Criteria for the Shihan title within the USCKF include at least 40 years of age, rank of Yon Dan or higher, and 25 years of training and service to the organization. In addition, the title may be awarded to individuals below the rank of Yon Dan if the the other two requirements are met and the individual has exhibited extraordinary dedication and service to the organization. There is no fee or test involved, the title of Shihan is an honor to the organization as much as it is to the individual. An individual may not apply for the title.
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William J. Dometrich, Hanshi Co-Founder USCKF Chairman and Chief Instructor Emeritus USCKF March 15, 1935 - March 22, 2012 Ku Dan (Ninth Degree Black Belt) DNBK Certified: Ku Dan, Hanshi Promoted to Ku Dan by the Dai Nippon Butokukai (DNBK) in Kyoto, Japan 2008 Promoted to Hachi Dan and title "Hanshi" by Hanshi Tesshin Hamada of the Dai Nippon Butokukai (DNBK) 1999 Promoted to Shichi Dan and title "Kyoshi" by O-Sensei 1971 Promoted to Sho Dan 1954 Began study of Chito-ryu 1952 |
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Barbara E. Dometrich (Okusan), Meiyo Hanshi Co-Founder USCKF Chairman USCKF Hachi Dan (Eighth Degree Black Belt) DNBK Certified: Roku Dan, Meiyo Hanshi Awarded title "Meiyo Hanshi" by Hanshi Tesshin Hamada of the Dai Nippon Butokukai (DNBK) 2015 Began study of Chito-ryu 1962 Also holds rank in Kendo and Iaido |
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Lawrence C. Hawkins Jr., Esq., Kyoshi Chief Advisor/Chairman Emeritus USCKF Technical Team Coordinator Emeritus December 17, 1944 - May 27, 2020 Hachi Dan (Eighth Degree Black Belt) DNBK Certified: Hachi Dan, Kyoshi Chief Instructor Emeritus Yoseikan II Dojo, Cincinnati, OH Awarded title "Hanshi" posthumously by Hanshi Tesshin Hamada of the Dai Nippon Butokukai (DNBK) 2020 Began study of Chito-ryu 1962 |
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Sherry (Dometrich) Kembre, Kyoshi Vice Chair and Assistant Administrator USCKF Hachi Dan (Eighth Degree Black Belt) DNBK Certified: Shichi Dan, Kyoshi, Shihan Awarded title "Shihan" by Hanshi Tesshin Hamada of the Dai Nippon Butokukai (DNBK) 2015 Chief Instructor Yoseikan Hombu Dojo Began study of Chito-ryu 1971 |
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Arthur Rott, Shihan 1918-November 10, 2001 Shichi Dan (Seventh Degree Black Belt) awarded posthumously Founder Yoseikan Apopka Dojo, Apopka, FL Began study of Chito-ryu 1966 |
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Jerry Beshears, Kyoshi Shichi Dan (Seventh Degree Black Belt) DNBK Certified: Roku Dan, Renshi Instructor Yoseikan Hombu Dojo Began study of Chito-ryu 1966 |
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Don Schmidt, Renshi Judicial Committee USCKF Shichi Dan (Seventh Degree Black Belt) DNBK Certified: Roku Dan, Renshi, Shihan Dai Instructor Yoseikan Hombu Dojo Instructor Northern Kentucky University Karate Club Began Study of Chito-ryu 1972 |
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John Wellbrock, Renshi Shichi Dan (Seventh Degree Black Belt) DNBK Certified: Roku Dan, Renshi, Shihan Dai Instructor Yoseikan Hombu Dojo Began study of Chito-ryu 1973 |
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Eric Ford, Renshi Shichi Dan (Seventh Degree Black Belt) DNBK Certified: Go Dan Instructor Yoseikan Hombu Dojo Began study of Chito-ryu 1981 |
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Stephen Wilhelm, Renshi Roku Dan (Sixth Degree Black Belt) DNBK Certified (Inactive): Roku Dan, Renshi Instructor Yoseikan Hombu Dojo Began study of Chito-ryu 1967 Also holds rank in Aikido |
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Manuel Byers, Renshi Roku Dan (Sixth Degree Black Belt) DNBK Certified (Inactive): Roku Dan, Renshi Began study of Chito-ryu 1972 Instructor Yoseikan II Dojo, Cincinnati, OH |
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Terry Collis, Shihan Roku Dan (Sixth Degree Black Belt) DNBK Member Instructor Yoseikan Hombu Dojo Instructor Northern Kentucky University Karate Club Began study of Chito-ryu 1962 |
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Gerald Meade, Renshi Roku Dan (Sixth Degree Black Belt) DNBK Certified: Go Dan Instructor Yoseikan Hombu Dojo Began study of Chito-ryu 1972 |
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Jesse Brown Jr., Min.D, Shihan Roku Dan (Sixth Degree Black Belt) DNBK Certified: Yon Dan Chief Instructor Rochester Chito-ryu Dojo, Rochester, NY Began study of Chito-ryu 1971 |
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Lawrence Hawkins III, Esq., Renshi Judicial Committee USCKF Roku Dan (Sixth Degree Black Belt) DNBK Certified: San Dan Chief Instructor Yoseikan II Dojo, Cincinnati, OH Began study of Chito-ryu 1980 |
