OUR INSTRUCTORS
Dr. Michael J. Bainton, Ph.D.
Grand Master, Ba Ki Do
CEO
Mike "Alamo" Bainton
Executive Director
World & National Champion
Guiness Book of World Records
Mr. Cliff Hill, Instructor
Mr. Hill first came to Austin, Texas and South Austin Karate from a small town in Southern Indiana as a competition knife thrower and new member of the International Knife Throwers Hall of Fame. It was here that he met Dr. Bainton, and after several other meetings at national knife competitions throughout the U.S. they became friends. In 2006, Dr. Bainton offered him a position at South Austin Karate as a knife throwing instructor, bus driver, and head of general maintenance. Coming from a background in auto mechanics, construction, and being a knife thrower Mr. Hill accepted and moved to Austin.
Since then Mr. Hill has worked to expand his accomplishments to better serve the needs of all SAK students. He is First Aid/CPR certified, and under advisement from Dr. Bainton, is learning Ba Ki Do weapons forms and has recently joined in as a student to learn the art of Ba Ki Do. He is a knife throwing instructor, weapons instructor, and Sensory Motor Skills Technician.
Other accomplishments since coming to Texas include: Inductee to the International Knife Throwers Hall of Fame three years in a row as Outstanding Male Competitor of the Year 2006, Regional Knife Throwing Champion 2007, and Knife Throwing Instructor of the Year 2008. Mr. Hill is proud to be an active member of "Team Ba Ki Do" and is always ready to help find ways to better serve all our students at South Austin Karate.
Sensei Rick Diaz, Instructor
Trained in the art of Ba Ki Do for 15 years
3rd Degree Black Belt earned October 2008
Two years of training in Isshin Ryu Okinawan Martial Arts
Trained and practiced in the art of Boxing
Earned Black Belt in the art of Ba Ki Do April 1997
Tax Recovery Specialist, Texas Workforce Commission since 1992
Sensei Diaz enjoys reading, especially about American Military history and is a strong admirer of Theodore Roosevelt.
