Mr. Lee D. Barto has been a practitioner of martial arts for over 35 years. He has black belts in Okinawa Kenpo Karate and Kobudo, Ryukyu Hon Kenpo Kobujutsu, and Jujitsu. He received his first black belt at the age of 16 and began teaching his peers and other students right away. From instructing private lessons through college, and self awareness and self defense programs, teaching has always been a passion.

Mr. Barto has a son, Dominic, who has begun to follow in his father’s martial arts footsteps at East Coast Karate of the Yocum Institute.

Mr. Barto is currently an instructor for the Little Kuma program, beginner through advanced kids classes, and beginner through advanced adults classes. He is also the instructor of the East Coast Karate Black Belt Club program for dedicated individuals. Mr Barto intends to continue his learning path under the instruction of Sensei Fromm and Dai Sensei Snyder until his goal of Hanshi can be reached. Even at that moment the teaching and learning will continue.

The main motto Mr Barto lives by is: “You may fail, but all I ask is that you do your best and try, OSU!”