Sensei Darryl Gorden
Darryl was born July 30th, 1966 in Kansas City, Missouri. After moving to California for several years, his family relocated to Las Vegas in 1982. He graduated from Western High School and then attended the University of Las Vegas for one year before deciding to enter the work force.
Darryl always had a very high interest in the martial arts, especially Kung Fu karate and kickboxing. Several times during middle and high school he had altercations with bullies. Darryl used martial art moves emulated from the movies, he loved to watch, to fend off his attackers. On one such occasion, a well placed spinning back kick to a Jr. High school bully’s mid-section earned him a reputation as a martial artist, even though Darryl had no formal training. So it seemed that is was pre-ordained when Darryl met and fell in love with the spectacular martial artist, Stephanie McNeal in 1992. She began to teach him her father’s style, “Kifaru” karate and after several years of training under sensei Stephanie, (who became a Master in 2003), sensei Bob Hamiter, sensei John Milne, and good friend sensei David Key, Darryl received his brown belt in 1999.
He then took over the duties of beginner’s instructor at the Las Vegas school from sensei Bob Hamiter and began working toward his black belt. In July 2002, Darryl received is shodan making him Master Stephanie McNeal-Gorden’s 1st black belt in what promises to be a long line from the Vegas schools. Darryl received his Ni-Dan in July 2004.
He has been training the Vegas Demo team, “The Rhino Squad” for performances
and competitions around the city and across the state. Darryl takes particular
pleasure and pride in training “The Rhino Runts” the five and six year old division
of the Vegas Demo team and the future of Kifaru-Jitsu. Darryl serves as
Sergeant at Arms for the Kifaru-Jitsu Board of Directors. He is also the father
of two of our systems most promising up and comers, Aubrionna Gorden and
Darryl Gorden II. He plans to open a commercial school within the next five
years, the first of many Kifaru-Jitsu Academy of Martial Arts training
center.
God willing.