The Goju Ryu class dissolved after a few months, and Sensei Offutt moved on to training in Hapkido. After rigorous training in Hapkido, Sensei Offutt moved to Arkansas and began training in Shotokan Karate in 1976 under Sensei Buddy Treadway.

Sensei Treadway was a top student of Sensei Torajiro Mori, who was a multi-time Japan champion in both Kata and Kumite. After a few years under the tutelage of Sensei Treadway, Sensei Offutt began training with another one of Sensei Mori’s black belts named Sensei Doug Chisam. While training with Sensei Chisam; Sensei Offutt also was a sparring partner several professional kickboxers. Some of these kickboxers include Cedric “the Bull” Rogers, and Lafayette Lawson, who were both world champion kickboxers. Sensei Offutt had a very successful but short-lived professional kickboxing career. He retired from professional kickboxing with an excellent record, and began pursuing the more traditional aspects of Shotokan karate.

Over the years Sensei Offutt has trained with several top instructors in Shotokan karate instructors including Hidetaka Nishiyama and Takayuki Mikami. However, in the early 1990’s Sensei Offutt broke away from the Japan Karate Association to create an organization that would keep strict standards of training and adhere to a curriculum closer to what Shotokan founder Gichin Funakoshi had set. This organization is named the United Shotokan Association.

In 2001 Sensei Offutt was recognized for his efforts by a Shotokan group out of Japan, and was awarded the Shihan (or Chief Instructor of an Organization) title by Gichin Funakoshi’s student Ryoichi Fujihara. Sensei Fujihara also had Shihan Offutt recognized by his Shotokan group in the Yokohama area and presented Sensei Offutt with the rank of 7th degree Black Belt.

In 2007 Shihan Offutt was promoted to the rank of 8th Degree Black Belt by Shotokan Master Meijin Masaki Sato out of Osaka Japan. Meijin Sato is a national living treasure recognized by the government of Japan for his contributions to the martial arts, and he hold 10th degree black belts in both Judo and Shotokan Karate. Later in 2007 Sensei Offutt was recognized again by the Zen Bujitsu Kyokai and was registered as an 8th Degree Black Belt by Shorin Ryu Grandmaster Seifuku Nitta out of Chatan Okinawa.

In September of 2007 Sensei Offutt was recognized by the Universal Martial Arts Association and was awarded the title of Grandmaster of the Year for his contributions to the martial arts and his many years of training in traditional Shotokan Karate.

Sensei Offutt has made numerous contributions to the martial arts world over the years. Including working as the president of the Arkansas Karate Circuit, and more recently has been the Arkansas state Chairman of the American Amateur Union (AAU) Karate division.

In early 2008 Meijin Masaki Sato presented Sensei Offutt with the Hanshi title. Hanshi is the highest level instructors license recognized by several organizations.