Team AKA

The American Karate Association and Sharkey legacy live on—and continue to grow stronger!

Sharkey/AKA Black Belts from across the country came together for our quarterly Black Belt workout. As a family, we continue to evolve and grow our style while keeping the legacy of Sensei Sharkey, and everything AKA has done for so many, alive and strong.

A special shoutout and congratulations to Hanshi Juan Hernandez on his leadership and promotion to Jūdan!

It is a true privilege and honor to unite with these incredible Black Belts and continue carrying the legacy forward. Family is everything, and the legacy WILL continue, following the teachings of Sensei Sharkey.

As Sensei Sharkey taught us:

“We are the masters of our own destiny.

We may get off the path, but we will always come back to it.

Even after I am gone, you can still reach out for advice; as you do this, you will remember my teachings and realize you already know and understand how to handle whatever your dilemma at the time.

Therefore, I will always be with you.”

The path continues. The family continues. The legacy continues.

For 34 years, the AKA/Sharkey Summer Camp has been creating lasting memories, building confidence, and inspiring the next generation.

As we celebrate the 34th Annual AKA Summer Camp, congratulations to all of the campers, attendees, staff, instructors, and volunteers who made this year's camp another incredible success.

Your dedication, enthusiasm, and commitment continue a proud tradition of learning, friendship, and community. Here's to 34 amazing years—and many more to come!

Hunter B. Lyon: From a Memphis Kid to the Next President of NASKA Hunter B. Lyon’s journey to becoming the new President of NASKA began long before tournaments and leadership roles—it started with a kid in Memphis who fell off his bike in front of a martial arts school and discovered a lifelong passion. From earning black belts under Grand Master Terry Brumley...

👉 https://www.sportmartialarts.com/2026-naska-new-president-intro/

Join us for a look at the new era for the NASKA Circuit as Larry Carnahan passes the torch to Hunter Lyon and names Lyon the new President of NASKA. Lyon has vowed to ensure that his work with the NASKA circuit will focus on "making Mr. Carnahan proud" and continuing the sport karate legacy that Mr. Carnahan built.

👉 https://www.sportmartialarts.com/2026-naska-new-president-intro/

John Sharkey Obituary - Oak Lawn, IL Celebrate the life of John Sharkey, leave a kind word or memory and get funeral service information care of Blake-Lamb Funeral Home.

It is with profound sorrow that we announce the passing of our beloved Sensei John Sharkey, a teacher and mentor to so many. Sensei Sharkey lived a life of service, giving his heart fully to his family, friends, and students. His kindness, generosity, and unwavering willingness to help—whether as a mentor, a listening ear, or a place of refuge—touched countless lives across all walks of life.

A pillar of the martial arts community, Sensei Sharkey took leadership of the non-profit American Karate Association in 1973 and went on to build the AKA Warrior Cup into one of the most prestigious martial arts tournaments in the world.

Sensei Sharkey measured success not by numbers, but by character. He believed the value of a black belt was defined by the standards behind it. In his lifetime, he awarded just over 100 black belts through his Sharkey’s Karate Studios. Each one stands as a testament to his uncompromising commitment to excellence and to what a Sharkey black belt truly means.

His legacy lives on through every life he shaped with selflessness, discipline, and love. As we mourn his passing, we invite you to honor Sensei Sharkey by holding him in your heart—and by sharing a positive memory that celebrates the extraordinary life he lived and the impact he leaves behind.