Professor Thomas Bernard Shea, 5 th degree black belt in Shotokan Karate, began training as a senior in college over 32 years ago under Shihan Kazumi Tabata (senior student of Isao Obata, who himself was the senior student of Gichin Funakoshi). Shea quickly became the captain of the karate club of his University, and later an Instructor in the North American Karate Federation . Shea is a world-renowned scholar on Alzheimer's disease and has authored over 250 scientific works . In addition, his articles on martial arts have appeared in Black Belt Magazine, Shotokan Magazine and Karate Illustrated. He has operated his own private karate schools, raised many of his own black belts, and now instructs the karate club at the University of Massachusetts at Lowell , where he teaches undergraduate and graduate Biology courses. Whenever possible, he slips away from teaching duties for some serious training at the Haverhill Shotokan Karate-Do Club . His combined expertise as a Karate master, Academic Professor, and Neuroscience Researcher provides him with a unique insight into martial arts practice for health, well-being, and career advancement.