yudansha tHOMAS mayo

Yudansha Tom Mayo is a dedicated martial artist and holds the title

of Yudansha (First Degree Black Belt) in Kidokime Ryu-Karate Do and

Shodan (First Degree Black Belt) in American Goju Ryu Karate after 30 years

of diverse training in different systems.

Born in San Diego, California, raised in Walnut Creek, California and now resides

in Centerville, Georgia. He’s from a family of four siblings and both his Dad and

Mom served in the United States Navy before retirement. He was not very

athletic and was learning disabled (now defined as “Attention Deficit Disorder”) at

an early age. He did start some martial arts training in Judo at age 8 under what

was the “Marin School of Martial Arts”. However, due to scheduling conflicts with

a mandatory after school educational help function, he had to withdraw three

months later. At age 11, his parents decided he needed some form of physical

activity to help his focus, so he took up martial arts under “Richard Lee’s East-

West Kung Fu”. He was also enrolled in Gymnastics at “Encore Studios” for two

years to help his flexibility and coordination. After sticking with “Richard Lee’s

East-West Kung Fu” for three and a half years he came realize the hard way that

the training was very ineffective given surrounding circumstances, so he left the

martial arts indefinitely once he entered high school and transitioned to Cross

Country and Track and Field. In 1981, after graduating from De La Salle High

School in Concord, California he continued Long Distance Running in College.

Yudansha Mayo had lifelong aspirations for Law Enforcement since his

elementary school years. To further his aspirations, he earned his Bachelorette

of Science Degree in Criminal Justice Administration in 1985 from California

State University in Long Beach. He then joined the Los Angeles Police

Department (LAPD) for a short stint from 1987-1988. He obtained some very

effective hand-to-hand defensive tactics in the Police Academy and some field

experience. Upon leaving the LAPD, he worked for a private security transport

service. It was here he realized he cannot let his defensive tactics skills perish. A

work colleague gave him deep inspiration on the United States Air Force,

especially the Security Police programs.

Mayo joined the Air Force in 1989 and remained until retirement in 2010 after

serving at ten duty stations and five deployments. His first career field was

Security Police (later Security Forces) for 12 years. His second career field was

Manpower and Organization (Industrial Engineering). It was on December 26,

1994 he gave his life to the Lord Jesus Christ. In 1995, he volunteered and was

reassigned to his third duty station for 12 months at Thule Air Base, Greenland,

where God put a valuable Christian mentor in his path: Hanshi Ken Herfurth. It

was here that Mayo was re-introduced to martial arts (after 18 years) and

became highly inspired by Herfurth in the system of “American Goju Ryu Karate”.

Training intensely under Herfurth and earning his Yellow Belt became a pivotal

moment in his life making martial arts a new way of life. He did not want to leave

Herfurth’s Dojo upon departing Thule Air Base, so God answered his prayers.

Both Herfurth and Mayo were diverted to Hawaii for their next duty stations and

only 40 minutes apart. Mayo continued intense training for the next three years.

Despite being deployed twice to Operation Pacific Haven in Guam and Operation

Southern Watch in Kuwait, he continued to train independently abroad to keep

his skills up to par. This way he was ready to instantaneously start back up in

the training. He earned his Green and Blue Belts, while experiencing large

volumes of medium contact sparring with his colleagues under Herfurth. He also

competed in November 1998 in an International American Athletic Union

tournament for the first time as a Blue Belt.

After departing Hawaii, Mayo continued his martial arts training independently

when he could not find an adequate dojo. He did have the luxury to train in “Tae

Kwon Do” under Sensei Harvey Battle, for six months while stationed Laughlin

Air Force Base, Texas from 2001 to 2006. During this training he revitalized his

dexterity, kicking and sparring skills. He was also an Honorary Blue Belt. He

moved on to two more overseas duty stations – Kunsan Air Base, South Korea

and Incirlik Air Base, Turkey – where he continued to train independently. He

was reassigned to his last duty station at Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina in

2008, before he retired from active duty in 2010 and settled in the area.

Upon retirement from active duty in 2010, he reunited with Hanshi Herfurth while

on terminal leave for more intense training. He was promoted to Brown Belt in

“American Goju Ryu Karate”. He went to work for Headquarters, United States

Army Forces Command at Fort Bragg, North Carolina as a government civilian

from 2010 to 2018. He married Kathy on June 2, 2012, with Hanshi Herfurth as

his “Best Man”. He then relocated to the Headquarters, United States Air Force

Reserve Command where he retired in 2021 and settled in the local area with his

Wife Kathy. During this duration, he met up with Hanshi Herfurth for different

periods of intense training for 2-week durations. He also had the honor to train

under Soke Bobby Briggs as an Honorary Brown Belt at Soke’s Kidokime Ryu-

Karate Do dojo held at Clear Creek Baptist Church in Charlotte-Matthews, North

Carolina.

Missing the martial arts community and camaraderie, he’s been actively training

in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu at “Miller Martial Arts (Professor Cole Miller)”, in Bonaire,

Georgia since July 2021 to enhance his grappling, ground defense and ground

attack skills. He’s currently a Green Belt and diligently training for Blue Belt.

Over his martial arts journey, Mayo consistently trains to his optimum potential in

preparation for any potential real-world scenario he can think of that would cross

his path.

Yudansha Tom Mayo recently earned two Black Belts in the following systems:  

• 1st Degree Black Belt, Kidokime-ryu Karate-do
• 1st Degree Black Belt, American Goju Ryu Karate

Yudansha Tom Mayo is currently or has trained in other systems of martial arts:  

• Green Belt, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
• Blue Belt, Tae Kwon Do (Honorary)

Other Degrees, Awards and Recognitions Include:

• BS in Criminal Justice Administration
• Certificate of Training, Los Angeles Police Academy
• Retired MSgt, United States Air Force
• Management Analyst of the Year, United States Air Forces in Europe
• Command, 2007, Incirlik AB, Turkey
• Management Analyst of the Year, Air Education and Training Command, 2005, Laughlin AFB, TX
• SNCO of Quarter, 2004, Laughlin AFB, TX
• Force Protector (Flight Level) of the Year, 1999, Hickam AFB, HI

Yudansha Tom Mayo continues to devote himself wholeheartedly to Kidokime-

ryu Karate-do as a ministry to others, and has a goal to get certified as a

Sensei.