Our goal at Midwest Karate & Yoga Association of St. Louis Park is to offer a safe and caring environment for men, women, and children to practice Traditional Shotokan Karate and Hatha Yoga. Traditional Karate classes are taught by head instructors Laura Ocampo, 4th Dan, and Luis Miguel Ocampo, 3rd Dan. Hatha Yoga classes are lead by Laura Ocampo.

For a brief introduction to the respective arts, visit the Home and Hatha Yoga pages.

Sensei Laura Ocampo, 4th Dan

Laura began training in Shotokan Karate in October of 1980 at the University of Minnesota. She has had the great honor of training for twenty-two years with Master Robert Fusaro, 7th Dan. Sensei Fusaro established Midwest Karate Association of Minneapolis in 1958 and has, with unsurpassed dedication, passed on his knowledge and passion for the art of Shotokan Karate. Laura has received all four of her black belt ranks from Sensei Hidetaka Nishiyama, 9th Dan and chairman of the ITKF. Laura has taught at St. Thomas University, Macalaster College, Carleton College, the University of Minnesota, and also at Midwest Karate of Minneapolis. In competition, Laura was ITKF National Individual Kata champion in 1992, 1997, and 2000. She was ITKF National Team Kata champion in 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2002. In addition, Laura placed 5th in Individual Kata and 4th in Man/Woman Enbu at the 2000 ITKF World Tournament in Bologne, Italy.

Sensei Luis Miguel Ocampo, 3rd Dan

Luis Miguel began his training in February of 1978 in Mexico City, Mexico with Sensei Ricardo Picard and Sensei Garardo Covarrubias. In 1989 he moved to Los Angeles to train with Sensei Hidetaka Nishiyama and there he remained until 1993. In 1995, Laura and Luis were married, and he moved to Minneapolis. There, he continued his training under Sensei Robert Fusaro. Luis Miguel received all three of his black belt ranks from Sensei Hidetaka Nishiyama. He has taught karate at Club Casa Blanca, Satelite, Mexico for three years, and at Delegacion Gustavo A. Madero in Mexico City for one year. In addition, Luis Miguel also ran his own dojo in Valle Dorado, Mexico, for two years. In 2004 place 3rd in Man/Man Enbu at the 12th World Traditional Karate Championship ITKF in Davos, Switzerland and in 2006 place 3rd in Fukugo at the 13th World Traditional Karate Championship ITKF in Saskatoon, Canada.