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. Roberto teaches Okinawan Shorin Ryu Shidokan Karate.

Normally, Master Iha focused on teaching the regular karate kicks, punches, blocks and throws you expect in a karate class. However, during a homeleave from an overseas assignment, when Sensei Iha discovered Roberto was teaching US Marines and other US Embassy Security Personnel who were often called upon to use their self defense skills, he started teaching him the advanced and very effective 'hidden-hand' self defense grappling techniques found in kata.

He started by saying,  "imagine there are no blocks in karate! Every movement is a strike, throw, or a(n arm/leg) break." Plus, the focus on Nagashi Uke or the soft redirecting of attacks dramatically changed the focus from a brawler's muscle-type of karate to a truly effective self defense karate that men and women can use effectively regardless of their size or muscle mass.

Sensei Iha also told Roberto that he wouldn't do true karate until he reached the age of 70 when he wouldn't have much muscle strength and would have to rely soley upon technique for self defense. (This coincides with Newton's 2nd Law: Force= Mass x Acceleration)

Roberto teaches you Iha's nearly effortless self defense so, whether a man or woman, young or old, you can easily defend against a much larger and stronger opponent.

Roberto began his martial arts practice in 1969 studying Judo, Karate, and Kung Fu before beginning his training with Karate Grand Master Seikichi Iha in 1979.

Roberto served 35 years 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 from the police, military, and people just like you. He also taught karate to select students at the USDA gym.

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 karate instruction.