Steve Gottwirt, Shihan - Go Dan
Received U.S. Marine Corps Physical Fitness certificate - 1970. Presidential Physical Fitness Award - 1992. Two Presidential Sports Awards (Karate & Judo) - 1993. Listed in Who's Who in the Martial Arts - 1998-1999 edition. Has taken advanced training in Kobudo with (among others, alphabetically) Kowa Chhe, Fumio Demura, Toyotaro Miyazaki, Kiyoshi Nishime, Toshihiro Oshiro, and Masakazu Takahashi. An early member of Ryukyu Bujutsu Kenkyu Doyukai - 1990. Inducted into several Martial Arts Halls of Fame: UMAA (Long Island) - 1998 & 1999, Masters, Pioneers and Legends (Norwalk CT) - 1998, World Karate Union (Poconos PA) - 1998, USMAA (Frederick MD) - 1999, AFMA (Stone Mountain GA).
Jonathan Abrams, Sensei - Yon Dan
Began training in 1986. Earned Black Belt in 1991. Awarded title 'Sensei' in 2000. Won well over 100 tournament trophies, including Grand Champion at Empire State Challenge in 2000. Bronze medalist in 1999 NY State Police Olympics. Hempstead PAL instructor - 1992-1995. Recipient of Sensei Bill Martinez Award for Martial Arts Execllence - 1996. Inducted into two Martial Arts Halls of Fame: UMAA (Long Island) - 1998, and USMAA (Maryland) - 1999. Has taken extra training including Yamanni-Ryu Kobudo and Kodokan Judo with T. Oshiro, K. Nishime, D. Dometrich, K. Chhe, and H. Kanazawa. Is certified instructor and black belt in Yamanni Ryu with Ryukyu Bujutsu Kenkyu Doyukai. On Ni Dan test, made dojo tameshiwara record breaking 5 boards with front kick. Is Dai Sempai and Uchi Deshi of Do Gakuin.
Dexter Frank, Sensei - San Dan
Began training in 1980 under Eddie Banks and Erroll Bennett. Joined Black Belt Academy-Hicksville under Mike Hatgis in 1986. Joined with Baldwin dojo in 1987. Earned Black Belt in 1990. Awarded title 'Sensei' in 2000. Assistant Instructor - Hempstead PAL - 1994-1995. Recipient of Sensei Bill Martinez Award for Martial Arts Excellence - 1995. Has won more than 65 trophies, including some of the most prestigious traditional and open tournaments. Has taken advanced training with Toshihiro Oshiro and Kiyoshi Nishime.
Mr. Kenneth Scarola - San Dan-ho
Began training in 1989. Earned Black Belt in 1995. Recipient of Sensei Bill Martinez Award for Martial Arts Excellence - 1998. Inducted into two Martial Arts Halls of Fame: UMAA (Long Island) - 1998, and USMAA (Maryland) - 1999. Assistant Instructor - Hempstead PAL - 1996-1997. Has taken extra training including Yamanni Ryu Kobudo, Kodokan Judo, and Aikido with T. Oshiro, K. Nishime, F. Demura, H. Kanazawa, and E. Hagihara. Earned Silver Medal - Kumite in international competition at 2011 World Police & Fire Games.
Ms. Lisa Kamhi - Ni Dan-ho
Began training at Black Belt Academy-Hicksville under Mike Hatgis in 1976. Awarded Black Belt in 1979. Joined Do Gakuin in 1993. Learned nine new katas and 10 additional sai attacks to test for Ni Dan-ho during her seventh month of pregnancy - 1994. Inducted into UMAA Hall of Fame (Long Island) - 1998. Has taken extra Kobudo training with T. Oshiro, K. Nishime, and T. Miyazaki. Notable tournament wins: 1979 Empire State Nationals - 1st Place Kata & 2nd Place Kumite (Brown Belt division). The next day, Sensei Hatgis said competition in Brown Belt division wasn't enough for her anymore, so he promoted her to Sho Dan-ho. Later that same month, she entered her first tournament in Black Belt division, taking 1st Place in Kata & 1st Place in Kumite.
Mr. Jerry Saravia - Ni Dan-ho
Began training in 1996. Earned Black Belt in 2001. Recipient of Sensei Bill Martinez Award - 1999. Student of the Year - 1997. Has taken extra Kobudo training with T. Oshiro, K. Nishime, and K. Chhe. Notable tournament win: As a 13-year old Brown Belt, took 1st Place Kumite at Undo Kai Tournament against a 29-year old Black Belt 8" taller than him.
Dojo Seniors
Taken at Shinsa - January 2001
ASSOCIATE MEMBERS
- Sensei Bill Martinez (deceased) - Chief Instructor, South Shore School of Shotokan
- Sensei Ron Foster - Chief Instructor, Bushido Karate
- Sensei Patricia Sweeney - Chief Instructor, Kokoro-do Nin-jutsu
- Shihan Toshihiro Oshiro - Ryukyu Bujutsu Kenkyu Doyukai
- Master Kowa Chhe - Dragon Spirit Bensonhurst
- Sensei Jimmy Zoubantes - Judo
- Sensei Walter Dean - Judo
- Master Sensei Ed Tammany - Chief Instructor, Ki Do Kwan
- Shihan Joyce Santamaria - Chief Instructor, Empire State Karate
- Sabumnim Don Meyer (deceased) - Founder, United Martial Artists Association
- Kyosanim Patricia Speziale - Vice President, United Martial Artists Association
- Mr. Eddie Jung - Tae Kwon Do
- Mr. Douglas Jung - Tae Kwon Do
- Mr. Bruce Martinez - Instructor, South Shore School of Shotokan
- Shihan Mike Hatgis - Chief Instructor, Black Belt Academy
- Master Toyotaro Miyazaki - Founder, USA Shotokai
