35 years and she has received many letters of commendation from the school board as well as local and state governments for her work in the community. Currently she is working on writing a series of books with the desire to help others from her life experiences.
Honors in Martial Arts include from 2000 to 2022:
Renshi Lisa Radke Roddenberry is a 5th degree Black Belt, Instructor and Grand Champion. She is a wife and mother who balances home, career and contribution to the community.
Renshi Lisa has continued teaching for the past thirty-one years. Since 1995, she began as a kelegion kai assistant instructor with Master Anne Radke at Lafayette Community Center instructing students in UPKUDO.
After becoming a black belt, she became a kickboxing and fitness instructor teaching after school children at Alpha UPKUDO Karate five days a week in karate and fitness. She also taught kickboxing classes at night to teens and adults for ten years.
Renshi Lisa helped raise thousands of dollars for St Judes Children' Hospital from 1999-2002 with a Kick A Thon. In 2002, she was the overall grand champion kicker performing her personal best of 2,558 kicks in competition.
Her career in competition includes being inducted into the Florida Cosmopolitan 2006 Hall of Fame as Instructor of the Year. From 2000 to 2007 she competed in twenty-five black belt sparring and kata tournaments, winning the NFMAA District State Title several times. She also won the US OPEN International events 2002- 2006, sparring women from all over the world.
Her students followed in her footsteps to win many competitions in both sparring and kata going on to earn their black belt under her instruction. She inspires others as a perfectionist in technique, deep knowledge of the system and inspiration as a warrior.
Her skills outside of martial arts include team leadership, project manager at FBMC, serves as the Vice President of Alpha Advertising, sits on the Board of the UPKUDO International Karate Federation as Vice President, and is the Director of A Better Body. US 501 c3 non profit.
We are honored she has dedicated her life to improving, instructing and inspiring the lives of others in UPKUDO.
Renshi Debbie Tully started training in August 1999 with Master Anne Radke and became a Kelegion Kai assistant instructor. She later started Tully's UPKUDO and continues to teach to this day. She assists in Alpha UPKUDO's Bully Prevention And Personal Safety Seminars.
Her classes in self defense and karate classes are located at Bible Believers Fellowship Church and she assists from time to time at Alpha UPKUDO. Renshi Debbie has competed as a yellow belt to black belt from 2000-2006 in fourty-six tournaments in sparring and kata. She won the NFMAA District title and the US OPEN in 2002 and 2004 in her rank division.
She was inducted into the Cosmopolitan Hall of Fame in 2006 as Contribution to Martial arts and won J5' place at the Cosmopolitan Hall of Fame women sparring match as a black belt.
She is the Federation Secretary of the UPKUDO International Karate Federation. As a wife and mother, she proves what a warrior can achieve despite health challenges. Her drive to succeed and contribution to UPKUDO is a true asset to all those around her.
She was one of the first members of Alpha UPKUDO and remains loyal today. Professionally she works as Membership Administrator for Florida PBA.
Renshi Liz became a Kelegion Kai instructor in 1999 while still attending college. Prior to that she was a kickboxing instructor at Alpha UPKUDO. She has been teaching youth classes for many years. She also assists in the Self Defense Seminars at Alpha UPKUDO.
Renshi Liz was inducted into the 2006 Cosmopolitan Hall of Fame for Contribution to Martial Arts. She also has competed in 26 competitions in kata weapons and sparring one being the US Open. She also won the NFMAA district championship.
Currently she serves as the Youth Education Officer for the UPKUDO International Karate Federation.
As a wife and mother of three, she understands the value off amily, faith and teaching the youth to become responsible and respectful people.
Professionally she works as Assistant Director of the Florida Department of Financial Services-Division of Unclaimed Property.
Her special talents that sets her apart from the thousands who have trained, is her courage and dedication to never give up. She has overcome and accomplished so much in her life, yet remains a humble, patient, loving example of what a warrior is meant to be.
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