William O. Odom, a 7th degree black belt, is an accomplished martial artist with over 40 years experience as a Tang Soo Do practitioner and instructor. He traces his martial arts lineage to some of the world's most respected masters. He began martial arts training in Thailand at age ten.
After ten years of karate training, he joined the US Army. During his 25 years of military service commanding infantry units including Army Rangers, he acquired a wide-ranging knowledge of other martial arts and honed his teaching skills. He developed a combatives program for over 14,000 soldiers serving in Korea, has taught men and women of all ages, and is a former nationally ranked competitor.
Mr. Odom continues his martial arts education with regular training sessions at the famous Gracie Jiu-jitsu Academy and is currently a blue belt jiu-jitsu student of Rorion Gracie and his sons. He established the first Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Certified Training Center and is a certified Level 2 instructor. Today, he possesses the experience, knowledge, skill, mature judgment, and commitment to excellence found only in the best instructors. He is a Norfolk resident and father of two, including a graduate of Maury High School. Mr. Odom is committed to the positive growth of every student at NKA and to the growth of the Norfolk community.
LARRY YAP - Senior Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Instructor
Lawrence (Larry) Yap is a retired Army ranger with over 30 years of martial arts experience. He earned black belts in Hapkido from Grandmaster Song S. Choi, and in Judo/Midori Yama Budokai Japanese Jiu-jitsu from Sensei Frank Barry. He has competed in amateur boxing (AAU and PAL) and Muay Thai (under Kru Takkratoke) since age 10. His wide-ranging fight experiences include all-service military Muay Thai bouts (Nakorn Si Thammarat) and U.S.-Thai friendship competitions (Lumpini and City Hall, Saraburi, Thailand). Larry wrestled at both the high school and collegiate levels (Missouri). In 1989, he began his Gracie Jiu-jitsu training under Relson Gracie and Romolo Barros in the garage in Hawaii Kai and at the University of Hawaii, eventually earning his purple belt. In 1992, he began competing in no-gi, sambo, and MMA competitions (California, Las Vegas, Florida, Hawaii, UAE, Brazil, Thailand, Korea and Japan). Larry retired from competition in 2000. Today, thanks to Mr. Odom, Rorion, Ryron, and Rener Gracie, and the rest of the NKA/Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy family, Larry is back in the game and committed to improving his teaching skills as an NKA instructor, certified Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy brown belt, and MMA coach.
AUBREY ANDERSON - Assistant Instructor
Aubrey Anderson is a 2nd degree black belt in Tang Soo Do, certified through the World Dang Soo Do Association, and is a blue belt in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu having been one of the first six students in the world to have completed the Gracie Combatives® course outside of the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy in Torrance, California. She is the Instructor for the beginner children's classes and is a director for the annual NKA children's summer camp. Aubrey has a Masters Degree in Special Education and works in the Norfolk Public School System.
KERRY KILBURN - Assistant Instructor
Dr. Kerry Kilburn is a 2nd degree black belt in Tang Soo Do, certified through the World Dang Soo Do Association, and is a blue belt in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. She also holds a 4th degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do from the Martial Arts Education Center, where she instructed for ten years, and a 1st degree black belt in TAOS Cielo y Tierra Arnis from TAOS Martial Arts. She is the Instructor for the intermediate children's class and the PeeWee karate program, and is a director for the annual children's summer camp. A lifetime member of both the National Women's Martial Arts Federation (NWMAF) and the Association of Women Martial Arts Instructors (AWMAI), she served on the NWMAF Board of Directors for two years and currently serves as Administrative Director of AWMAI.
SHAWN PEREZ - Assistant Instructor
Shawn is a 1st degree black belt at Norfolk Karate Academy. He was one of the first students at NKA to earn his blue belt in Grace Jiu-Jitsu and was among the first certified Gracie Combatives instructors. He leads NKA's Junior Grapplers and Gracie Bullyproof programs.
BRAD TAYLOR - Assistant Instructor
Brad is a 1st degree black belt at Norfolk Karate Academy. He was one of NKA's first students to compete in full-contact mixed martial arts. Brad was also one of the first students at NKA to earn his blue belt in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu and was among the first certified Gracie Combatives instructors. Brad's wife and two kids have earned black belts at NKA and blue belts in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. Brad was the first person in the world to train and promote two U.S. Navy sailors to blue belt through the Gracie University while at sea.
JENNIFER TAYLOR - Assistant Instructor
Jennifer is a 1st degree black belt and Gracie Jiu-Jitsu blue belt at Norfolk Karate Academy. She is a certified Gracie Combatives instructor who specializes in teaching the Children's Bullyproof program and assisting with the Children's Karate classes. She is married to NKA instructor, Brad Taylor. The Taylor's sons are junior black belts at NKA and have earned their Gracie Jiu-Jitsu blue belts as well.
