About the Academy of Kempo Karate - Huntersville

The Academy of Kempo Karate - Huntersville is an expansion program of Charlotte's oldest Karate school, and an affiliate school of the American Kempo Karate Association. We are a semi-traditional Karate and Martial Arts school focused on self-development, self-protection, and techniques to successfully prepare our students for real world situations, not competitions. Our karate classes for kids and adults are designed for all experience levels and age groups starting at age 6. Our Warrior Women self-protection classes are designed to prepare any woman, age 16 and up, to identify and confront the potential violent threats that exist in the world today. All our programs challenge students physically as well as mentally, focusing on building confidence, integrity and respect as they learn invaluable life protection skills and techniques.

For almost a decade Jim Shotwell has been a student of the martial arts. As his training evolved he began teaching on a regular basis at Charlotte’s oldest Karate school, the Academy of Kempo Karate. His passion for the Martial Arts is reflected in his unique teaching style allowing him to relate easily to many different student types and assist them on their journey through training. After several years of being a lead instructor at the Academy of Kempo Karate, Jim, with the support of his teacher, decided it was time to open his own program. The Academy of Kempo Karate –Huntersville was created to further the exposure of the Shorinji Toraken Ryu arts and the American Kempo Karate Association (AKKA) in the greater Charlotte area. Since the beginning Jim has been training directly under Soke Ray Ferrell, the head of the AKKA as well as his predecessor (Dr. Ron Cherry) and successor (Renshi Kevin Caldwell). During this time he has attained the following ranks: 

• Sandan (3 rd degree black belt) in Shorinji Toraken Ryu Kempo Karate
• Nidan (2 nd degree black belt) in Shorinji Toraken Ryu Jujutsu
• Shodan (1 st degree black belt) in Hakkoryu Jujutsu
• Shodan (1 st degree black belt) in Tenshinsho Jigen Ryu (a Japanese sword art)