We are professional, we are serious about your safety, we teach controlled discipline, and you are welcome here to begin your self defense karate journey.

Robert Roberto Curtis

9th Degree, Hanshi

Beikoku Shidokan Karate

Roberto has been a student of internationally renown Karate Grand Master Seikichi Iha since 1979 and is now one of Iha's senior Karate students. 

During Homeleave from an overseas assignment, when Sensei Iha understood Roberto was teaching US Marines overseas he started teaching him the advanced and very effective 'hidden-hand' techniques found in kata. He said, "imagine there are no blocks in kata!" Plus, the focus on Nagashi Uke or soft redirecting blocks dramatically changed the focus from a brawler's muscle-type of karate to a truly effective self defense karate that men and women use effectively regardless of their size.

Roberto began his martial arts practice in 1969 studying Judo, Karate, and Kung Fu before starting his training with Karate Grand Master Seikichi Iha.

Roberto served as a U.S. Foreign Service Officer and Civil Servant. During long-term overseas assignments, Roberto taught self-defense karate to U.S. Embassy Security Personnel, U.S. Marines, foreign security agents, and people like you. Whenever stationed in Washington, DC, he always developed a cadre of Karate students in DC, Maryland, and Virginia.

Roberto is a member of the East Coast and National Beikoku Shidokan Shorin Ryu Karate Black Belt Examination Boards. He is also a member of the International Ryukyu Karate Research Society led by Hanshi Patrick McCarthy.

During his overseas assignments, he was recognized by the US Marine Corps, the Secret Service, the Drug Enforcement Agency, as well as numerous foreign government agencies for his self-defense martial art instruction in karate.