Barron Shepherd is a 6th degree black belt in Kenpo Karate and Jujutsu, a certified instructor and state representative for The International Kenpo Karate Academies (IKKA). Sensei Shepherd also holds black belts in Judo and Shotokan.
Committed to the study of Karate and Jujutsu for over thirty years and dedicated to his neighborhood and community, Sensei Shepherd has done seminars on crime prevention and women’s self defense courses for several businesses, women’s organizations and clubs. Sensei Shepherd was once certified to train police officers in the self defense and use of force portions of state regulated police training and has volunteered countless hours as an auxiliary law enforcement officer providing back up for regular duty law enforcement officers. Presently, Shepherd is a volunteer for the YMCA teaching Kenpo Karate and Jujutsu.
Shepherd's interest in Karate began at the age of thirteen in 1978. Inspired by movies such as "Breaking Point" starring Bo Svenson, "Judo's Gentle Tiger" and "Enter the Dragon" starring the late Bruce Lee, Shepherd purchased the book "Bruce Lee's Fighting method Vol. two: Basic Training" published by Ohara Publications. Shepherd studied from the book and followed the training that was described in it. His solo training continued until the summer of 1979. That summer Shepherd worked as a laborer for his father and uncle who were block masons. Using the money he earned, Shepherd enrolled for lessons at Winter Haven 6th street Karate Dojo.
Shepherd earned his 1st degree black belt on Feb. 12th 1987. In 1989 Shepherd became an Auxiliary Law enforcement officer and certified Law enforcement Instructor thru the state of Florida. In April of 1991, Shepherd received his 2nd degree black belt and opened his first school AMERICAN KARATE SYSTEMS located on 3rd st. n.w. in Winter Haven, Florida. In addition to his dojo, Shepherd had a contract to teach self defense classes for the Polk County Board of Commissioner's office later that same year and continued doing the classes until into 1993.
It was about this time that Shepherd was introduced to John Zimmerman thru a mutual friend and acquaintance. Zimmerman owned and ran Stunt Dynamics Inc. a stunt production company for the film industry. Zimmerman invited Shepherd to observe some auditions for a live stunt show. After which, Shepherd was invited to come back and teach some of Mr. Zimmerman's stunt guys some martial arts techniques, in return Mr. Zimmerman would show Shepherd how to prep others for and perform various stunts. ZImmerman would also use Shepherd on a few different projects.
1994 was an extremely busy year for Shepherd. He would hold other classes, seminars and demonstrations on crime prevention and self defense for other community groups, corporations and businesses. In addition Mr. Zimmerman had opened the door for Shepherd to work on the TV series "Seaquest DSV"during it's second season run. The seond season of the series was shot at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida. (Steven Spielberg was the executive producer for season1 and 2 of the series) Shepherd worked as set and personal security for the TV series and landed parts on several episodes.
The series started the second seaon off with a two hour television movie entitled "Daggers" in which the crew of the newly rebuilt SeaQuest must deal with a hostage crisis at a UEO prison colony, where genetically engineered soldiers have risen up against their captors. Shepherd played a dagger, a gentically engineered super soldier with camouflaged skin. (he can be seen performing a martial arts kata) He also had a part as an extra in which he played a UEO security guard in the same episode. Shepherd would play a UEO soldier in other episodes such as the episode "The Fear that Follows". Shepherd also landed parts on the TV series "Fortune Hunter" that same year.
Shortly after earning his 2nd degree black belt in 1991, Shepherd was introduced to a local Judo instructor Terry Tucker. Remembering the movie "Breaking Point" in which Bo Svenson played a judo instructor, Shepherd took up the study of judo at the Winter haven judo Club under Sensei Tucker. By 1996, Shepherd, an Ikkyu (Brown belt) in judo, was recommended by Steve Scott, District Director of the Amateur Athletic Union, to be a regional director for the AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) for Judo in the state of Florida. Shepherd went on to earn his Shodan (1st degree Black belt) in judo on Jan 28th 1998. That same year shepherd started another program, teaching a Judo class for the City Of Auburndale, Fl. Recreational Department. Then in 2005 Shepherd attained a United States Judo Association (USJA) Level 1 coaching certification and in 2006 earned his Nidan (2nd degree Black belt) in Judo.
In 2009, Shepherd became the Indiana State Representative for The International Kenpo Karate Academies (IKKA). Shepherd volunteers his time teaching Kenpo Karate and Jujutsu for the Dunigan Family YMCA in Evansville, Indiana.
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