Sensei Nathan Lentz was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He began his training in Shorin-Ryu Karate in the 5th grade at North Side Karate under Tim Davies, a 5th degree black belt of Sensei Jim Hawkes. He trained with Mr. Davies for three and half years and achieved the rank of Go-Kyu. Unfortunately, Nate was no longer able to train after his father passed away in 1995. In early 2002 he returned to karate, this time at Jim Hawkes Karate under Sensei Hawkes and Sensei Lee Kittell. Within a few months he was working with the Dojo’s afterschool program as an instructor. In 2004 he was promoted to shodan (1st degree black belt). He went on to become the manager of the dojo for a few years, but went back to just teaching with the birth of his first son. In 2012 he became a member of the Seki Ryu Kai (Red Dragon Society), a group of Sensei Jim Hawkes’ most spirited fighters and martial artists.