KEVIN WEST - Assistant Instructor
Kevin is a 2nd degree black belt in Tang Soo Do, certified through the World Dang Soo Do Association. He has over 27 years of experience in martial arts training including a 3rd degree black belt in Black Dragon Kung Fu, a brown belt in Tenshin Style Aikido and a blue belt in Gracie Jiu Jitsu. He has also trained in Valencia Lameco Eskrima, Muay Thai, Wing Chun, and Yang Style Tai Chi. His aikido, eskrima and kung fu training has included staff, spear, sword, stick and knife. Between 1990 and 1993, he competed in amateur and professional kickboxing. Kevin emphasizes the development of fundamental skills, practical self-defense and improvised technique. Kevin teaches intermediate and advanced adult karate and weapons as well as junior brown / black belt weapons classes.
Certified Gracie Combatives® Instructors
Bill Odom
Shawn Perez
Kerry Kilburn
Brad Taylor
Troy Ingram (probational)
Billy Gomez (probational)
Rebecca Sizemore (probational)
Jenn Taylor (probational)
Mark Ammerman (probational)
Dan Bryant (probational)
Click here to read more about Norfolk Karate Academy in the 2006 Portfolio Weekly article titled "Warrior Within" by Tom Robotham
(editor-in-chief at Portfolio Weekly and avid NKA student).
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William O. Odom, a 7th degree black belt, is an accomplished martial artist with over 40 years experience as a Tang Soo Do practitioner and instructor. He traces his martial arts lineage to some of the world's most respected masters. He began martial arts training in Thailand at age ten.
Lawrence (Larry) Yap is a retired Army ranger with over 30 years of martial arts experience. He earned black belts in Hapkido from Grandmaster Song S. Choi, and in Judo/Midori Yama Budokai Japanese Jiu-jitsu from Sensei Frank Barry. He has competed in amateur boxing (AAU and PAL) and Muay Thai (under Kru Takkratoke) since age 10. His wide-ranging fight experiences include all-service military Muay Thai bouts (Nakorn Si Thammarat) and U.S.-Thai friendship competitions (Lumpini and City Hall, Saraburi, Thailand). Larry wrestled at both the high school and collegiate levels (Missouri). In 1989, he began his Gracie Jiu-jitsu training under Relson Gracie and Romolo Barros in the garage in Hawaii Kai and at the University of Hawaii, eventually earning his purple belt. In 1992, he began competing in no-gi, sambo, and MMA competitions (California, Las Vegas, Florida, Hawaii, UAE, Brazil, Thailand, Korea and Japan). Larry retired from competition in 2000. Today, thanks to Mr. Odom, Rorion, Ryron, and Rener Gracie, and the rest of the NKA/Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy family, Larry is back in the game and committed to improving his teaching skills as an NKA instructor, certified Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy brown belt, and MMA coach. 
Aubrey Anderson is a 2nd degree black belt in Tang Soo Do, certified through the World Dang Soo Do Association, and is a blue belt in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu having been one of the first six students in the world to have completed the Gracie Combatives® course outside of the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy in Torrance, California. She is the Instructor for the beginner children's classes and is a director for the annual NKA children's summer camp. Aubrey has a Masters Degree in Special Education and works in the Norfolk Public School System. 
Dr. Kerry Kilburn is a 2nd degree black belt in Tang Soo Do, certified through the World Dang Soo Do Association, and is a blue belt in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. She also holds a 4th degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do from the Martial Arts Education Center, where she instructed for ten years, and a 1st degree black belt in TAOS Cielo y Tierra Arnis from TAOS Martial Arts. She is the Instructor for the intermediate children's class and the PeeWee karate program, and is a director for the annual children's summer camp. A lifetime member of both the National Women's Martial Arts Federation (NWMAF) and the Association of Women Martial Arts Instructors (AWMAI), she served on the NWMAF Board of Directors for two years and currently serves as Administrative Director of AWMAI. 
Shawn is a 1st degree black belt at Norfolk Karate Academy. He was one of the first students at NKA to earn his blue belt in Grace Jiu-Jitsu and was among the first certified Gracie Combatives instructors. He leads NKA's Junior Grapplers and Gracie Bullyproof programs.
Brad is a 1st degree black belt at Norfolk Karate Academy. He was one of NKA's first students to compete in full-contact mixed martial arts. Brad was also one of the first students at NKA to earn his blue belt in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu and was among the first certified Gracie Combatives instructors. Brad's wife and two kids have earned black belts at NKA and blue belts in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. Brad was the first person in the world to train and promote two U.S. Navy sailors to blue belt through the Gracie University while at sea.
Kevin is a 2nd degree black belt in Tang Soo Do, certified through the World Dang Soo Do Association. He has over 27 years of experience in martial arts training including a 3rd degree black belt in Black Dragon Kung Fu, a brown belt in Tenshin Style Aikido and a blue belt in Gracie Jiu Jitsu. He has also trained in Valencia Lameco Eskrima, Muay Thai, Wing Chun, and Yang Style Tai Chi. His aikido, eskrima and kung fu training has included staff, spear, sword, stick and knife. Between 1990 and 1993, he competed in amateur and professional kickboxing. Kevin emphasizes the development of fundamental skills, practical self-defense and improvised technique. Kevin teaches intermediate and advanced adult karate and weapons as well as junior brown / black belt weapons classes.
