Robert Gilmore is a retired veterinarian. He has a Bachelor's and Master's degree from the University of Idaho, and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Washington State University. He started training in martial arts in 1995 and currently has a fifth degree black belt ranking with the International Karate League.  

Dr. Gilmore has been a collector of antique Japanese swords for over 40 years. He lived in Tachikawa, Japan for 5 years. The Boise IKL dojo is a registered Idaho Non-Profit Organization, and is a 501(c)(3) entity.  The dojo has been offering classes to Boise Community Education since 1979. Information about the International Karate League can be found on the web at www.IKL.org.