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J. Wesley Ernest, Renshi Roku Dan (Sixth Degree Black Belt) DNBK Certified: San Dan Instructor Yoseikan Hombu Dojo Began study of Chito-ryu 1975 NKU |
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Barbara Tarczynski, Shihan Judicial Committee USCKF Go Dan (Fifth Degree Black Belt) DNBK Certified: Yon Dan Chief Instructor Maryland Yoseikan Dojo Began study of Chito-ryu 1971 |
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Michael Colling, Renshi Go Dan (Fifth Degree Black Belt) DNBK Certified (Inactive): Go Dan Chief Instructor Marion Bridge Yoseikan Dojo, Nova Scotia, Canada Began study of Chito-ryu 1971, Joined USCKF 1996 |
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Warren Pochinski, Shihan September 14, 1935 - January 4, 2022 Go Dan (Fifth Degree Black Belt) DNBK Certified: Yon Dan Chief Instructor Emeritus Fort Bragg Yoseikan Dojo, Fort Bragg, NC Began study of Chito-ryu 1954 |
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William Jansak, RN, Shihan Go Dan (Fifth Degree Black Belt) DNBK Certified: Go Dan Began study of Chito-ryu 1982 Also holds rank in Ryukyu Hozon Shinkokai Kobudo |
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Kevin Drummond, Shihan Go Dan (Fifth Degree Black Belt) DNBK Certified (Inactive): San Dan Chief Instructor Bridgeport Yoseikan Dojo, Bridgeport, WV Began study of Chito-ryu 1977 |
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Matthew Scott, Shihan Go Dan (Fifth Degree Black Belt) DNBK Certified (Inactive): Yon Dan Instructor Yoseikan II Dojo, Cincinnati, OH Began study of Chito-ryu 1982 |
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James Acampora, Shihan Go Dan (Fifth Degree Black Belt) DNBK Certified (Inactive): San Dan Chief Instructor Yoseikan of Orlando II Dojo, Orlando, FL Began study of Chito-ryu 1981 (Art Rott, Shihan) |
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Tony DiTerlizzi, Shihan Go Dan (Fifth Degree Black Belt) DNBK Certified: Go Dan Began study of Chito-ryu 1985 |
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Laura Stith Deck, Ph.D, Shihan Go Dan (Fifth Degree Black Belt) DNBK Certified: San Dan Instructor Yoseikan II Dojo, Cincinnati, OH Began study of Chito-ryu 1983 |
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Joseph Petty, Shihan Go Dan (Fifth Degree Black Belt) DNBK Certified: Yon Dan Instructor Yoseikan Hombu Dojo Began Study of Chito-ryu 1984 |
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Willie Elliott, Ed.D, Shihan Go Dan (Fifth Degree Black Belt) DNBK Certified (Inactive): San Dan Began study of Martial Arts 1966 Kentucky State College, Frankfort, KY |
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Paul Knecht, Shihan Go Dan (Fifth Degree Black Belt) Began study of Chito-ryu 1996 |
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Shawna Lingo, Shihan Go Dan (Fifth Degree Black Belt) DNBK Certified: Yon Dan, Renshi Chief Instructor Yoseikan Anderson Dojo, Cincinnati, OH Assistant Instructor Northern Kentucky University Karate Club Began study of Chito-ryu 1994 |
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Joseph J. Schertler, Shihan December 2, 1917 - November 1987 Yon Dan (Forth Degree Black Belt) Received Shihan title posthumously 10/18/98 |
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Michael Messinger, Shihan Yon Dan (Fourth Degree Black Belt) DNBK Certified (Inactive): San Dan Instructor Bridgeport Yoseikan Dojo, Bridgeport, WV Began study of Chito-ryu 1975 |
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Jamie Binkley, Shihan Yon Dan (Fourth Degree Black Belt) DNBK Certified: Yon Dan Began study of Chito-ryu 1980 (Art Rott, Shihan) |
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Greg Morris, Shihan Yon Dan (Fourth Degree Black Belt) DNBK Certified (Inactive): San Dan Instructor Yoseikan II Dojo, Cincinnati, OH Began study of Chito-ryu 1979 |
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Gordon Levin, Shihan Yon Dan (Fourth Degree Black Belt) DNBK Certified: San Dan Began study of Chito-ryu 1993 |
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Ronald Emery, Shihan Yon Dan (Fourth Degree Black Belt) DNBK Certified (Inactive): Ni Dan Began study of Chito-ryu 2000 |
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Carol Hays, Shihan Yon Dan (Fourth Degree Black Belt) DNBK Certified: San Dan Began study of Chito-ryu 1997 |
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Kathleen Emery, MD, Shihan Yon Dan (Fourth Degree Black Belt) DNBK Certified (Inactive): Ni Dan Began study of Chito-ryu 2000 |
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Bill DiGrezio, Shihan Yon Dan (Fourth Degree Black Belt) DNBK Certified: Sho Dan Began study of Chito-ryu 2006 |