https://www.akato.org/history daily 0.75 2025-05-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6802c6c5f34ea50bff01bca0/65070b33-f670-4126-a20c-160d2599f66f/yates.rhee.steen.history.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6802c6c5f34ea50bff01bca0/09cf6d06-3c30-48bf-b3f4-33fe93505afe/Bodhidharma2.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6802c6c5f34ea50bff01bca0/6bc09dcc-0d9a-4697-96f6-098dd4f599a0/funakoshi.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6802c6c5f34ea50bff01bca0/99716671-1ce2-4bcd-a789-bd4e50cc4311/choi.hong.hi.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6802c6c5f34ea50bff01bca0/d4d7809c-ebb3-4089-8e7a-58ce1df8f3f6/rhee.gold.gi.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6802c6c5f34ea50bff01bca0/c3fcacba-1e9d-4bd3-be8b-fecdfbf30e05/olympic.tkd.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6802c6c5f34ea50bff01bca0/7c1301dd-55a7-4907-a951-7d076a6febe5/steen.yates.fistsup.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6802c6c5f34ea50bff01bca0/6a649c92-7181-4bdf-b068-2967c143e115/NSK.patch.onblack.jpg https://www.akato.org/home daily 1.0 2026-03-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6802c6c5f34ea50bff01bca0/6c615902-7d0a-47fe-ac4b-62815558da5f/KYates.1972.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6802c6c5f34ea50bff01bca0/4ca88113-fa68-43a9-a5a4-c3574e782838/akato.logo.4c.transp.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6802c6c5f34ea50bff01bca0/b9884ec6-fad4-4812-b77a-7e62932ad461/Rhee.Yates.Norris.forsite2.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6802c6c5f34ea50bff01bca0/6abe2d99-55a9-44ef-9ce9-87b7eded264f/barrnett.alster2.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6802c6c5f34ea50bff01bca0/98cd5b8d-9735-46d2-af10-e94f2a5bc672/goodspeed.teach.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6802c6c5f34ea50bff01bca0/2318e523-9310-4960-9da4-06ab0e182156/cox.nelson2.jpg https://www.akato.org/black-belts daily 0.75 2026-01-22 https://www.akato.org/styles daily 0.75 2025-05-20 https://www.akato.org/classes daily 0.75 2026-04-01 https://www.akato.org/keithyates daily 0.75 2025-05-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6802c6c5f34ea50bff01bca0/3fb1a7cd-ddc9-4dce-999c-0fc02ac02c12/yates.parker.portrait.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6802c6c5f34ea50bff01bca0/620ed2cd-d2c0-457b-b645-98436b274c89/magazine.covers.KY.jpg https://www.akato.org/gallery-1 daily 0.75 2025-04-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6802c6c5f34ea50bff01bca0/ab147e8a-2ec6-4395-9e20-7e3f78ea4f49/old+masters_1024.jpg Gallery1 1964, back, Allen Steen, George Mattson, Ed Parker, Tsutomu Ohshima, Robert Trias, front, Pat Burleson, Bruce Lee, Anthony Mirakian, Jhoon Rhee. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6802c6c5f34ea50bff01bca0/f94f0944-1ebe-49f5-a008-888391e2378b/jhoon.rhee.jumpkick.BW.jpg Gallery1 Jhoon Rhee shows his agility in the 1960s. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6802c6c5f34ea50bff01bca0/c181bc8e-efdf-430e-b48b-5071a2146aa5/yates.blue.belt.44.jpg Gallery1 Keith Yates as a blue belt in 1966. Note the half dyed belt indicating someone under the age of 17 (standard practice in those days). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6802c6c5f34ea50bff01bca0/1aa74498-a7ee-4b0d-a522-4a417fa27e2b/yates.toney68.jpg Gallery1 First brown belt Keith Yates side kicks towards first black belt James Toney in 1968. Photo taken at the Texas Instruments karate club. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6802c6c5f34ea50bff01bca0/48ed102c-fe13-4a7e-8d3e-5ef1e0b6efc6/Gross.Wren_1024.jpg Gallery1 Harold Gross demonstrates on Fred Wren at the Texas Karate Institute in 1967. In the background are James Toney and Keith Yates. