Tim Golby started his Martial Art training in 1969 while attending Kenrick Seminary.

He was one of the original students at the Kirkwood Studio. During this period Tim left the seminary and later became an instructor. The list of instructors whom Tim trained under reads like a list of who’s who in the Martial Arts. The major influences on Tim’s Martial Arts are Al Tracy, Joe Lewis, Rodney Hard and Ken McGuire (his original teacher).

Tim’s Shodan (1st Degree Black Belt) was awarded to him by Joe Lewis. Joe Lewis developed a fighting system based on his training with Bruce Lee. Joe Lewis personally trained Tim teaching him the fighting principles that would later produce nationally ranked fighters under Mr. Golby. Mr. Lewis also awarded Tim the Checkered Gi. (The Checkered Gi was made famous by Joe Lewis is the highest honor a fighter can receive in the Tracy System.)

In 1972 Tim took over the Kirkwood Studio. One of Tim’s top students, Dave Hofer, was winning every tournament in the Mid-West. In a special banquet attended by Al Tracy and Joe Lewis, Dave Hofer was awarded the Checkered Gi. Back in those days Karate Tournaments were bare knuckle. The foam sparring gear was still a few years away.

Tim’s next great fighter was Sid Gee. Sid started his tournament career in the mid 1970’s and later in the 1980’s became a nationally ranked fighter.

In 1976 Tim started training a visiting European full contact fighter from the Netherlands Joop Musterd. Over the next several years Tim made several trips to the Netherlands giving seminars. Tim introduced kick boxing to Europe.

Over the years Tim has promoted hundreds of black belts and still continues to produce top fighters.

On June 29th, 2013, Mr. Golby was promoted to Judan 10th Degree Black Belt.

Kayla Golby, the next generation at Tracy’s Karate Studio in St. Louis, began training when she was six years old. She studies under her instructor and father, Dan Golby, son of Grand Master, Tim Golby.

Kayla teaches Saturday Kids Group Class.

As she grew up, karate has helped Kayla feel confidence with anything, not just self-defense, and for that reason, she teaches her students to come out of their shells and feel confident with protecting themselves as she did at their age.

Every employee at Tracy’s Karate Studio treats each other as family. Kayla loves that she can talk to them knowing they want to help her achieve her goals and help overcome the obstacles in life.

“I hope that the kids that walk into this studio understand that every single one of these instructors’ goals is to make their students feel safe. I especially love teaching kids because they can relate closer to me than other instructors and tell me personal things. I know that they trust me and it makes me know I’m connecting with them.” – Kayla Golby

Interest in the martial arts developed early for Steve when his parents suggested he study karate.

His training, begun in 1997, with master instructor Joe Talbot at Tracy’s Karate Studio, built confidence and also a curiosity about the culture that inspired martial arts.

In 2004, Steve traveled to China and there he studied with the formerly ranked seventh highest Wu Shu martial artist.

Steve began teaching at Tracy’s Karate Studio on 2006, and his exposure to other styles, such as Tai Chi, Judo, and Wu Shu Shoalin, incorporated with his knowledge of Kenpo, make him an accomplished teacher of the mixed martial arts. At Tracy’s Karate Studio in Kirkwood, Steve is devoted to instruction.

Steve has also been awarded the prestigious Checkered Gi worn only by the top Tracy fighters.

He teaches approximately 30 private lesson students each week, and his superior knowledge and skill with nun-chucks is available for those whose interests lie in karate weapons training.

In addition to karate and teaching, Steve is an avid bicyclist/motorcyclist and reader – he describes himself as “an interesting mix of nerd and adventurer.” In 2006 he and his brother James traveled 5000 miles across the US on their motorcycles off road.

They made a documentary of their adventures, titled “The Road Less Traveled”, and they invite you to check out The Road Less Traveled Movie website.

Steve has many goals for his future. He plans to become a 5th Degree Master Instructor and to have his own Tracy’s Karate studio. He is also a stand-up comedian.

While he works toward those goals, his focus is always on his students: “…to have all my students walk out of here happy and self-confident – I want to get them fired up! I want to develop students who get so good they surpass me in every way.”

David began training at Tracy’s Karate Studio in St. Louis when he was nine years old. He has studied over the years under karate greats of Sid Gee, Steve Leventhal, Dave Hofer, and Joe Talbot.

Starting at the age of thirteen, he began studying an art of Battōjutsu that taught not just drawing the blade and cutting, but practical fighting with the katana (Japanese saber). He has taken this art, along with other sword arts he has learned over the years and combined it with the advanced principles of Kenpo taught at Tracy’s Karate Studio in St. Louis to create a new sword fighting style.

David strives to understand his student’s needs and learning styles to help them achieve their personal goals in martial arts and in all they do. He is dedicated to his students knowing how to protect themselves in real life situations.

David teaches self-defense classes to community groups. He gives presentations about writing realistic fight scenes and is a published author in short stories, articles on writing and self-defense.

“I don’t know where I would be or if I would have found the confidence to do all I have accomplished without Tracy’s Karate Studio. I want all of my students to know how to defend themselves in any given situation and to feel that same confidence when they are faced with the obstacles life puts in their way.” – David Lucas