All our instructors have studied and trained for years to qualify as part of the New Man’s Karate Team, and are trained to offer the highest quality professional instruction. Our instructors are required to continue training and development of their own skills. Every member of our instructor team is approachable, caring, and possesses a true love for teaching martial arts. Their primary goal is to assist you in being the best you can be. After taking just a few lessons, you will see why New Man’s Karate has been able to develop such high quality students since 1994.

Our Chief Instructor;

Scott Newman (who in our school is addressed by the title of Shihan) began his training in the summer of 1984 and received his Black Belt under Professor Michael M. Foley in 1993. Shihan Newman opened New Man’s Karate in April of 1994. In 2003, he married his soul mate Laura, and they have four beautiful children who are all students. Shihan Newman is currently the highest rank under Professor Foley at Sixth Degree Black Belt. He is also ranked the same by the American Jujitsu Institute (AJI) and in Serrada Escrima under Master Instructor Edward Bansuelo a Fifth Degree. He trained with the late Thomas “Tim” Deen (1944-2004) and also traveled to various places such as Japan and numerous seminars and instructors over the years to further study the Martial Arts. Shihan Newman continues the development of Koden Kan Combined Martial Arts and endeavors to refine its ever expanding curriculum. His diligent training and time invested in teaching others continues to pay off through the quality of students that are now the next generation of Martial Artists. Shihan Newman believes God is his boss, and put him in business to make Jesus known to others through the Martial Arts. As a born again Christian and believer that God wants to reveal Himself to everyone through the Bible, Shihan Newman is not ashamed to share his faith with the students or parents who show interest.

Sensei Mike Harris (Sho Dan, 1st Degree Black Belt)

Mike Harris (addressed as Sensei Harris in the school) is a retired school principle for two charter schools in the area, an avid family man committed to investing in his grown children and grandchildren’s lives, and an accomplished student of the martial arts. He is an outstanding instructor who is quick to innovate his curriculum to fit those who look to him for guidance. Sensei Harris is a great problem solver and administrator. He has participated greatly in making our school run smooth over the years.

Ik Kyu Ben Jeffrey (1st Grade Brown Belt, Apprentice Black Belt)

Ben Jeffrey began studying Koden Kan Martial Arts in 2001 at the age of 12. He began helping out with classes about one year into his training as a blue belt. In 2005 he began teaching the tiny tots. (This is the most difficult test for any instructor!) Ben is a gentle, kindhearted individual – yet you wouldn’t want to get in the way of one of his strikes! Ben is a positive example for other young men in life and faith. He leads a Bible Study and helps with many youth activities at his church. Ben spent time in the Army and after returning from a tour in Afghanistan, married the love of his life and best friend Morgan (also an instructor at our school). Ik Kyu Ben’s first Army Mixed Martial Art Tournament was a huge success as he was the unknown of his fellow 30 competitors in his Cruiserweight class. He managed become the crowd favorite and pull a second place; losing only by points in his last bout. Ben has a great love for the martial arts and plans on running his own karate school in the future along side his wife and three children. As for now, he is in training for his First Degree Black Belt (Sho Dan).

Sensei Morgan Jeffrey (Sho Dan, 1st Degree Black Belt)

Morgan (addressed as Sensei Morgan in the school) is wife of Ik Kyu Ben and is an incredible instructor able to teach the smallest of Tiny Tots in our Tiny Tot class, and a moment later switch gears to instruct adults commanding the utmost respect by her no-nonsense professional demeanor. Sensei Morgan is an encouraging leader who likes to get things done and see her students excel. She began martial arts very young as one of our Tiny Tots at 6 years old. After a break, she came back as a teenager and took off with her skills like a rocket. She is tenacious and has an amazingly positive attitude that is infectious. Sensei Morgan is very talented with instructing all ages, has taught our Women’s Cardio Kickboxing over the years, and now has her own children in our school in both the Kids and Tiny Tots Classes.

Sensei Megan Belluomini (Sho Dan, 1st Degree Black Belt)

Sensei Belluomini received her Black Belt in 2018 after a long and rigorous test that she worked diligently to conquer after 11 years of training! She is no stranger to hard work and loves to see her students work hard too. Currently a teacher residing in Japan, Sensei is also an avid traveler for school abroad, Ultimate Frisbee champ, media blogger, and extremely well versed in fiction both written and cinema, she is a wealth of information and IMO, an expert in all of the above. For her Black Belt Ceremony, Master Instructor Edward Bansuelo came to visit from Sacramento and conduct an Escrima seminar in Lotus Park, and had a wonderful outdoor event in celebration.

Ik Kyu Robert Brillisour (1st Grade Brown Belt, Apprentice Black Belt)

Ik Kyu Robert has been training in the martial arts at New Mans Karate since 2012. He began his journey because an OT recommended it to help with coordination and fine motor skills. It quickly grew into his favorite past time, and now the martial arts has become a lifelong passion. For five years Ik Kyu Robert worked at growing his communication and teaching skills as a Student Helper in our Instructor Training Program. Ik Kyu Robert worked as an Assistant Instructor for two years, demonstrating great leadership skills. He has taught at our Branch School in Cool, California as the lead Instructor, and is currently a full fledged Instructor who teaches a great number of classes in our school. He is good with all ages and enjoys teaching the adult only Combat Jujitsu Class. Ik Kyu Robert has recently married the love of his life Grace, and is currently working toward his Black Belt and his bachelor’s degree in kinesiology, and eventually a doctorate in Physical Therapy. He hopes to open is own school one day combining all the knowledge and skills he has to offer his students. With his love for the arts and passion for excellence we know he is on his way!

Ik Kyu Caleb Ames (1st Grade Brown Belt, Apprentice Black Belt)

Ik Kyu Caleb began his training in 2013 after winning a month of free lessons at the El Dorado County Fair. He soon after added to his training the Hand-to-Hand Combat Class as well. A transplant from the Midwest, he had always enjoyed martial arts in movies. He spent his childhood trying to imitate moves from fight scenes, and making padded weapons with his dad’s help. He loves studying martial arts for the confidence it’s built, the friends made, and because it gets him that much closer to his childhood dream of living out the martial arts! (More specifically as a child he had planned on being a ninja, but this is a close second!) Ik Kyu Caleb can be found instructing classes, participating as a steady, valuable member in our Demo Team, and training for his Black Belt. Ik Kyu Caleb is a gentle, quiet, and amiable soul, yet a force to be reckoned with while on the mat!

We have a great crew of talented and hard working Instructors that are committed to martial art Black Belt Excellence – we hope you have an opportunity to work with each of these fine individuals.