Hello, my name is Rob Payne, and I am your Head Instructor here at American Karate Systems. Here is a little about me and my martial arts background.

I started training in martial arts (Karate) at the age of 13. I studied a style called Okinawa Kempo Karate. My first instructor was a gentleman named Dennis Walker, I took private lessons from him starting in 1980. A few years later I moved on to American freestyle karate in Reidsville. I was promoted to black belt several years later.

I met the legendary martial artist, Joe Lewis at a seminar in Burlington, NC in 1986. Joe Lewis is considered the Greatest Karate Fighter of all time. He was the first World Heavyweight champion in Kickboxing and the first world heavyweight professional karate champion. I studied under him and received my 2nd Degree black belt from him in March, 1998, and have since obtained my 5th Degree Black Belt in the Joe Lewis Fighting Systems (JLFS).

As of now, I am the director for the Under belt curriculum in the JLFS.

My second Kickboxing instructor was the World Undefeated Middleweight PKA kickboxing legend, Mr. Bill “Superfoot” Wallace. I tested under him several times, and hold a 4th Degree black belt in his system.

I currently study Brazilian Jiu-jitsu (BJJ) and hold a Purple Belt Rank. I have also studied and attended seminars by many other notable martial artists. We are an affiliate school under David Bybee, who is the Head Director for the U.S. Olympic Kickboxing team. He is a 3X World Kickboxing champion and also my Jiu-jitsu coach (American Mixed Martial Arts, out of Tampa Florida).

In addition to being a martial arts instructor, I am a Retired Law Enforcement Officer with over 30 years of experience. I have served as a Patrol Officer, a School Resource Officer, a Field Training Officer, and served on a SRT (SWAT) team for over 12 yrs. I was also an Instructor in Law Enforcement. I have specialized training in Firearms, Taser, Pepper ball Gun, Cell Extraction, and Defensive Tactics. I have also served as a Deputy Sheriff for the Rockingham County Sheriff’s Dept. both as a patrol officer and as a Bailiff for the Court system. I retired with Guilford County Community College (GTCC) Campus Police on Sept. 1st 2018.

This is not a “Bragging” list, but a list of my qualifications to let you know as a student, or parent of a student, just what gives me the “Qualifications” to teach you or your child. I hope you will consider these things in choosing which school you study or attend, because it truly makes a difference.

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