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6802c6c5f34ea50bff01bca0/d3ea3068-356d-4631-886d-a1cdd30376dd/team.karate.1970..45.jpg Gallery1 1970 Championship Texas Fighting Team. Candy Simpson, Demetrius "Greek" Havanas, coach Skipper Mullins, Keith Yates https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6802c6c5f34ea50bff01bca0/db03b78a-cbc0-4bd5-b476-aaccd56e84fe/OK.steen.jpg Gallery1 Allen R. Steen from a 1970 "Official Karate Magazine" spread. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6802c6c5f34ea50bff01bca0/552eae07-934a-43e3-bb9a-3a2a6a9682ab/RoyceYoungKeithYates.HR.jpg Gallery1 Keith Yates leaps at fellow Texas Karate Institute instructor Royce Young. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6802c6c5f34ea50bff01bca0/6144aa2e-689d-472b-be91-06bf69b008b6/Joanns.BB.jpg Gallery1 1974, Larry Wheeler, Bob Woerner, Paul Hinkley with Keith Yates behind, at the JoAnn's School of Dance in North Dallas. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6802c6c5f34ea50bff01bca0/06ceb3d1-b317-439b-9958-a0d1aace84dc/Yates.Woerner.Jumping.jpg Gallery1 Bob Woerner and Keith Yates, 1981. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6802c6c5f34ea50bff01bca0/c7d462ff-e813-4254-b20f-ecf991f3d222/yates.baldinger.jpg Gallery1 Yates instructs NFL offensive lineman Brian Baldinger at a Dallas Cowboys mini camp in 1981. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6802c6c5f34ea50bff01bca0/ee5629b6-2c7e-4c6e-88a7-eb10889e3b9d/Rhee.Yates.1986.jpg Gallery1 Jhoon Rhee (the "Father of American TKD") and Keith Yates after a 6 am workout in 1986. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6802c6c5f34ea50bff01bca0/bcf2c511-569c-42b1-8526-e83770d95ccf/87.dmn_1024.jpg Gallery1 A 1987 story on Keith Yates in the Dallas Morning News, with Mr. Yates and Bryan Robbins pictured. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6802c6c5f34ea50bff01bca0/222ebfe1-08de-43a0-a5d8-795abe174d21/Goodspeed.yates.35.5.jpg Gallery1 Caroline Goodspeed was the 1993 AKATO Instructor of the Year. At 9th dan she is the highest ranking female in NamSeoKwan TKD. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6802c6c5f34ea50bff01bca0/d3a00845-ea83-423b-8ea3-c614ace0d214/DC.demo.teams.square.jpg Gallery1 Keith Yates led the US Junior TKD Demo Team at the opening of the Korean War Memorial in Washington DC, in 1995. Here they pose with the Korean Junior Team which performed with them on the National Mall. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6802c6c5f34ea50bff01bca0/a7602f6b-cc40-46da-bfb4-76c18f46bc10/miller.goodspeed.cox.jpg Gallery1 Randy Miller, Caroline Goodspeed, Keith Yates, Kelly Cox after a 1996 exam. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6802c6c5f34ea50bff01bca0/adca17ec-7cb7-4aa1-9bab-e144ce41b033/Tom.Gilyard.Howard.jpg Gallery1 Tom Thompson, Keith Yates, film and TV star Clarence Gilyard, and Howard Jackson at the 1999 AKATO Banquet. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6802c6c5f34ea50bff01bca0/082e2e2b-cc3c-49a9-a6e7-ce651abba141/yates.aaron.barnett.46.jpg Gallery1 Keith Yates and Aaron Barnett during filming of a video. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6802c6c5f34ea50bff01bca0/960e7c1b-f529-4eb9-87ab-d243dbb2460a/kurban.norris.yates.jpg Gallery1 Roy Kurban, Chuck Norris, and Keith Yates at a KickStart fundraiser in Houston in 2002. Mr. Yates served on the KickStart Board for a number of years. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6802c6c5f34ea50bff01bca0/65aac552-ba59-4dd3-a0d5-7b62db408f79/steenYatesMullinsBurleson.06.jpg Gallery1 2006, Allen Steen, Keith Yates, Skipper Mullins and Pat Burleson at the AKATO's 30th Anniversary banquet. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6802c6c5f34ea50bff01bca0/76287a91-627d-4bce-bbc7-a61a56da3d6f/proctor.cox_1024.jpg Gallery1 Mike Proctor and Kelly Cox demo at the 2011 AKATO banquet. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6802c6c5f34ea50bff01bca0/afcd9e78-da88-41d5-a7b4-9135c7701b78/GM.lineup_1024.jpg Gallery1 Pioneers of Taekwondo honored at the TKD Grandmasters Society banquet in 2012. