Name: Tola Ethridge Lewis, Jr.
Born:   July 7, 1945, Columbia, SC
Rank:   9th Dan and CEO and Director of NKJU International

Biographical Information:

Born as one of the earliest of the "baby boomers" in Columbia, SC, while his father was in the US Army during WW II. After a few brief moves to Chicago, IL, Wilmington, NC, and New Bern, NC, finally settled in Raleigh, NC, in 1948. Raised in Raleigh, education began at Mt. Vernon Elementary School, LeRoy Martin Junior High School, and graduation from Needham Broughton Senior High School in June of 1963.   Attended East Carolina University (ECU) in Greenville, NC in 1963 where serious martial arts training began with Bill McDonald under Goju Shorin. Graduated from ECU 1972 with Bachelors Degree in Geography and Minor in Geology. There was a few year break for completion of active duty with the US Naval Reserves in the US Submarine Service.

Took employment with the NC Division of Veterans Affairs in Elizabeth City, NC, where worked until retirement September 1996. Began training with Barry McCarty in Shito Ryu in 1972. Ranked Shodan by Soke Shogo Kuniba 1974 while still with Seishin Kai Martial Arts Federation. Sensei McCarty turned karate school over to Mr. Lewis in 1974 which was changed
from Seishin Kai Karate School to Elizabeth City School of Karate. Soke Baillargeon was fired as US Rep for Seishin Kai in 1974 and Mr. Lewis was first to commit himself and dojo to NKJU that November of 1974.

Trained with Shihan Joe Ruiz in Zenshoto Kai until 1985 and Soke Kuniba until his death in July of 1992. At the event of Soke Baillargeon's death from cancer  on Valentine's Day, February 14, 1989, took the reins of NKJU. Ranked 9th Dan as head of NKJU July 1994.