Jim Bertin

Jim was introduced to Isshinryu karate in 1967 at a demonstration at the high school he attended. That summer, he decided to try it out. The owners of the dojo were Sensei Doug Noxon and Sensei Ken Pittaway. Jim left training in 1969 and did not complete his dream of attaining a black belt.

Over 40 years passed before he was able to finish what he started out to do. He found FSDC in Novi. He also found that the method of training has changed under the guidance of Master “Z” and Master Chris. In August of 2015, after 47 years, he earned his black belt. In March of 2017, he earned the rank of 2nd degree black belt, and in December of 2018 earned the rank of 3rd degree black belt (Sensei). In 2018, the Isshinryu Hall of Fame honored him as Male Karate Ka of the Year.

Jim truly enjoys the training at FSDC and the family of Isshinryu that he has found there. He plans to continue training and strives to pass on what he has learned to others that follow.

Jim has been a guitar playing folksinger since the mid 1960s. His life includes a full time job in the tooling industry and a part time job as a Pastoral Minister and musician at St. William Catholic Church in Walled Lake. Jim is married to Karen and together they have 5 children and 6 grandchildren.