Kyle Gough Sensei began his Karate journey in 2006, following closely in his father’s (John Gough) footsteps. He began teaching Karate to Juniors (students under ~16) in 2013 and has been doing so ever sense. Along with his responsibilities at Tohma Karate, Kyle also guest teaches at Shoreline Karate Club on occasion. His father is the Head Instructor at Shoreline Karate Club and his mother is also an Instructor there. Kyle’s younger brother is also a Karate Instructor at a different school in Seattle.

Kyle also regularly competes in Karate tournaments and while it is not his main focus when teaching Karate, he is more than happy to teach any student to compete and coach them at the Tournament. His competition history is long and through his time competing he has won and coached many students who have won many tournaments at various levels. Locally, he is very well known at tournaments for his skill with the Bo (Long staff).

Outside of Karate Kyle has emersed himself in the music world. He is a percussionist and is currently studying music at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma pursing a Bachelor of Arts in Music. He loves associating Karate practice to his music practice and his approach to music is greatly influenced from his Karate experience. In his approach to music he does his best to live by the passage “hence [music] was not for the technique, the art as such, that music was learned; for the ultimate object was purification of heart, since it was said that no harmony of sound is attainable without the player’s heart being in harmony with itself.” (Nitobe, 1900)².