In 1959 Sensei Gary Tiktin began his Shorin-Ryu training in Okinawa, Japan. He trained under Sensei Nagamine in the Naha, Okinawa dojo. During several trips to Okinawa, he also trained under Chotoku Omine as well as Ansei Ueshiro. Sensei Tiktin was promoted to Shodan by Sensei Nagamine. In 1961 Gary Tiktin and several of his students formed the American Karate Federation in Columbus Ohio. Over the next 10 years, the system spread to include dojos throughout the United States. This process has continued, with students from these dojos moving on to open their own schools. There are now active programs from California to New York, and Minnesota to Florida. Many are located at universities and community centers, where institutional support allows instructors to teach without worrying about expenses for training facilities. Sensei Tiktin continues to train privately and serve as President of the American Karate Federation