DR. ALEX STERNBERG,the founder and chief instructor of Shotokan Karate USA, is a 6th Dan from the Japan Karate Association (JKA), the World Karate Federation (WKF), and the USA National Karate-do Federation (USA-NKF).

He began his karate training in 1962 at the age of 12, attaining the rank of Shodan in 1968 under Master George Cofield, one of America's early Karate pioneers. Dr. Sternberg was a prominent competitor from the 1960s through the early 1980s, winning close to 90 national and international events, including a bronze medal at the 1969 World Championships. Coaching United States National teams in World Championships, Junior and Senior Pan American, and Maccabiah Games, he has produced more medal winners than any other American coach.

He was one of the founding members of the USA-NKF, a member of the Board of Directors and Team Selection Committee, and was Chairman of the Referee Council from 1994-2000. During his tenure he raised the number of referees in the USA-NKF from less than 40 to well over 300. His mission was to raise the refereeing standards in U.S. tournaments and bring new recognition to American officials. He was responsible for increasing the number of Americans earning international referee licenses from three in 1994 to nearly 30 in 2000.

Holding a Masters Degree in Exercise Physiology and a Doctorate in Sports Science, he is also Director of the Pediatric Pulmonary Function Laboratory in the Health Science Center of Brooklyn (Downstate Medical Center), and works with asthmatic children in the Asthma Center of Excellence. Shihan Sternberg currently teaches karate to students of all ages and levels at his dojo in Lawrence, NY, and holds several annual competitions--most notably the Big Apple Challenge--which draws athletes from across the world.

ALEX MILADI, Vice President of Shotokan ALEX MILADI, Vice President of Shotokan Karate USA, began his Karate training in Iran at an early age. He later continued his training in Europe, competing in various tournaments from 1972. He competed for 17 years winning many championships. He has taught Karate in Asia, Europe and now the United States, coaching numerous teams and individuals and all classes of champions. In 1991, Shihan Miladi (6th Dan-SKUSA/JKA/WKF/USANKF) moved to the United States and shortly thereafter established Miladi Karate Academy in Yuba City, California. Miladi Karate Academy is the West Coast Representative of Shotokan Karate USA and a member of USA National Karate-do Federation.

Currently, Alex Miladi holds the license of “Karate Referee” with the World Karate Federation (WKF) which is the highest Referee license given by the WKF, requiring a Kumite Referee A and Kata Judge A license. He was promoted to that rank in Nov of 2006 and at that time was one of three in the U.S. that held such license. He also holds a “Karate Referee License” with Pan American Karate Federation (PKF), as well as the USANKF, where he serves on the Referee Council. He has been very active in giving Referee seminars across the U.S., training, testing and promoting Referees and Judges in various ranks.

In 1995 Shihan Miladi instituted the Shotokan Karate USA West Coast Championships. The purpose of the Shotokan Karate USA West Coast Championships is to promote Karate-do in its traditional form, as opposed to the "free styles" so often seen throughout our country. Realizing that U.S. Karate is often flooded with politics, the West Coast Championships is Miladi Karate Academy's attempt to bridge the political gap and bring all Karate-ka together, no matter what their political affiliations may be. It is open to any competitor who wishes to compete under WKF rules and regulations.

On January 1, 2001 The Miladi Group was launched and a 17,000 square foot sports complex was designed and constructed to house not just Karate, but other worthy sports and traditional art forms such as ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, Polynesian dance, weight/fitness training (Olympic & Power Lifting), aerobics, functional training and much more. The Miladi Group is dedicated to the finest in physical fitness and well being.