Meet Our Martial Arts Class Instructors

Robert Roberto Curtis

9th Degree, Hanshi

Beikoku Shidokan Karate

Roberto has been a student of Grand Master Seikichi Iha since 1979 and is now one of his senior Karate students. Grand Master Seikichi Iha was recently honored with the extremely rare title of "Intangible Cultural Asset" by the Okinawan Government.

Roberto began his martial arts practice in 1969 at Michigan State University where he studied Judo, Karate, and Kung Fu thru 1974 when he began a 4-year Peace Corps tour.

Upon returning to Michigan State University in 1979 for a Master's Program, he discovered Grand Master Seikichi Iha, Hanshi, now 10th Dan, was teaching at the Karate Dojo where he had practiced before his overseas assignment. His studies with Iha Sensei began and Roberto still continues practicing with him. While he obained his Masters of Science Degree in Agricultural Economics at MSU in just a few short years, his Karate Masters Degree required over three decades of study and practice.

Roberto served for 35 years as a U.S. Foreign Service Officer and Civil Servant. While stationed overseas, Roberto taught Adult Martial Arts to U.S. Embassy Security Personnel, U.S. Marines, foreign security agents, and people like you. When stationed in Washington, DC, he always taught a cadre of Martial Arts Karate students in DC, Maryland, and Virginia.

Roberto is a member of the Mid West and National Shidokan Shorin Ryu Black Belt Examination Boards.

Recent Martial Arts Awards include:

Marquis Who' s Who, 2024

Best Karate Classes in Alexandria, 2023

Best Local Martial Arts Business, 2023

Best Martial Arts School, Alexandria, VA 2022 

Best Martial Arts Instructor, Alexandria, VA 2021, 2020

Best Martial Arts School DC-Area, 2019

Best Martial Arts Instructor in DC-Area 2018, 2017

During overseas assignments, he was recognized by the US Marine Corps, Secret Service, the Drug Enforcement Agency, as well as foreign government agencies.

Denise Hawkins Coursey

3rd Degree Black Belt

Beikoku Shidokan Karate

Denise started training in Beikoku Shidokan Karate with Sensei Roberto Curtis in 2011. She began her martial arts training in 1998 studying Koryu Uchinadi and Tae Kwon Do. For much of her martial arts career, she was one of only a few women at the karate dojo. As a result, she became passionate about bringing more women into the martial arts because it builds confidence in every aspect of life -- career, home, community, and, of course, in the ability to defend oneself. Over 30% of our members are women.

Outside the karate dojo, Denise formerly served as President of Motley Fool Asset Management, where she was also often the “only woman in the room.” Denise has a bachelor’s degree in English and an MBA with a marketing concentration from Mount St. Mary’s University.

Denise's Homepage: Okinawan Karate for Women