Master Milt Calander

Hanshi Milt Calander (Dec 13, 1949 - Dec 9, 2024) was a senior instructor in Shuri-Ryu Karate-Do holding the rank of 9th degree black belt.  Master Calander studied the martial arts for over 50 years and began his training in 1969 while in the U.S. Army stationed in Fairbanks, Alaska as part of the 472nd Military Police Company.  He studied the Burmese fighting art of Bando under Mr. James Chico Whack, a 2nd degree black belt.  With this foundation, Master Calander was discharged from the military in 1970 and returned to his hometown of Maple Heights, Ohio.  In Ohio, he became a student of Master James McLain and studied Shorei-Kempo karate.  Mr. McClain was a student of Grandmaster Phillip Koeppel of Peoria, Illinois and Grandmaster Robert Trias of Phoenix, Arizona. 

Beginning in 1972, Master Calander would travel back and forth from Ohio to Arizona to train with Grandmaster Trias for six months at a time until 1974 when he made Phoenix his permanent residence.  During this traveling period, Mr. Calander, while not yet a black belt, became a liaison for Grandmaster Trias to help keep his Red Sun Chief Instructors in the Midwest updated with changes to the kata (forms) that Grandmaster Trias taught.  In 1973, Master Calander became the first person in the country to obtain the official White Pine Tree patch of the Shuri-Ryu system with Master Wendi Dragonfire right next to him earning her own White Pine Tree patch.  Also, in 1973, Sensei Calander helped choreograph some fight scenes and appeared in the movie Black Karate and traveled to Europe with the United States Karate Association (USKA) karate team.

From 1974 to 1978, Mr. Calander served as the Trias Dojo Headquarter's Chief Instructor teaching students at the Trias dojo and updating visiting Red Sun Chief Instructors of Shuri-Ryu.  Master Calander wrote 14 out of the 15 kata movement descriptions and applications for Grandmaster Trias' book The Pinnacle of Karate documenting the standards for Shuri-Ryu.  Mr. Calander would later resign his position as Headquarter's Chief Instructor to pursue his college education full-time and to later establish his own karate schools.  In the early 1980s, Mr. Calander established the All-American Judo and Karate Academy  (later renamed the All-American Martial Arts Academy) in Mesa, Arizona.  Mr. Calander has traveled to Europe, Canada, Central America, Japan, and 40 of our states competing, refereeing, teaching, training, and giving seminars on the Shuri-Ryu system.  Due to his instrumental experience and knowledge in representing and propagating the Shuri-Ryu karate system, in 1989, GM Trias offered Master Calander the position of Red Sun Chief Instructor of Shuri-Ryu conditioned upon his moving to another state.  However, Sensei Calander declined this offer to remain in Arizona.  Sensei Calander was a dedicated student of Grandmaster Trias for 17 years.

Mr. Calander had an accomplished competitive career.  He was rated as a top 10 fighter in the United States Karate Assocation, is in Sports Illustrated Record Book for Karate, rated as a top 5 fighter in the Western United States by Black Belt magazine, has won numerous championships including 2 U.S. titles and the World Teams Form title in 1985.  In 1987, Master Calander was inducted into the prestigious Trias International Society.  Master Calander was also inducted into the United States Karate Alliance Hall of Fame in 1990 and served as its first president.  

Mr. Calander was instrumental in the formation of the United States Karate Alliance in 1989, served as the Alliance's public relations chairman, and was a member of its Executive Board.  Master Calander was also the Master of Ceremonies at the Alliance's National and World tournaments for many years.  

Sensei Calander received instruction in judo (equivalent to black belt), aikido, combat pistol shooting, scuba, Okinawan weapons (kobudo), skydiving, and skiing.  He also earned an undergraduate degree in fine arts and a master's degree in education from Arizona State University.  He had his own woodworking business, built custom furniture, and operated his own martial arts schools.  He was also a public school educator for many years.  His resting place is at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona.