3rd Dan
Andrew J. Pacejka, 2nd Dan - Andy began training in 1990 while a college student at Illinois Wesleyan University with the Central Illinois Shotokan Karate Association (CISKA) under the guidance of instructor Elston Flowers and Chief Instructor Carl Hartter. During this time, Andy achieved his ni kyu (2nd degree brown belt) and became president of the IWU Karate Club.
After relocating to Salt Lake City in 1996, he began training with Michael Berger, Chief Instructor of the Ken Zen Ichi Utah Dojo of the International Karate Association (IKA). Andy received his shodan (1st degree black belt) with the IKA in 2000 at the conclusion of the All-World Millenium Kubota Cup.
In 2000, Andy was introduced to Sensei Doug Jepperson by Sensei Berger, and he soon began training with both dojos. After Sensei Berger departed Utah, Andy trained with the Jepperson Karate Dojos full time and subsequently received his nidan (2nd degree black belt) from Sensei Jepperson in 2007.
Throughout his career, Andy has had the privilege to attend seminars taught by a number of karate greats, including Hirokazu Kanazawa, Osamu Ozawa, Stan Schmidt, Tak Kubota, Tatsuo Suzuki and Randall Hassell.
Andy also has competed in a number of tournaments including:
| Tournament | Years | Awards |
| SKC’s Chicago Classic | 1990s | |
| All-World Millenium Kubota Cup | 2000 | 3rd place brown belt kumite |
| Wado International U.S. Championships | 2001 | 2nd place kata |
| AAU Regional | 2002 | 1st place kata, national qualifier kumite |
| Ozawa Cup | 2003-2007, 2009 | 4th place team kumite (2007)
3rd place team kumite (2009) |
| Rocky Mountain Championships | 2007 | |
| Utah Open | 2005-2008 | 1st place black belt kata; 2nd place black belt kumite (2007) 2nd place heavyweight black belt kumite, 3rd place black belt kata (2008) |
| Premier WSKO World Championships, El Salvador | 2008 | 3rd place heavyweight black belt kumite, 4th place black belt kata. |
| Utah State Championships and National Qualifier Tournament | 2009 – 2010 | 1st place senior kata, 2nd place senior kumite (2009)
3rd place senior kata, 2nd place senior kumite (2010) |
Andy has a B.A. in Biology from Illinois Wesleyan University and an M.S. in Biological Sciences from Illinois State University.