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6802c6c5f34ea50bff01bca0/584478df-0a03-4502-87d9-df43929d9507/alster.gerald.yates.jpg Gallery1 Yates inducted into the Martial Arts History Museum Hall of Fame, 2015. Pictured Jon Alster, film star Gerald Okamura, Mr. Yates. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6802c6c5f34ea50bff01bca0/74fff1ad-abaf-42a2-ad58-a525e65c3b10/wilson.rothrock.yates_1024.jpg Gallery1 Film director Art Camacho, action stars Don Wilson and Cynthia Rothrock with Keith Yates at the Masters Hall of Fame. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6802c6c5f34ea50bff01bca0/03ac887a-6699-4a46-a4f7-34631761fee1/norris.yates.steen.jet.jpg Gallery1 Chuck Norris, Keith Yates, Allen Steen, on their way to Jhoon Rhee's memorial service in D.C. in 2018. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6802c6c5f34ea50bff01bca0/9a37a221-d0ff-40f1-9a53-4ff151537f9f/stephen.hayes.jpg Gallery1 Yates inducted into the Martial Arts Legends Hall of Fame in Las Vegas, 2019. Pictured with Stephen Hayes and Jessie Bowen. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6802c6c5f34ea50bff01bca0/ae61fc5f-1173-4255-a728-b8482cfef430/HOF.2022.jpg Gallery1 Yates inducted into the Official Taekwondo Hall of Fame in 2022 in New York City. Pictured with Linda Yates. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6802c6c5f34ea50bff01bca0/eeb0242f-701a-4897-b886-9785949efc73/kurban.steen.yates.nocapt.jpg Gallery1 in 2024, Yates retired from the American Karate Black Belt Assoc. as Chairman of the Board. Pictured with Roy Kuban, Allen Steen (founder of the AKBBA). https://www.akato.org/news daily 0.75 2026-04-01 https://www.akato.org/terms daily 0.75 2025-05-20 https://www.akato.org/gallery-2 daily 0.75 2025-04-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6802c6c5f34ea50bff01bca0/2f6751db-e6a3-45eb-a021-2bfe09d99417/samurai.museum.group.jpg Gallery2 3/27/26, a group of AKATO black belts got a private tour of the Samurai Museum in downtown Dallas during the 50th anniversary weekend. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6802c6c5f34ea50bff01bca0/0842fecb-3f66-47f8-a034-bb1993bd5b8c/t.vaughn.2.jpg Gallery2 Tommy Vaughn taught an exciting knife defense seminar at the 50th celebration. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6802c6c5f34ea50bff01bca0/2e553346-a373-4917-9a8e-212d72fa8367/k.cox.seminar.jpg Gallery2 Kelly Cox tosses Drake Pledger during his class at the AKATO 50 year weekend. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6802c6c5f34ea50bff01bca0/fed2d2a4-a59a-40e2-8f5c-c898717e1c02/colin.50th.seminar.jpg Gallery2 Colin Wee was impressive as always as he taught over 50 black belts at during the weekend. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6802c6c5f34ea50bff01bca0/e6f90083-ba06-4b53-8e72-2ffa6b27fc02/50th.seminars.jpg Gallery2 Alex Brandt and Randy Shine training at the 50th event. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6802c6c5f34ea50bff01bca0/53be3939-01a1-441e-acda-56d9700b1f95/m.mendoza.knife.jpg Gallery2 Michael Mendoza and Caleb Skipper https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6802c6c5f34ea50bff01bca0/d1c7e859-171a-4696-a92c-5d3289079804/d.pledger.knife.jpg Gallery2 Drake Pledger and Alan Hammill https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6802c6c5f34ea50bff01bca0/2fe291d8-1a06-4368-81cd-35a15f181981/pugliese.merhout.knife.jpg Gallery2 Tim Pugliese and Thomas Merhout https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6802c6c5f34ea50bff01bca0/84d1b150-2b0b-401f-afba-426a6c82b7c7/ceaser.promotion.jpg Gallery2 Ceaser Johnson (second from left) was promoted to 7th dan in January 2026. