Our Instructors & Staff Members

Our Instructors have spent many years devoted to training in the art of Karate and other martial arts and have attained a certain level of expertise to qualify them as teachers and also mentors.

Through extensive testing, certification and tournament level competition, our staff has attained mastery in this martial art and now enjoy sharing their skill and passing it on to their students. Here are a few of Marc Unger Karate's instructors and other staff members, starting with Pastor Marc Unger:

Pastor Marc Unger  (Chief Instructor/8th Degree Black Belt)  Marc began his career in Karate on March 6, 1976 at age 25 and was an active tournament competitor until about 2000. His last tournament competition (to date) was in May 0f 2008. Marc is also a tournament promoter and holds two major tournaments per year in Exeter, CA. Marc worked for Grandmaster Sam Price (Sam Price's Go Ju Ryu System)as Business Manager/Instructor of the Hutchinson School of Karate from 1979 to 1983. Marc is the Pastor of Exeter Baptist Church in Exeter, CA. Marc founded this Southern Baptist church in 1998 and has been in pastoral ministry since 1983. Marc is also a Chaplain (First Lieutenant) in the California State Military reserve and is attached as the Battalion Chaplain for the 1-143 Field Artillery of the California Army National Guard. Marc has been married to his dear wife, Lynda, since 1983 and is blessed with five children—all of them advanced Black Belts! Marc was inducted into the USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame on 6-2-07.

David Unger  (5th Degree Black Belt) I began my karate career in 1992 at age 5 and have continued that career for almost 18 years. I am an instructor at Marc Unger Karate and love teaching karate to others. I hold around 200 trophies and still compete where possible. Since I first started karate, I have been doing demonstrations for church kids groups, parades, youth groups, high schools, state wide youth rallies and have served as a Platform Guest with Champions For Life (formerly, Bill Glass Evangelistic Association) doing Karte demonstrations in the Fresno County prison system. I am currently in my 5th year of college, am a Kenesiology major and plan on pursuining a career as a physical therapist/massage therapist. I am honored to have been inducted into the USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame in 2008 as "Go Ju Ryu Master of the Year."

Elizabeth Unger  (2nd Degree Black Belt) I started karate at the age of 4-½ at Marc Unger Karate. I’ve trained in karate for 15 years. I’ve excelled in self control, self discipline, confidence, and friendships in these years. In addition to Karate, I’ve been dancing non-stop since the age of 5. I am 19 years old and in my second year of college as a Dance major. I am working on my Professional Dance Instructor's Certificate. My friends and family are all pushing me to do what I’m great at and never give up anything I put my mind to. This semester I will be choreographing two dances for my college show. And I love karate!!!

Anna Unger  (2nd Degee Black Belt) I have been working out at Marc Unger Karate since I was 4 years old and am now a Second Degree Black Belt. I love working with the younger students. I have participated in dance for 12 years, gymnastics for two years and played the violin for three years. I am a Senior at Exeter Union High School and hope to run on the Varsity Track Team again this year. Karate has helped me with all of these sports by showing me discipline and respect. I plan on going to college to get my degree in Teaching and come back to Exeter Union High School to teach American History.

Sharon Laney  (2nd Degree Black Belt) Sharon started taking Karate lessons in August 2000 at age 13 at Marc Unger Karate and is still an active student. Karate has given her the confidence and athleticism she wanted to achieve and has taught her self-control and respect. Sharon graduated in May 2007 from Porterville College with an AA Degree in Liberal Studies, and is curretly an online student at Moody Bible Institute desiring to become a missionary. She is an active member of Porterville Evangelical Free Church and participates in the youth mission trips to Mexico and Brazil. She has appeared as a Platform Guest with Champions For Life (formerly Bill Glass Evangelistic Association) in prisons in the Fresno, CA area. Sharon is interested in continuing to use her ability in Karate for ministry whatever mission field God takes her to.

Daniel Unger (In Memorium)  (5th Degree Black Belt) I started in Karate under my dad, Marc, at age 5-1/2 in 1990 and have passionately pursued karate excellence ever since then. I have competed in Karate all my life and have about 250 trophies including 19 Grand Championships. I loved being an instructor at Marc Unger Karate. I was in the first testing and promotion of Junior Black Belts ever by Grandmaster Sam Price on July 13, 1996. I loved doing Karate demonstrations as a Platform Guest in prisons with my Dad and Sam Price for Bill Glass Evangelistic Association (now Champions for Life). I was the starting center fielder for Exeter Union High School for four years running and was also their starting Freshman quarterback. Seeing what happened on 9-11-2001, I joined the California Army National Guard on August 13, 2002 at age 17-1/2. I loved the Army and volunteered to serve my country in Operation Iraqi Freedom. On May 25, 2004, I rescued two Iraqi civilian contractors from death during a horrific mortar attack. After getting them into the safety of a bunker, I gave my life in service to my country. I am a licensed minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ and was posthumously promoted to Fifth Degree Black Belt on April 2, 2005. I was inducted into the USA Martial Art Hall of Fame on 6-2-07 as "Master of Recognition." You can read more about me by clicking here: http://www.danielunger.com. You can find out about the movie honoring me by clicking here: http://www.familyfirstfilms.com.

For more information about the Marc Unger Karate staff or training programs, please contact us at 559-592-6610 or by clicking here.