About

Our instructors are uniquely qualified. We bring decades of experience – teaching karate to thousands of students, training with outstanding teachers in Okinawa and the US, plus invaluable real-world experience in law enforcement and in other professional roles – a needed reality-check in teaching practical self-defense. This allows us to further the goals of everyone we train with at Mountain Karate.

Fourth degree Black Belt Instructor Tarleton Brooks

Lead instructor Jeff Brooks, 9th degree black belt, began his martial arts training in 1978.

He ran his dojo in Northampton, MA from 1988 through 2009, teaching thousands of adults and children karate, and holding self-defense seminars, and professional programs in combative skills. He received his 5th degree Black Belt from the Nagamine honbu dojo, his 7th degree black belt in 2004 and his 9th degree black belt in 2022, in recognition of his formulation and leadership of Yamabayashi Ryu.

He opened Mountain Karate opened in 2017 after a career in law enforcement.

Sensei Brooks learned from leading teachers in Okinawan, Japanese, and Chinese traditions in the US and overseas.

Among them Katsuhiko Shinzato, translator of Shoshin Nagamine’s Essence of Okinawan Karate Do, and formerly a student of the Kishaba brothers’ karate and kobudo;

Sogen Sakiyama, Roshi, direct student of Miyagi Chojun, and practitioner of Goju-ryu karate;

and Shoshin Nagamine, Chief of the Motobu District Police, Mayor of Naha, and founder of Matsubayashi Shorin Ryu.

Jeff Brooks served as a police officer, detective, defensive tactics instructor, firearms instructor, PPCT instructor, Deputy US Marshal, and deputy Sheriff.

Jeff Brooks has written hundreds of published articles on martial arts, and has been cited widely online and in print. He wrote speeches and presentations for high profile public figures in politics, media, business and the arts.

He is author of several books including “The Good Fight – The Virtues and Value of the Martial Arts” published in 2019.

Mountain Karate is part of a global network of dedicated practitioners and professionals. Friends and visitors from around the world join together to share training, insights and spirit.