Sensei Don Monistere entered Martial Arts at his father’s behest. Sensei's father had achieved his brown belt in Shotokan Karate, and he felt it would be good for his teenage son to know a few things about how to defend himself. At age 16 he entered a small Dojo in Hammond, LA. and began his journey in martial arts. Sensei was a typical teenager who wanted to learn how to FIGHT. What Sensei didn’t realize is that the lessons he would learn were far greater than that of how to use his fists, or how hard he could kick. The skills of perseverance will, determination, and overall discipline forced its way into every aspects of his life. Master Sensei T. Mikami, who trained directly under Master Funakoshi, owned two Dojos in Louisiana, and Sensei Don began to train under the direction of this two time WORLD champion. Master Sensei Mikami had twice won, and scored the only draw in the Japanese World Championships. He was a tenacious instructor and Sensei Don’s passion for martial arts carried him through the rigorous training that was the calling card of Master Sensei T. Mikami.

As Sensei Don grew into adult hood, his career took him to Jackson, MS. where, at age 20, he achieved the rank of Shodan. This, he thought was the end to a long four year journey, but his study of Karate had just really begun. Sensei Don began to study various other styles such as Tae Kwon Do, Tai Chi, and other American variations of these disciplines. He constantly pushed himself to try and achieve what he felt was a more encompassing, and well rounded method of training, and teaching Martial Arts.

Sensei Don found himself in Birmingham, AL. in 1993 and began to train diligently in a kyokushin style of stand up Japanese martial arts. After four years concentrating on his standup fighting skills, and some time fighting in local and regional tournaments Sensei began to focus on his most important achievements of his life, his children. Sensei had two beautiful boys, Cooper and Cameron and began to teach them martial arts at a very young age. With his newly found knowledge of Kumite and his Shotokan roots given to him by Master Sensei T. Mikami, Sensei Don embarked on a new martial arts journey of development and instruction.

Sensei Don has combined the techniques of Kumite, Kata, and Kihon training, to create what UMA Students know is a very well rounded discipline that exposes an opponents weakness and puts every advantage in the hands of the UMA student. Sensei Don and his wife Daphne live outside of Birmingham, AL with their four children.