• 
  Shinpan (Shiroma) Gusukuma  (1890-1954) 
• 
  
• - Sensei Iha's first karate instructor
• A senior student of Anko Itosu was a schoolteacher and an acupuncturist. He was well known for his sturdy, powerful karate even though he was small in stature. It is said he taught the "old way" of karate.
• 
  
• - Sensei Iha said that Gusukuma taught self defense applications first. He then combined them and called them by their kata name. Each move in every kata had multiple grappling and pressure point self defense applications in addition to the normal punch-kick-block applications taught today. Most Karate Instruction today starts with Kata yet seldom goes beyond punch-kick-block applications. We are extremely fortunate to have learned the Kakushite (or Hidden Hand techniques) from Sensei Iha who was taught by his instructor, Gusukuma Sensei.
• 
  
• Shinpan Gusukuma developed Okinawan Shuri-te.
• His techniques can still be found in both Shorin-Ryu and Shito-Ryu styles. He developed Kihon Katas 4 & 5. His most famous students included: Hiroshi Kinjo, one of Patrick McCarthy's Okinawan instructors, and our instructor, Grand Master, 10th Degree, Seikichi Iha (see below).

Choshin Chibana (1886-1969) 

Known as the ultimate karate expert on Okinawa. He taught a wide range of students. Many refer to him as the Karate Samurai. Chosin Chibana called his karate: "Kobayashi", yet the Kanji can also be read as "Shorin ryu"  小林流.   This is the onset of Okinawan Shorin Ryu Karate.

It is often reported that Chibana's karate teaching was vastly different, less severe, after WWII when he then focused more on punch-kick-block.

Shinpan Gusukuma & Chosin Chibana both practiced under Itosu.

Katsuya Miyahira   (1918-2010)

Hanshi, 10th Degree, Grand Master Okinawan Shorin Ryu Shidokan Karate. 

- Sensei Iha's second Karate instructor

Miyahira studied longer with Chosin Chibana than any other student. He also trained with Choki Motobu and Takuda Anbun.

In 1948, Katsuya Miyahira opened his Okinawan Shorin Ryu Karate dojo and named it Shidokan. 

The patch we wear on the left chest:

志   

道   

館 

Shidokan meanings:

- Warrior Path/Way Place,

- Right Path/Way Place,

- Heart Path/Way Place or

- Gentleman's Path/Way Place

Miyahira was one of 5 people Chibana promoted to 9th Degree. Chibana relinquished his Okinawan Shorin Ryu Karate Association duties to Miyahira before his death.

Miyahira was promoted to 10th Degree in 1978 by the Okinawan Shorin Ryu Karate Association.

Seikichi Iha (1932-2024)

Hanshi, 10th Degree, Grand Master Okinawan Shorin Ryu Shidokan Karate

Recognized by the Okinawan Government as an Intangible Cultural Heritage Asset, the highest honor the Okinawan Government can bestow upon a Karate Master.

Iha began his karate studies with his uncle, and then in 1950 began studying with Shinpan (Shiroma) Gusakuma. After Gusukuma died in 1954, he began studying at the Shidokan Karate Dojo with Katsuya Miyahira.

Sensei Iha moved to Lansing, Michigan, from California in 1975. After teaching in many locations, he opened the Original Okinawa Karate Dojo on East Michigan Ave. in Lansing, Michigan. His students have now established dojos throughout the United States, Canada, Israel, Colombia, Okinawa, and Japan.

Upon receiving his 10th Degree in 2001 from the Okinawan Shorin Ryu Karate Association, he named his Karate Association: Beikoku Shidokan, aka American Shidokan.

Sensei Iha was Katsuya Miyahira's senior student and is still so identified on Miyahira's Okinawa Dojo leader board, still hanging today. (see picture below)

Iha's students wear the Shidokan Kanji patch

 志

 道

 館 on the left chest and

the Beikoku Shidokan 米国志道館 patch on the left shoulder. (See Image Below)

The  Beikoku Shidokan Symbol

The red and black colors represent the belt colors of the highest degrees in karate which is the ultimate goal of students pursuing the Way of Karate.

The circle depicts harmony, cooperation, and friendship.
These are the goals of the students pursuing the Way of Karate.

The square represents a weight balance or measure signifying courtesy and forbearance.

The four poles signify advancement.

These are the goals of the students pursuing the Way of Karate.

The goal is to become a respected person of character through the discipline of the Way of Karate.

"Why train with others when you can train with the Best Karate Instructor?"

-- Pat, Alexandria, VA

Robert Roberto Curtis,

Hanshi, 9th Degree, Virginia Dojo

Roberto began martial arts classes in 1969. He studied judo, Shorinkan Shorin Ryu Karate, Shotokan Karate, Goju Ryu Karate, and Kung Fu. After a four-year overseas assignment in South America, he returned to his original karate dojo in 1979 in Lansing, MI to discover that then 7th Degree Sensei Iha, now Grand Master, 10th Dan, had begun teaching there and changed the Dojo's name to Original Okinawan Karate. He continued to train with this internationally renowned Karate Grand Master, and became one of his senior students.

During Roberto's many long-term overseas assignments, he trained US Embassy Security Personnel, US Marines, foreign security agents, and people just like you in Okinawan Shorin Ryu self defense Karate. When stationed in the United States, he always developed a cadre of dedicated karate students.

Roberto now concentrates on teaching proven-effective, adult-focused, self defense martial arts at the Virginia Dojo.

Roberto is a member of the East Coast Beikoku Shidokan Black Belt Testing Panel and the National Black Belt Testing Panel.

Roberto and the Virginia Dojo have consistently been recognized as the Best Instructors and Best Karate Dojo in Alexandria and the Washington DC area. I erased the list of awards; they are similar to peeing in your pants while wearing a dark woolen suit: They give you a nice warm feeling, but no one notices or cares.

"Roberto is the best karate teacher around."
-- Dan, Alexandria, VA

In 2024 Roberto was recognized in the Prestigious Marquis "Who's Who" Registry.

"Buddha Heart - Demon Hands"

This could also be read from right to left as

"Demon Hands Buddha Heart"

Leader Board in Katsuya Miyahiraś Dojo:

From Right to Left it reads:

10th Dan

Miyahira Katsuya

Iha Seikichi

Miyagi Takeshi

Shinkai Hiroyuki

Shimambukuro Kaseai