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6802c6c5f34ea50bff01bca0/860fa661-8f96-430a-8ac8-2b601a971c61/exam.11.25.jpg Gallery2 New black belts, November 15, 2025 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6802c6c5f34ea50bff01bca0/8319fa23-9b06-4f00-b794-bb616942c28f/exam.board.11.25.jpg Gallery2 An impressive board of examiners https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6802c6c5f34ea50bff01bca0/221801f0-5032-4397-9384-8f461e9a7e2e/kevin.buckley.jpg Gallery2 Kevin Buckley throws Nick Paldino as he demonstrates for his 4th Dan rank https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6802c6c5f34ea50bff01bca0/0d83e592-f1fd-486e-b398-db1c2463c84f/devin.buckley.jpg Gallery2 Devin Buckley (earning his black belt) shows self defense as he escapes from his mom's grasp. Lianne earned her fourth dan. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6802c6c5f34ea50bff01bca0/4667016f-fbba-44a5-bda7-9a037c822446/bethany.maxine.jpg Gallery2 New black belts, Bethany Edmonson and Maxie Desmarias https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6802c6c5f34ea50bff01bca0/868d56b8-653e-45f9-ba5f-91f447368516/cohen.meeks.jpg Gallery2 Dan Cohen earned his third dan. Here with his friend and training partner Tim Meeks. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6802c6c5f34ea50bff01bca0/f25fc1a3-50a1-4e74-b740-b69dace6bffc/Lynn.kids.tourney.25.jpg Gallery2 Mark Lynn with his students who competed in the 2025 weapons division, Jacob Galindo, Nick Walters (first place), Nathaniel Nipand Harley Cooper https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6802c6c5f34ea50bff01bca0/ec52ce1b-82ba-4b4e-97cd-72cfeac1a4c5/BB.tourney.25.jpg Gallery2 2025 Black belt sparring competitors, Angel Perez, Daniel Trimmell, Nick Edwards and Alexis Romero (first place). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6802c6c5f34ea50bff01bca0/f943bd4f-6ff0-49e2-b801-35987771ca37/bonstaff.group.jpg Gallery2 Keith D. Yates with the group that drove from Louisiana. Kylie Dillinger, Michael Mendoza, Janan Ellis and Mike Bonstaff. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6802c6c5f34ea50bff01bca0/f7863020-f29c-4edb-879f-053b57869eb1/Red.belts.tourney.25.jpg Gallery2 2025 Teenage red/brown belt division competitors Kevin Jackson and Michael Mendoza. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6802c6c5f34ea50bff01bca0/c64ee25f-8ed5-41ac-b97c-937d60dc02d2/2025.promotions.jpg Gallery2 4/5/25–Kelly Cox, Mike Bonstaff (promoted to 9th dan), Keith Yates, Ginny Tyler (promoted to 5th dan), Drake Pledger (promoted to 5th dan), Mike Proctor. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6802c6c5f34ea50bff01bca0/a8ef9f81-746d-491a-a661-62867b191232/YMCA.retirement.group2.jpg Gallery2 4/20/24–Over 75 students past and present gather for Keith Yates' retirement after teaching for almost 40 years at the Richardson Y. Mr. Yates will continue to teach at various locations. https://www.akato.org/yates-tree daily 0.75 2025-05-20 https://www.akato.org/contact-1 daily 0.75 2025-08-11 https://www.akato.org/resources daily 0.75 2025-04-22 https://www.akato.org/resources/p/gold-package-zpymg monthly 0.5 2026-01-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6802c6c5f34ea50bff01bca0/849b4854-2923-4e91-95ea-d08e4726acfe/Guide.tkd.forweb.jpg Resources - Complete Guide to American Karate and TKD https://www.akato.org/resources/p/deluxe-327j3 monthly 0.5 2026-01-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6802c6c5f34ea50bff01bca0/30a528c8-d48e-45b6-93fd-7c79e493fdb5/MA.Christ.forweb.jpg Resources - Martial Arts and Christianity https://www.akato.org/resources/p/basic-xfant monthly 0.5 2026-01-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6802c6c5f34ea50bff01bca0/ce44563d-dfbf-4ecd-b5dd-88ecf8e1ef9d/samurai.forweb.jpg Resources - Young Samurai https://www.akato.org/videos daily 0.75 2025-05-20 https://www.akato.org/videos/v/hosted-with-custom-z9ehj-dwh9x-6cyyh monthly 0.5 2025-05-19 https://www.akato.org/videos/v/planet-earth-mejnx-d2a8y-s2yze monthly 0.5 2025-05-19 https://www.akato.org/videos/v/everything-to-sell-anything-427ge-88xsk-mcctx monthly 0.5 2025-05-19