Ricardo W. Johns was born in the former Panama Canal Zone. He began his martial arts training at the age of 14 under his sensei, Vincent Cruz who studied under Osai Obata, who was a direct student of Master Qichin Funakoshi. Sensei Cruz was a Staff Sargeant stationed in the Canal Zone at that time and was teaching karate at the Albrook military base. Hanshi Johns was the youngest student in the class and back in those days the training was vigorous, demanding, and intense but he never gave up his desire for becoming a great martial arts practitioner. He practiced arduously pushing himself to the limits of endurance in his quest to emulate his sensei and because of his strong spirit and hard work, he was selected to be on the Panama national karate Team in 1967 with the team wining first place. In 1968 and 1969 he won the Kumite Grand Champion trophy and was undefeated. He trained under Vincent Cruz for five years and was his uchideshi before his sensei was redeployed back to the United States leaving him with the technical responsibility of passing on the Shotokan system to the students in Panama.

He began teaching the youths in his community from his father's garage and eventually opened his first infamous dojo at the Pedro Miguel Gymnasium. He was an extremely hard task instructor as his students would say, very demanding and expecting nothing but the best. This principle and way of teaching proved to be very successful for his students because they always prevailed and were considered to be tough opponents. He was also Head Instructor for the Panama national Guard with the responsibility of training the national forces that protected the late General Omar Torrijos of Panama. Hanshi Johns was very influential in his community and played a major role in the successes of many of his students today.

In 1971 he traveled to the United States and enlisted in the United States Army and during his six years of service he continued his martial arts training in the different parts of the country. In returned back to Panama in 1974 and re-opened his dojo in Pedro Miguel and another dojo in the City of Panama. He returned back to the United States in 1980 and officially founded the Dai-Ichi Shotokan Karate-Do Association in order to develop a teaching method specifically designed to develop the mind, spirit, and improve physical well-being for his students. To achieve this, he travels throughout the United States, Central America, and Europe where he is invited to give seminars and coach on the USA Karate National Team.

Today the organization is comprised of dojos (karate schools) in the United States and Central America. It is a nationally and internationally recognized organization and highly respected in the martial arts world. He established the Dai-Ichi Summer Camp as a way for instructors and students to maintain their technical level, to increase the spiritual aspect of Karate-do, and to promote and foster sincere and true brotherhood amongst our fellow budokas.

His vision and long-term goal is to see each of his students succeed in life and become productive citizens in society and to see the Dai-Ichi Shotokan Karate-do Association be a leading force in the spread of the true essence of Karate-do. With his many years of experience, dedication, sacrifice, and lifetime commitment to the teachings of Karate-do - his vision will become a reality.

Dai-Ichi Shotokan Karate-Do Lineage:

Meijin Gishin Funakoshi Okinawa Japan

Isao Obata Okinawa Japan

Hanshi Vicente Cruz Puerto Rico

Hanshi Ricardo Johns Panama