Sensei Tomé’s journey began April of 1991 in his hometown dojo on Main Street in Cairo, NY.  The style under which he trained for four years is known as Oyama Karate which is an international, full contact, descendant from Kyokushin Karate originated from the legendary Mas Oyama.  Kobudo (Okinawan weapon training) was also a facet of his training.

After a brief hiatus for college, Sensei Tomé returned to his dojo to the newly created Shiya-Do Karate (way of the mind) and had a prominent role in the structuring, teaching, and promoting of the offshoot style.  After earning his Bachelor’s degree, Sensei Tomé was able to focus solely on his martial arts, training five days a week on average, and earned his Shodan (first degree black belt) from the style’s founder, Shihan Robert Hansen, in August of 2000.

 In the November of 2002, Sensei Tomé moved to New York City and expanded his base of martial arts knowledge.  He trained in Shin-Budo Kai Aikido with seventh degree black belt, Shihan Shizuo Imaizumi, a direct student of the founder of aikido, Morihei Ueshiba.  He also learned and was employed to teach Shotokan Karate at two different schools, under two separate protégés of the famous Shihan Sternberg.  Sensei Tomé has also worked with and trained under Rokkudan (sixth degree black belt ), Andy Diaz.  Aside from the additional karate training in Goju Te Ryu, Sensei Tomé increased his weapons knowledge as well as learned the Chinese martial art of Tai Chi under the tutelage of Sensei Diaz.

In March 2006, Sensei Tomé made teaching self-defense his sole profession and has been employed by many different institutions to instruct his style of martial arts.  Certain institutions such as the Educational Alliance, Asphalt Green, the 14th Street Y, and East Village Community School, have employed Sensei Tomé for several years.  He has trained people of all ages and diverse backgrounds, including children with ADHD, autism, dyslexia, and many other learning disabilities.  Sensei Tomé achieved his third degree black belt (Sandan) under Shiya-do Karate in August of 2007.  Evolutionary Martial Arts, inc. was birthed in June 2008 and its opening signifies the summation of Sensei Tomé’s nearly two decades of various martial arts and fitness experience.  His mission is to build a school that is a safe and welcoming environment for children and adults who seek to learn about the fighting art and discover their true strength.