Our Masters
JOHN WORLEY
10th Degree Grand Master
Co-Founder of National Karate
Mr. Worley started his teaching career in 1970 when he and his family moved from Texas to join the Jhoon Rhee Institute in Washington, D.C. Mr. Worley furthered his training under Grand Master Jhoon Rhee who, in 1958, introduced the Korean art of Tae Kwon Do to America.
The founder of National Karate Schools is John Worley. A native of Fort Worth, Texas, Mr. Worley began his martial arts training in 1967 under the tutelage of Charles Loven and Texas karate legend Master Instructor J. Pat Burleson. Mr. Worley was promoted to first degree black belt in 1969 after he completed a testing conducted by panel of several of America’s top martial arts instructors, including film star Chuck Norris.
In May 2014, in a ceremony attended by hundreds of students, black belt holders, and friends, John Worley and Larry Carnahan were promoted to the rank of tenth degree black belt, Grand Master, by American martial arts pioneer J. Pat Burleson. Tenth degree is the highest rank attainable and marks the final milestone in lives dedicated to the practice, teaching and promotion of the martial arts in Minnesota
LARRY CARNAHAN
10th Degree Grand Master
Co-Founder of National Karate
In 1977, Mr. Carnahan joined with Mr. John Worley in Minnesota, in order to contribute to, and to help in building the world that Mr. Worley had already started, in forming the current National Karate Academy of Martial Arts organization.
Larry Carnahan began training in Korean Tae Kwon Do in 1967 in Ft. Worth, Texas. He was promoted to black belt in the Grand Master Jhoon Rhee’s style of Tae Kwon Do in July of 1970 and began his teaching career that same year.
After teaching for two years at Fort Worth, Texas, he moved to the headquarters of the Jhoon Rhee Institutes located in Washington D.C. During his five years in Washington D. C., he earned the Jhoon Rhee “Top Instructor Award” and the “School of Champions Award.”
In 1977, Mr. Carnahan joined with Mr. John Worley in Minnesota to help continue the work Mr. Worley had already started in forming the current National Karate School organization. An active sport karate competitor, Mr. Carnahan was voted “Black Belt Rookie of the Year” by the Southwest Karate Association and chosen as a member of the Texas Black Belt Competition Team in 1970.
JIM ALBERTSON
9th Degree Master Instructor
National Karate Director
Mr. Albertson’s dedication to excellence has earned him the position of National Karate Director along with NK Grand Masters Mr. Worley and Mr. Carnahan. He is responsible for conducting advanced testing and black belt screenings, maintaining high standards for students.
Jim Albertson was eighteen years old when he began his karate training in January of 1979. He was promoted to first degree black belt by John Worley and Larry Carnahan in July 1981. He began teaching that same year and in 1984 opened his first National Karate School in Burnsville. His dedication to excellence earned Mr. Albertson the position of National Karate Director, along with NK Master Instructors Mr. Worley and Mr. Carnahan. Mr. Albertson was promoted to seventh degree black belt in 2007.
He currently owns four NK schools in the metro area. Mr. Albertson has the distinction of winning National Karate’s overall top male competitor title three times, and has won many Grand Championships both in form and in sparring. In 1991, Mr. Albertson represented the United States in team kickboxing in London, England. He has competed in every Diamond Nationals since 1979, the tournament’s second year. Mr. Albertson’s dedication and self-discipline have benefited other areas of his life.