Gospel Martial Arts Union Conference
Mr. Yates is also on the board of the GMAU, so it is appropriate to let you know that this Christian martial arts ministry is holding it’s national conference in Richardson on September 13, featuring many world champions and . If you are interested you can go to www.gmau.org for more information.

Richardson Y to Hold Tournament Oct 4
The karate club at the Richardson Y will hold a tournament on October 4, 2025. Because this is not the usual, “official” AKATO tournament there is no sign-up on this website. But the good news is the entry fee is ZERO. That’s correct, there is no entry fee, just a two-dollar per spectator fee that will go to the scholarship programs at the YMCA. There will still be medals for both kata and sparring but you must PREREGISTER so the divisions can be set up in advance. Contact Mrs. Goodspeed or Mr. Looney directly with your entrants. timothywlooney@gmail.com

Black Belt Examination on November 15
The Richardson Y club will also host a black belt examination on Saturday, November 15. Several AKATO schools will participate.

2025 AKATO Awards and Promotions
STUDENTS OF THE YEAR
Richardson YMCA: Elijah Clarkin, Ronan Daffer, Eden Mandujano
Alpha Self Defense: Henry Munoz, Sonny Adelman
Plano YMCA: Tony Basti
Cooper Martial Arts: Chris Sigakis
Denison Family Karate: Jack Lopez
Discicples Making Disciples: Joshua Grundy
Hands On Karate: Austin Davis
Hidden Sword MA: Jacob Galindo
Marudo Karate: Rudy Amok
North Texas Karate: Bailey Baker
Mesquite TKD: Isaiah Guevara
Strom’s Black Belt Acad: Lisa O’Brien
Bonstaff Acad of TKD: Janan Ellis
Texas Karate Inst Lubbock: Kristen Horton, Darren Nguyen
Murphy MA & Self Defense: Michael Ellis
Old Settlers TKD: Zuriel Orakwe
Instructor of the Year: Ben Robles

Keith D. Yates Retires from the Richardson YMCA
Mr. Yates actually started teaching at the Town North YMCA as a brown belt assistant instructor in 1967. He was the head instructor at Allen Steen's Texas Karate Institute on Hillcrest Avenue in Dallas for many years and when Steen retired in 1976, Mr. Yates began teaching at various locations around North Texas including SMU, several dance studios and recreation centers until he became the martial arts teacher at the Richardson YMCA in 1982. He would also teach at the Garland Y, at Richland College, and at the Cooper Aerobics Institute. He oversaw other YMCA classes at the Lake Highlands Y and the Plano Y. Now after all these decades of service to the YMCA he is retiring from his regular classes in Richardson. TO BE CLEAR, he will continue to teach the black belt weapons classes in Dallas and the Tai Chi classes in McKinney (and, of course special seminars) but the Richardson Y held a retirement celebration on Saturday, April 20, 2024, with over 75 people in attendance including many of his early black belts. Congratulations on decades of service to the Y.