Hanshi Gregory T. Johnson began his martial arts journey in Chicago, Illinois on August 1963 with Senpai Steve Hayward, Goju-Ryu Karatedo. Later that year he began Kyokushin Karatedo with the late Sensei Charles V. Gruzanski, 5th degree black belt, and one of Kancho Mas Oyama’s first Caucasian students.

Hanshi Johnson was awarded 1st degree black belt in Kyokushin Karatedo in November 1966 and he has continued in this karate style to this day.

Throughout his martial arts career, Hanshi Johnson has been a steadfast Kyokushin Karatedo practitioner. He has attended nearly every one of Richard P. Baillargeon’s NKJU summer camps since 1982 in order to increase his knowledge and expertise in karatedo. Among those with whom he has trained are: Richard P. Baillargeon, William K. Knoblock, Tola Lewis and Bill Wallace.