Hanshi Jim Mather is California Karate Academy's Chief Instructor. He is recognized as one of the world's leading martial arts experts. He has devoted over 40 years to perfecting and teaching the martial arts. He is one of only a small number of martial artists in the world to be awarded the title of Hanshi, which is the highest in Karate. The traditional order of high instructor titles, from lowest to highest, is Shihan,Renshi, Kyoshi, and Hanshi.]  Former National Karate Champion, Hanshi Mather has gone on to become one of the country's top coaches. He was selected as one of only three martial artists in the country who were allowed to train the official United States national Karate team at the United States Olympic Training Center (USOTC) in Colorado Springs. As a national coach, he has led the official United State Karate team in high level international competition. Many of his students have been selected to represent the United States at many such events. In keeping with true Japanese martial arts tradition, his quest for physical mastery has gone hand-in-hand with his pursuit of intellectual excellence. The following are just a few of his many achievements:

• President, United States National Karate Association (USNKA)
• Former Vice President, International Students Karate Union
• Former Chairman, United States Collegiate Karate Association
• Coach, U.S. National Karate Team
• Former Stanford Teacher and Coach
• Former Vice Chairman, National Coaches Education Committee
• Director, National Training Center
• Former Trainer of FBI, Police, and Treasury Department Agents
• Winner, World Master's Exhibition
• Graduate, Elite Coaches College, U.S. Olympic Training Center
• Member, California State Athletic Commission - Martial Arts Committee
• Columnist, Black Belt Magazine
• Hanshi Jim Mather has appeared on over thirty major network TV shows and been featured in many magazines and newspapers, such as Black Belt, Karate Illustrated, Inside Karate, Tae Kwon Do Times, Inside Kung Fu, Parade, West, Peninsula, Sports Illustrated, Bay Area Parent, The San Jose Mercury News, The San Francisco Chronicle, and more.
• Hanshi Mather was also the subject of a PBS short feature entitled - The Arrow Catcher.  The video is formatted for real player.