Who Teaches at Bakersfield Budo and What Organizations Are the Programs Affiliated With?

Bakersfield Budo's Karate-Do program is led by Charlie Tootle, Sensei, an OGRKK-certified Godan (5th dan), and its Aikido program is overseen by Jason Parsons, a USAF-certified Yondan (4th dan) and Shidoin. The dojo's Okinawan Goju-Ryu group is a member (Shibu) dojo of the OGRKK, and every Budo tradition taught at the dojo operates under the rules and regulations of its parent organization.

Karate-Do: Instructor and Affiliation

The OGRKK connection matters if you care about lineage and standards: Tootle's teaching credential is issued within the same organization that the Bakersfield dojo belongs to, so rank and curriculum are tied to a recognized parent body rather than being self-awarded.

Karate-Do itself is described as a synthesis of the native Okinawan fighting style Te and Shaolin boxing from China, systematized in mainland Japan in the early 20th century. Goju-Ryu in particular emphasizes balancing internal and external force—combining physical training with breath technique to generate and release energy for control and power.

Aikido: Instructor and Affiliation

The Shidoin title is a teaching designation within the USAF (United States Aikido Federation) certification structure, which signals that Parsons is credentialed not just as a ranked practitioner but as an authorized instructor. Aikido is described as a modern martial art created by Morihei Ueshiba (O-sensei) in the early 20th century, blending traditional samurai jujutsu with Shinto and Buddhist philosophical influences into a system emphasizing harmony and non-destruction—redirecting an attack's speed and energy through body throws, joint locks, fitness, mental focus, and development of ki.

What This Means for Choosing a Program

• If certification and organizational lineage are your priority, both programs offer it: Karate-Do through OGRKK and Aikido through USAF. Ask each instructor directly how rank promotions and curriculum are governed by the parent organization.
• If you want to cross-train or compare styles, note that the two programs run on different schedules (Karate-Do on Monday/Wednesday evenings; Aikido on Tuesday/Thursday evenings), so you can observe both without conflicts.
• If you are evaluating a dojo for a child, Karate-Do has a dedicated kids class for ages 6–14, with 5-year-olds considered case-by-case for maturity. Aikido class times listed are a single adult evening slot.

The dojo also lists Iaido among its offerings, and states that all Budo traditions represented there are subject to their parent organizations' rules—so if Iaido matters to you, ask specifically which organization oversees that program and who instructs it, since the site's instructor details cover Karate-Do and Aikido.

Verifying Before You Commit

The site invites prospective students to call (661) 398-2100 to set up a free two-week trial. Use that call to confirm instructor credentials directly and to ask which organization governs each program you're considering. First-time visitors are also asked to arrive early so instructors can cover dojo and class basics, wear comfortable clothing for unrestricted movement, remove jewelry, and go barefoot or in socks on the dojo floor—no shoes, no food.