Virginia & DC Okinawan Karate Training
Seikichi Iha, 10th Dan and Roberto, 7th Dan.
Dec. 2009 seminar, Gambrill, Maryland
Sensei Iha and Roberto
cerca 1986
cerca 1986
Sensei Iha and Roberto
Lansing, Michigan
2008
Lansing, Michigan
2008
Black Belt Rank Recognition
by Beikoku Shidokan
Shorin-ryu Karate.
You worked hard to get your rank in your
karate style. Work and life always
challenge continued karate training
by Beikoku Shidokan
Shorin-ryu Karate.
You worked hard to get your rank in your
karate style. Work and life always
challenge continued karate training
in our own style.
You can work out with us at your rank and eventually return to your style or adjust to, and gain rank recognition in, Okinawan Beikoku Shidokan Karate. Either way we are happy to have you join us.
When you have time we will work together to learn the Beikoku Shidokan Karate katas, kumites and bunkai. This can be done during classes and supplemented if necessary with private lessons.
Black Belt rank recognition is completed solely through a test in front of Sensei Iha and an examining committee comprised of senior instructors.
For more information contact: robertoshidokan@gmail.com.
Sensei Iha Awarding 7th Dan Belt
2008 National Training Seminar
Lansing, MI
2008 National Training Seminar
Lansing, MI
Sensei Miyazato, Hanshi, 10th Dan, from Argentina explaining technique
In background:
Sensei Fukuhara, Hanshi 9th Dan, Okinawa, and Sensei Kusumori, Brazil, 8th Dan
In background:
Sensei Fukuhara, Hanshi 9th Dan, Okinawa, and Sensei Kusumori, Brazil, 8th Dan
Morgan Schwarz awarded brown belt! 2009
John Dailey, 4th Dan, Brian Kehoe, 2nd Dan, Roberto, and Dave Naber, 1st Dan
John Spence's Shorin-Ryu Webpage provides this guidance to people checking out karate schools, look into these things:
Ask if you will have to sign a contract.
Try to figure out how in the world this is to your advantage.
Ask if the school has a black belt club or masters club.
Rest assured that you will be pressured to sign up (pay up) for these and buy the
special uniform and equipment required. In the martial arts there are no guarantees
that someone will get a black belt. These programs promise you a black belt but for a
price and not neccesarily because you have earned the belt-it is because your pay for
it through their "program".
Many schools will test you for rank or stripes every ten or more classes for an additional fee. Martial arts are based on 100% proficiency of the requirements. With this sort of testing schedule, someone would receive a black belt in a year and a half. Even to someone who has had no martial arts experience, do you think that someone can truely be a black belt in this amount of time?
In Japan and most of the orient, the minimum age for black belt is 14-16 years old. If you see a school that has black belts who are in elementary school, you should question why this rank is given to children. If the birthplace of the martial arts requires a minimum age requirement for such a high rank, why would a school in the US give it to an 8 year old. Do you think that this child will really be able to defend themselves in a fight against a larger person or child?
Some schools will want you to buy a different color uniform when you get promoted (factor this in also).
Ask what type of personal equipment you will need to buy. Some equipment is required for any martial arts school.
Many schools will not provide you with prices of classes and test fees over the phone and will pressure you into making an appointment with a salesperson. This will be under the guise of serving you by placing you into the right program. When you look at the schedule you will see that everyone joins same classes- there is no "right program", just different payment plans.
Ask if you will have to sign a contract.
Try to figure out how in the world this is to your advantage.
Ask if the school has a black belt club or masters club.
Rest assured that you will be pressured to sign up (pay up) for these and buy the
special uniform and equipment required. In the martial arts there are no guarantees
that someone will get a black belt. These programs promise you a black belt but for a
price and not neccesarily because you have earned the belt-it is because your pay for
it through their "program".
Many schools will test you for rank or stripes every ten or more classes for an additional fee. Martial arts are based on 100% proficiency of the requirements. With this sort of testing schedule, someone would receive a black belt in a year and a half. Even to someone who has had no martial arts experience, do you think that someone can truely be a black belt in this amount of time?
In Japan and most of the orient, the minimum age for black belt is 14-16 years old. If you see a school that has black belts who are in elementary school, you should question why this rank is given to children. If the birthplace of the martial arts requires a minimum age requirement for such a high rank, why would a school in the US give it to an 8 year old. Do you think that this child will really be able to defend themselves in a fight against a larger person or child?
Some schools will want you to buy a different color uniform when you get promoted (factor this in also).
Ask what type of personal equipment you will need to buy. Some equipment is required for any martial arts school.
Many schools will not provide you with prices of classes and test fees over the phone and will pressure you into making an appointment with a salesperson. This will be under the guise of serving you by placing you into the right program. When you look at the schedule you will see that everyone joins same classes- there is no "right program", just different payment plans.
Paula and Yoshi the day before their Shodan test, Crofton 2009
Senseis Nakasone & Iha with Roberto & John "Juanito" Sweeney.
Alexandria, VA about 1995
Alexandria, VA about 1995
Dave Izumi demonstrating technique to Morgan Schwarz
John "Juanito" Sweeney,
Roberto, Pablito Davis
Roberto, Pablito Davis
Alexandria, 1994
John Dailey, JJ Martinez, Seikichi Iha, Roberto, Crofton, 2007?
Seikichi Iha, Roberto, Katsuya Miyahira, NTS, MSU,
Grand Master, Hanshi, 10th Degree,
Seikichi Iha
Seikichi Iha
