Jared Lloyd, Sensei is the owner and head instructor at Lloyd's Okinawan Karate in Wendell, NC.  He began his martial arts training in 1993 at the age of 10 years old under Charles Mann, Hanshi (Okinawa Kenpo) in Zebulon, NC.  His dedication and training allowed him to achieve the rank of 5th degree black belt in Okinawa Kenpo Karate Kobudo (Odo Lineage) and become Mann, Hanshi's most senior student. 

After training in Okinawa Kenpo for some time, Jared Lloyd, Sensei became more and more interested in exploring the deeper aspects and principles of old Okinawan Karate.  He kept telling himself that there had to more to this martial art than kicks, punches and tournaments.  He began to attend various Okinawan karate seminars across the East Coast in hopes he would find the answer. This list included several years of the annual Spring, Summer and Fall Shobayashi Kan gasshuku led by Bill "Old Student" Hayes, Hanshi, 9th Dan of Shobayashi Ryu.  For those who do not know him, Bill Hayes, Hanshi had two tours of duty in Iwakuni, Japan and three tours on the island of Okinawa during Vietnam as US Marine. These tours allowed him to closely train with his teacher, O'Sensei Eizo Shimabukuro, Hanshi, 10th Dan (1925 -2017) and made him a remarkable karateka and teacher.

Needless to say, the Shobayashi Kan was exactly what Lloyd, Sensei had been seeking.  Jared continued to travel and train with the Shobayashi Kan as often as he could and in November of 2016, he became a full member of the research society.  On September 23, 2023, Jared Lloyd, Sensei was promoted to 3rd degree black belt in Shobayashi Ryu by Bill Hayes, Hanshi.   This was the direct result of hard work and years of training with the Shobayashi Kan and its senior ranking members.  To this day, Jared continues to deepen his understanding in Shobayashi Ryu by traveling to train personally with Tony D'Angelo, Kyoshi in Chicago, IL and by attending as many of the Shobayashi Ryu gasshuku as possible throughout the year. The invaluable skill and principles demonstrated and passed down by the Shobayashi Kan seniors keeps Lloyd Sensei wanting more.