Shihan Tony Butler, 5th Dan, lives by and teaches to the hundreds of children in his program "Faith, Focus and Follow Through." The power of these words has created one of the largest youth programs within the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU), not to mention the National and World Champion athletes Shihan Butler has produced!

In 1967, Shihan Butler began his affiliation with the martial arts as a student with World Seido Karate Organization headed by Tadashi Nakamura. He further studied with the Tani-Ha Shitoryu Shukokai World Karate Union.

In 1994, Shihan Butler founded his own AAU affiliated martial arts karate school called the American Institution of Japanese Karate (AIJK). This school began as a youth program to teach children integrity, discipline and a sense of self-worth. The school continues to grow, enrolling adults, youth and children into the AAU organization.

Shihan Butler teaches students throughout the City of Albany and surrounding areas. He runs programs in four community centers within the City of Albany, including Arbor Hill, Hoffman Park, Saint Vincent de Paul and Lincoln Park. His largest program is an elementary after school karate enrichment program, which is located at the Albany Schools of Humanities (ASH). He has worked with the City of Albany school district over the last fifteen years to grow this program from twenty students to nearly a hundred current students.

Shihan Butler has built an organization based not only on traditional Karate-Do, but also on the philosophies of team spirit, the importance of family and the power of love. He stresses the importance of education, discipline, focus responsibility, respect and pride, while improving self-esteem which is instilled in the students that he teaches.

Shihan Butler has volunteered to referee, coach, officiate and assist at all AAU events. He was appointed to the position of Adirondack Association Chairperson and has taught numerous students that have gone to the World Championships and students who have won gold, silver and bronze medals in National Championships and Junior Olympics.

Shihan Butler not only volunteers his time in martial arts but he was also the past president of the Capital Region AAU basketball league, has been an AAU basketball coach since 1988, a CYO girls basketball coach from 1983 - 1986 and an assistant coach for Holy Names School Varsity basketball.

Shihan Butler has received numerous awards:

• 1999 - 2004: Outstanding Service Award from the National AAU Karate Committee
• 1993: Capital Region Community R.J. Manning Award
• 1994: Public Safety Award
• 1996: Albany City School System PTA Founders Day Honoree and Lifetime Membership Award
• 1999: Recognition from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)
• 2005: Resolution of Commendation for Dedication from the Rensselaer County Legislature
• 2006: WNYT Educator of the Week
• 2006: Metroland in November 2006 and recognized as a local hero in the Metroland December 2006
• 2007: CEDACCA Award for community service and commitment

In 2006, Shihan Butler, along with Mr. Joseph Sorce, expanded the program by creating the Albany Council of the Traditional Karate-Do Organization, Inc. (AC-TKO). This organization is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization which enables the youth of our community to develop self-esteem, discipline and self-knowledge, which allows each and every one of them to prosper and achieve personal goals. Their vision is to form a positive community based organization which reaches out to the youth in Capital Region. Together, Shihan Butler and Mr. Sorce stress the importance of education as an integral factor of the learning and growing process.