Sensei John Adam, Shodan, 

Chief Administrator, Maryland

John was born in Baltimore, MD on March 31, 1958 and currently lives in Camp Springs, MD with his wife and son. He has a daughter, son in law and four Grand Children. He attends First Baptist Church of Camp Springs and serves as a Deacon and sings in the choir.He attended Baltimore City Public Schools and began playing trumpet in the fourth grade. He graduated from Southwestern High School in 1975. At Southwestern, he enjoyed athletics and ran track and wrestled for four years; ran cross country for three years and played one season of soccer. While in high school, he worked at Hilton Recreation Center as a wrestling coach and summer part time work at White Coffee Pot Jr. Family Restaurant

John attended Friendship Baptist Church, where he was baptized, and he was a Cub Scout and Boy Scout. He was the Assistant Patrol Leader of Troop #253. He learned how to play baseball and learned how to swim while attending the scouting program at Friendship Baptist Church.  He took night classes at the Community College of Baltimore while in the tenth grade. After high school, he attended Manchester University, Coppin State University, Morgan State University and coop classes at Towson State University. John also attended Catonsville Community College.  In 1981, John began working for Family and Child Services of Washington D.C. as a counselor in the Summer and Winter Camping Program.  He moved to Washington D.C. in 1985 when he accepted a position as Foster Parent/House Manager with Family and Child Services for several years. John married Shelia Roberson in 1987. He ended employment with Family and Child Services of Washington D.C. and worked as an Operations Manager and Coordinator of Community Living Services for Rock Creek Foundation. After leaving Rock Creek Foundation, John worked as a Long Term Substitute for D.C. Public Schools and taught Physical Education and Environmental Science. He later worked as a Casual Postal Worker- Mail Handler and Letter Carrier for the U.S. Postal Service. He currently works in a Technical Data Storage Facility, for an Engineering Firm, as a researcher of water surface profile studies.  John started taking Karate with Shihan Jerome Gumbs several years ago. The plan was to get his son (a Second degree Blackbelt in Tae Kwon Do) involved into some “real martial arts” and drop out. John began liking the class so much that he continued to attend. He earned his Black Belt in Kaifuku Kerai Shin last summer.