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AKKA is a highly motivated,
success-minded and goal-orientated, professional Karate
organization that is totally committed to the students
enrolled in our training curriculums.
Established nationally in 1972 by Grandmaster Bill Packer,
AKKA Karate USA (American Kenpo Karate Academies) came to
Kansas City, Missouri,in 1975. Providing professional
instruction in Kenpo Karate, Combative Training and
Competition, as well as Aerobic Conditioing classes, we
offer a workout for everyone.
We take pride in our student diversity, and still understand
our common goals, responsibilities, and expectations for our
community. One of our many intentions is to offer you
professional, quality Martial Arts instruction in an
exciting, fun, safe, and positive atmosphere.
Offering innovative teaching methods framed by the
traditional protocol of the Martial Arts offers a
personalized learning experience in a step-by-step fashion
that anyone can learn.
Throughout your tenure of training, our Kenpo students will
be gradually exposed to an array of assorted techniques,
training methods, and drills set to open up YOUR maximum
potential! AKKA’s training curriculum is committed to the
development of traditional values and internal values such
as concentration,
control, self-discipline through the Martial Arts
 Sam and Katie Middleton
(with their children Miranda and Hannah) are the owners
of AKKA Karate USA’s Northland facility. Collectively,
both owners have been involved with AKKA for 33 years,
as well as previous training totalling over 50 years.
Mrs. Middleton is celebrating her
15th year of training. Starting in 1996, Mrs. Middleton
started training while her husband was managing the
Westport school.
In 2001, Katie along with her
husband accepted the opportunity to open their own
school in the Northland. Soon after, the Middletons
quickly understood the value of a unified front with
running the school.
When they both took an active hand in the school, they
saw significant growth and development in the school and
student body. While Sam had the experience of AKKA
instruction and management, Katie brought a new and
vibrant structure to AKKA’s culture -- a culture that
encourages learning that is fun and exciting for kids
and adults.
She also brings a strength of consistency and dedication
to the school. Katie is responsible for the character
development emphasized in the school. Mrs. Middleton
also has successfully implemented a turnkey rotating
curriculum for our ‘Kenpo Tigers’ program. The course's
success is shown by retention of our ‘Kenpo Tigers’ that
transfer over to our ‘Junior’ curriculum. Students who
begin in Mrs. Middleton’s ‘Kenpo Tigers’ program are
very aware of social rules, courtesies, and have a solid
idea of educational adaptation, and they are highly
capable of adapting to the newer, faster, more mature
karate classes.
In 2000, Mrs. Middleton received her 1st Degree Black
Belt. Mrs. Middleton recently received the rank of 4th
Degree Black Belt in 2009. Leading by example, Mrs.
Middleton has targeted her goal of 5th Degree Black Belt
in 2014.
Mr. Middleton’s training in the
Martial Arts began in 1979 in Naperville, Illnios, in a
karate class offered through the YMCA and taught by an
Egyptian trainer, Ahmed Toha.
Sam excelled under his teaching and quickly became one
of his top students. The focus of the classes leaned
more towards self-discipline, characture and combat. It
was an excelent class emphasizing stand-up fighting, in
addition to the traditional values of stand-up martial
arts. After moving to St. Louis,
Sam started with Tracy's Kenpo
Karate under Joe Talbot and Sid Gi in 1980. Mr.
Middleton grew as a student under Sid Gi's training.
The Tracy's school wanted to have Sam start as an
assistant instructor for them, but unfotunately he had
to move to New Jersey. Upon settling in Randolph, New
Jersey, he quickly set out to find a new school.
He joined a local Tae Kwon Do school and developed
dynamic kicking skills as well as became instantly the
man to beat in sparring, so much so that the head
instructor became the only one to fight him. He was set
to take the Black Belt examination and decided that Tae
Kwon Do was not the style for him and decided not to
test in it.
He continued his own training as well as competing in
wrestling for 2 years and gymnastics for 1 year. Mr.
Middleton went to Kansas State University studying
Architecture and continued his own training while there,
including taking on several students during the time he
was there. In 1992 he moved to Kansas City and joined
the AKKA Karate USA in Westport on June 3, 1993.
His main instructor was Bruce Davis until the year of
his 1st Degree Black Belt. Through Bruce Davis, he
started up his tournament career again and traveled all
over the country competing. During part of his
tournament training he was ranked nationally in the
Kenpo divisions and Sparring, as well as winning
competitor of the year for 3 years straight, (title
since retired). One year after joining AKKA, Mr.
Middleton started instructing for the Wesport school.
In exactly three years on June 3, 1996, Sam, was
promoted to 1st Degree Black Belt. Ater receiving his
1st degree Black Belt, he quit Architecture and joined
the management of the AKKA Westport school, Where he
stayed on until opening his own school in the Northland
in 2001. During which time Sam continued his competitive
spirit takeing up natural Body Building and competing
successfully for 4 years winning the Missouri over all
and competing for a professional spot.
Mr. Middleton also started his
training in the Human Validation processes under Fathers
Sons and Brothers, where he learned the priciples
developed by Virginia Satir on Human communications as
well as working on the "Say it Straight" program.
Through his study of the Martial Arts and various
avenues of human psychology, he has developed a very
loyal value-based cummunity of students with whom he and
his wife have the honor and privilege to continue to
instruct, guide and grow with. Since then Mr. Middleton
has achieved the rank of 5th Degree Black and sets his
goal for 6th Degree in June 2012. |
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