Steve Gottwirt, Shihan - Go Dan 五段
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). Trained with Okano-kancho at numerous special ASKKA seminars since 2014.
Jonathan Abrams, Sensei - Yon Dan 四段
Began training in 1986. Earned Black Belt in 1991. Awarded title 'Sensei' in 2000. Won close to 200 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, set dojo tameshiwara record breaking 5 boards with front kick. Is Dai Sempai and an Uchi Deshi of Dō Gakuin.
Dexter Frank, Sensei - San Dan 三段
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 well over 150 trophies, including multiple grand champions, at some of the most prestigious traditional and open tournaments. Has taken advanced kobudo training with Toshihiro Oshiro and Kiyoshi Nishime. Sensei Frank is an Uchi Deshi of Dō Gakuin.
Mr. Kenneth Scarola - San Dan 三段補
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, 2 Bronze Medals - Kumite & Team Kumite in 2015 World Police & Fire Games.
Ms. Lisa Kamhi - Ni Dan 二段補
Began training at Black Belt Academy-Hicksville under Mike Hatgis in 1976. Awarded Black Belt in 1979. Joined Dō 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 二段補
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 wins: 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. Returned in 2014 for a couple of weeks after a 3-year absence and entered the East Coast Summer Open, winning 1st Place in the Weapons division and competing in the Grand Championships.
Dojo Seniors
Taken at Shinsa - January 2001
Friday, June 3, 2016
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