Palmetto Karate | Instructors

About Our Instructors

Our instructors are officially certified through the International Shotokan Karate Federation (ISKF), with ranks recognized both nationally and internationally. They are dedicated to supporting each student’s growth and helping them reach their full potential.
Safety is a core priority in our program. We maintain and enforce clear safety guidelines to reduce the risk of injury. In the event of an accident, our instructors are properly trained in CPR, basic first aid, and NFHS Concussion Protocols.﻿

Sensei Kim & Jeff Weber with Master Yutaka Yaguchi, 9th Degree Black Belt at his dojo in Denver, Colorado in 2016.

Sensei Kimberly Weber – Shichidan (7th Degree Black Belt)

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Sensei Kim Weber is a chief instructor at Palmetto Karate. She began her karate journey in 1985 in Cincinnati, Ohio, where she quickly discovered a lifelong passion for traditional Shotokan. She earned her Shodan (1st degree black belt) in 1988 under the legendary Master Yutaka Yaguchi. For four decades she has continued to advance her training and progress in the art with consistent practice with her instructors Sensei James Oberschlake and Sensei Martin Vaughan, attending training camps and graduating from the ISKF Instructor Training Program and achieving the highest instructor and officiating credentials: Level A Instructor, Level B Examiner, and Level A Tournament Judge.
While living in Cincinnati, Sensei Kim served on the Mid-America ISKF Technical Committee and spent eight years as the region’s Secretary. During this time, she founded  Shotokan Karate of Anderson in 2002, where she and her husband taught and mentored hundreds of students, building a thriving dojo community that is still in operation today.
Alongside her teaching and leadership roles, she enjoyed nearly three decades as an active competitor, and judge on the local, national, and international stages, whereas she retired from competition in 2016 after an accomplished competitive career, she sill actively judges events on a national and international level. 
One of her most celebrated tournament achievements came at the 2nd World Shotocup in Cebu, Philippines (2012), where she earned the title of World Champion in Senior Women’s Kumite, placed 2nd in Senior Women’s Kata, and received two additional gold medals as a member of Team USA in both Kata and Kumite.
Today, Sensei Kim is a chief instructor of Palmetto Karate, serves as the Chief Instructor and Secretary for the South Atlantic ISKF, where she is dedicated to sharing her knowledge, supporting the growth of each student, and carrying forward the traditions and values of Shotokan Karate.
Beyond the dojo, she is an ASFA-Certified Self-Defense Instructor with more than 20 years of experience teaching Personal Safety programs throughout the Cincinnati area and beyond.
Sensei Kim’s passion for teaching, coaching, and community empowerment continues to inspire students of all ages and skill levels.

Sensei Jeffrey Weber – Shichidan (7th Degree Black Belt)

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Sensei Jeff Weber serves as a chief instructor at Palmetto Karate and is the current Regional Director for the South Atlantic Region of the ISKF. His martial arts journey began in 1986 and achieved his shodan (1st degree black belt) in 1989.  Over the course of nearly four decades, he has devoted himself to the study, instruction, and advancement of traditional Shotokan karate.
He has competed extensively at regional, national, and international levels. In 2014, he represented the ISKF/US Team at the Pan-Am Tournament, earning a silver medal in Over-45 Team Kata. He later represented the US at the 2016 ISKF Shotocup World Tournament in Cape Town, South Africa, where he placed 3rd in Individual Over-45 Kata, 1st in Over-45 Team Kata, and 2nd in Over-45 Team Kumite.
Prior to relocating to the South Atlantic Region in 2025, Sensei Weber and his wife established Shotokan Karate of Anderson in 2002, a dojo that operated within the Mid-America Region of the ISKF. During his tenure there, he regularly participated in monthly regional trainings and contributed to the region’s leadership as a member of the Technical Committee and as regional treasurer.
Sensei Weber continues to deepen his technical understanding and teaching expertise through ongoing participation in national training camps led by senior ISKF instructors. He is a graduate of the ISKF Instructor Training Program and holds certifications as an A-level Instructor, B-level Examiner, and A-level Tournament Judge.
Beyond his martial arts commitments, Sensei Weber dedicated more than 30 years to public service as a Fire Lieutenant/Paramedic with the Anderson Township Fire Department, located just outside Cincinnati, Ohio, retiring in 2020. He also served for 24 years as a Special Deputy with the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, concluding his service in 2025.
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About Our Instructors

Our instructors are officially certified through the International Shotokan Karate Federation (ISKF), with ranks recognized both nationally and internationally. They are dedicated to supporting each student’s growth and helping them reach their full potential.

Safety is a core priority in our program. We maintain and enforce clear safety guidelines to reduce the risk of injury. In the event of an accident, our instructors are properly trained in CPR, basic first aid, and NFHS Concussion Protocols.

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Sensei Kimberly Weber – Shichidan (7th Degree Black Belt)

Sensei Jeffrey Weber – Shichidan (7th Degree Black Belt)