Golden Sage Martial Arts Instructors
Professor Bob "Bobasan" Karnes
Robert (Bob) Karnes "bobasan" first visited the Bushidokan Dojo (then called Sparks Judo and Jujitsu Club) in 1973. "I was outside this big red building, with a high school classmate. As we walked inside I saw glowing planets and stars hanging from the black light lit ceiling in the stairway. On the mat there were two groups of people. One group of students was doing hand escape arts, another group throwing each other, and one person was sitting on the mat writing in a notebook. The thing that caught my attention the most was the person writing in the notebook I thought this must be a special Martial Art".
After 9 years living in the southern California area I returned to live in the Reno, Sparks area in 1980. I started working in a State Locked psychiatric adult ward as a mental health technician. I had forgotten about Sparks Judo and Jujitsu Dojo but remembered the word Jujitsu. I needed to learn self-defense to survive the violent job so I looked up in the newspaper for a Jujitsu class. I signed up for Dan Zan Ryu Jujitsu classes in 1981 at the Sparks Recreation center. I went to his first class under Ginny Kitzke, Sensei Ikkyu 1st Brown belt. Our small School moved a few times then I was transferred to Herb LaGue, Sensei in 1985 at the rank of Nikyu 2nd brown belt to the Bushidokan Dojo. I was awarded the rank of Shodan 1st Degree Black Belt in a promotion with 6 other Bushidokan Shodan's in 1986.
I was a co-Sensei with Suki LaGue, Sensei at the Bushidokan. I also opened three other schools one in Montana, one in Cold Springs, Reno Nevada and one in Wiesbaden, Germany with co-Sensei Alicia at a US Army Garrison teaching Martial Arts. At the same time I worked at the US Army Fitness Center as a Massage Therapist. I have used the healing arts and martial arts of DanZan Ryu Zenyo Bujutsu in many jobs, such as a mental health therapist, teenage boot camp worker, a max security forensic prison guard, events security guard, A mental health worker for the severely developmentally disabled. I am currently licensed as a Massage Therapist for the State of Nevada while maintaining a license in Reno, Nevada since 1986.
Alicia Karnes, Sensei Ni,
Senior Master - Yodan
Prof. Alicia Karnes, Sensei Ni, Godan 5th Degree Black Belt, Shihan
Alicia started at the Bushidokan Martial Arts Temple 1998 at a Tai Chi Class. After Tai Chi Class the Dan Zan Ryu Jujitsu students were warming up flying, falling, and having fun. Alicia was hooked. Alicia was helping (Now) Prof. Suki LaGue, Sensei and Prof. Leina, Sempai teach junior classes. As a brown belt Alicia helped her peers prepare for their Black Belt test. In 2001 Alicia and Suki (with guidance from Nao Nogushi, Taiko Sensei) built their first Taiko Drums for the Bushidokan Dojo. Alicia, Taiko Sensei held 7 pm to 9 pm Friday night Taiko classes for 4 years.
Alicia traveled and attended many Taiko seminars taught by Taiko Masters. She did free Taiko Performances supporting the Gray Eagle, California 4th of July parade and she performed for the San Francisco Cherry Blossom parade as well as the Sparks Asian Festival.
In 2004 Alicia received her 1st Degree Black Belt under Prof. Herb LaGue. In 2004 Bob and Alicia were married in an elaborate and unconventional, Tibetan, Martial Art, and Shinto Wedding held on the Bushidokan Martial Art Temple Mat. Bob and Alicia opened the Golden Sage Martial Arts Dojo outside of Reno, Nevada in 2006 in a converted carport. Bob and Alicia co-taught at the Bushidokan Dojo Monday nights for a few years. In 2021 Alicia and Bob are currently teaching Martial Arts in Germany. Alicia holds the rank of Senior Master, 4th Degree Black Belt – Yodan.
