Sensei Floyd Burk

The senior Black Belt instructor of Traditional American Karate is Sensei Floyd Burk.  Sensei Burk has over 30 years experience and has trained in many styles of martial arts which include Shorin-Ryu Karate, Shotokan Karate, Shito-Ryu Karate, American Karate, Full Contact Karate, Chinese Kung-Fu and Jujitsu. Sensei Burk is currently an officially authorized examiner with the authority to conduct proficiency examinations and issue rank to those at the student, black belt, and instructor levels.

Sensei Burk is also a free-lance writer and regular contributing writer and photographer for Black Belt Magazine.

Sensei's 10th Dan Promotion (September 26, 2009). Pictured are Grandmasters Bill "Superfoot" Wallace, Bernie Fritz, Floyd Burk and Danny Chapman.

Recent Articles from Black Belt Magazine

• Hwang Kee (1914 - 2002)  (Black Belt Magazine, Dec 2002)
• Choi Hong-hi (1918 - 2002) (Black Belt Magazine, Oct 2002)
• Better Breathing Reduces Stress  (Black Belt Magazine, Sep 2002)
• Taekwondo for Youth is All About Discipline  (Black Belt Magazine, Aug 2002)
• Lethal Weapons (Black Belt Magazine, Aug 2002)
• Combat Hapkido: A New Art for a New Generation  (Black Belt Magazine, Jul 2002)
• One-step Drills for Self Defense.  (Black Belt Magazine, Jun 2002)
• Combat and Competition: How Benny "The Jet" Urquidez Designed the Ultimate Martial Art.  (Black Belt Magazine, Jun 2002)
• Motivation is the Key to Success  (Black Belt Magazine, May 2002)
• Gold Medal Taekwondo - Steve Lopez reveals 6 Sparring Techniques that could carry you to Olympic Victory (Black Belt Magazine, May 2002)
• Top 10 - World's Greatest Promoter Aaron Banks looks back on the Milestones of his 352-Tournament Career  (Black Belt Magazine, Mar 2002)
• From Taekwondo to Point Fighting  (Black Belt Magazine, Mar 2002)
• Olympic Gold-Medal Jumping Drills  (Black Belt Magazine, Feb 2002)
• Secrets of 9 Palms Praying Mantis - David Carradine and a Kung Fu Master Launch an Exciting New Art (Black Belt Magazine, Jan 2002)
• Competitor of the Year - John Fonseca  (Black Belt Magazine, Feb 2002)
• The Secret of Chuck Norri (Black Belt Magazine, Dec 2001)
• Legacy of Bruce Lee - Dan Inosanto Strives to Keep the Art and Philosophy of Jeet Kune Do Alive  (Black Belt Magazine, Nov 2001)
• David Carradine - 30 Years of Kwai Chang Caine  (Black Belt Magazine, Nov 2001)
• How to Score with a Jump Kick  (Black Belt Magazine, Oct 2001)
• Ultimate Kata - Shotokan Karate Expert Joe Mirza says Forms are what Separates the Martial Arts from Organized Brawling (Black Belt Magazine, Oct 2001) see feedback
• More Ways to Improve your Poomsae (Black Belt Magazine, Sep 2001)
• The Modernization of an Ancient Art  (Black Belt Magazine, Aug 2001)
• 4 Ways to Improve your Poomsae (Black Belt Magazine, Jun 2001)
• Is Olympic Success Good or Bad for Taekwondo  (Black Belt Magazine, May 2001)
• Gold-Medalist Steven Lopez on the Olympic Experience (Black Belt Magazine, Apr 2001)
• Isshin-Ryu Plus - Karate Legend Gary Alexander  (Black Belt Magazine, Apr 2001) see feedback
• Scoring with the Ax Kick (Black Belt Magazine, Mar 2001)
• 8 Steps to Mastering the Samurai Sword  (Black Belt Magazine, Feb 2001)
• Combat Kempo - Learn How the Shaolin Monks became Undefeatable Fighters (Black Belt Magazine, Dec 2000)
• 5 to Keep you Alive - Kenzo Mabuni Teaches the Best Blocks of Shito-Ryu Karate (Black Belt Magazine, Nov 2000)
• Legendary Kicks: Bill Wallace and Christine Bannon-Rodriguez Teach you how to Kick like a Champion  (Black Belt Magazine, Oct 2000) see feedback

Article feedback

"Thanks for 'Ultimate Kata,' by Floyd Burk ... It clearly explained why kata provides effective training for real-world combat, how they work and how they fit into the total curriculum" 
Black Belt Magazine letters, Feb 2002

"...April 2001 Black Belt...included a feature article about me ('Isshin-Ryu Plus').  Thank you for the complimentary remarks.  It was very flattering...One point that I would like to correct is that I am not a decorated former Marine...I received citations and such, but the term 'decorated' should be reserved for the heroes."
Gary Alexander, Black Belt Magazine letters, June 2001

"I was pleasantly surprised to find Floyd Burk's 'Legendary Kicks' ...The article was well-written, and no one could have chosen better kickers than those two martial artists." 
Black Belt Magazine letters, Mar 2001