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Isshin-Ryu Karate
Penn State Karate Club & Affiliates
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Montgomery Karate Club
Montgomery Community College
Germantown Campus
Germantown, Maryland
Sensei Rob Cook, Renshi-Go, 4th Dan
Sensei Nicole Little, Renshi-Go, 4th Dan
Sensei Jon Green, Renshi-Go, 4th Dan
Sensei Liz Ehrstein, Instructor, 4th Dan
Sensei Dmitry Gulik, 3rd Dan
TUESDAYS & THURSDAYS (7:00-9:00 PM): Isshin-Ryu Karate (Okinawa)
August 12, 14, 19, 21, 26, 28 (outdoors)
[6 summer classes remaining in Isshin-Ryu Karate]
The Montgomery Karate Club is affiliated with the Penn State Karate Club.
If you would like further information on these classes, or to join this karate club, please contact:
Sensei Liz Ehrstein (lizehrstein@yahoo.com) or
Sensei Dmitry Gulik (gkg_1@hotmail.com)
Montgomery Community College
Global Hall (outdoors)
Germantown Campus
Germantown, Maryland
Turn onto Observation Drive off of Rt 118 in Germantown (just off of I-270). Park in the main student lot in non-reserved spaces.
Our School: Currently, these karate classes are FREE. But in exchange you must agree to work hard and train frequently. All new members wishing to progress through the Montgomery Karate Club belt ranking system in Isshin-ryu are expected to start at the white belt level, regardless of previous kyu or dan rank. Sensei Dane Sutton, Kiyoshigo, 8th Dan, and Head Instructor of the Penn State Karate Club, monitors and approves the student's progress through belt ranks. Through Sensei Sutton, we maintain affiliations with, and certifications through, the Okinawan home dojo of Sensei Kichiro Shimabuku, Hanshigo, 10th Dan (IWKA). Over the years, we have also maintained affiliations with, and offered certifications through, the Okinawan home dojo of Sensei Angi Uezu, Hanshigo, 10th Dan (OIKA), who recently retired from active leadership of this organization. At the Montgomery Karate Club, you receive regular instruction from black belts ranked from 1st to 4th Dan. We also feature instruction by associated advisors and visiting instructors who have more than 25 years experience in Isshin-ryu karate.
The Penn State Karate Club has been headed for nearly 35 years by Sensei Dane Sutton, Kiyoshigo, 8th Dan (left lower). Sensei Sutton is fortunate to have received all of his training directly from recognized karate masters. His first instructors were Sensei Stuart A. Dorow, Hanshigo, 9th Dan, and his wife, Sensei Carol Liskai Dorow, Kiyoshigo, 8th Dan (right middle). Senseis Dorow and Liskai trained directly under Master Tatsuo Shimabuku, and later, under his son, Master
Sensei Dorow was one of very few westerners to achieve 9th Dan and hold the esteemed title of Hanshigo in Isshin-ryu Karate. Sensei Liskai was the first woman to achieve 8th Dan in Isshin-ryu, and to receive the prestigious title of Kiyoshigo. In fact, she was the only woman to ever be promoted to 3rd Dan by Master Tatsuo Shimabuku himself. In addition to these accomplishments, Captain Dorow was a decorated Vietnam Veteran, and both he and Major Liskai were consumate professionals in their respective civilian careers.*
In addition to training under Senseis Dorow and Liskai, Sensei Sutton received intensive training from Master Kichiro Shimabuku, and also from Master Uezu, both in Okinawa and when the masters visted the U.S. On a number of these visits, he also trained with Sensei Tsuyoshi Uechi, Kiyoshigo, 8th Dan, (right lower), who had trained for many years in Okinawa under both Master Shimabuku and Master Uezu. Sensei Sutton is one of very few Isshin-ryu karate practitioners in the U.S. who is ranked Kiyoshigo in both the IWKA and OIKA.
* Sadly, Senseis Dorow and Liskai passed away in 2000 and 2005, respectively.
All students of our associated clubs dedicate their continuing training to the memory of Senseis Dorow and Liskai.
Related Links, Listings, Club Events:
Penn State Karate Club and Affiliated Isshin-Ryu Karate Clubs
Penn State Karate Club
University Park, Pennsylvania
Sensei Dane Sutton, Kiyoshi-Go, 8th Dan
Sensei Don McCandless, Renshi-Go, 6th Dan
Sensei David Willey, Instructor, 4th Dan
Sensei Jaeson Koszarsky, Instructor, 3rd Dan
Sensei Jennifer Koszarsky, Instructor, 3rd Dan
Sensei Bruce Makin, 2nd Dan
Sensei Sidharth Iyer, 2nd Dan
Sensei Thomas Liebner, 1st Dan
The dragon logo and patch used by the Penn State Karate Club was designed by, and is copyrighted by and owned by, Sensei Dane Sutton, 8th Dan, Kiyoshi-Go, all rights reserved. It is reproduced here with permission. Other photographical material posted on this page was provided courtesy of Sensei Sutton and the Penn State Karate Club.
Arlington Karate Club
Barcroft Fitness Center & Carver Community Center
Arlington, Virginia
Sensei Jim Miller, Renshi-Go, 6th Dan
Sensei Al Wong, Instructor, 4th Dan
Sensei Linda Keefer, 2nd Dan
Sensei Eric Hendrixson, 2nd Dan
Montgomery Karate Club
Montgomery Community College
Germantown Campus
Germantown, Maryland
Sensei Rob Cook, Renshi-Go, 4th Dan
Sensei Nicole Little, Renshi-Go, 4th Dan
Sensei Jon Green, Renshi-Go, 4th Dan
Sensei Liz Ehrstein, Instructor, 4th Dan
Sensei Dmitry Gulik, 3rd Dan
Other Active Member Clubs:
The Penn State Karate Club has active member clubs currently in other cities. If you live in or near one of the areas listed below, and are interested in the study of Isshin-ryu karate, please contact the Penn State Karate Club via their website link above, and they will provide you with relevant contact information for the head instructors or their designates. Individual website links, specific dojo locations, and direct contact information for the clubs listed below will be posted as they are made available to this host site.
Cleveland, Ohio
Sensei Regan Williams, Kiyoshi-Go, 7th Dan
Sensei Joseph Trocchio, Instructor, 5th Dan
University of Akron, Ohio
Sensei Ira Sasowsky, Renshi-Go, 6th Dan
Sensei Kathryn Sasowsky, 2nd Dan
New York City, New York
Sensei Jin Jin Huang, Instructor, 3rd Dan
Sensei Christopher Boswell, 2nd Dan
Sensei Thomas George, 2nd Dan
Elysberg, Pennsylvania
Sensei Carl Clark, 5th Dan
E-mail: Sensei Carl Clark (vldcec@yahoo.com)
The Penn State Karate Club has over 250 graduate black belt practitioners living in other areas of the country and throughout the world. Please contact the Penn State Karate Club and ask whether there are black belts from our club in your area who can share their training time to help you get started in the practice of Isshin-Ryu.
Penn State Karate Club, Isshin-ryu Karate, Dan Rank Testing & Seminar, March 29, 2008: At this PSKC event, the regular training and testing for promotions were followed by special seminar segments presented by: Sensei Dane Sutton, Kiyoshigo, 8th Dan (Aspects of the Seisan Embusen); Sensei Regan Williams, Kiyoshigo, 7th Dan (Special Applications of Isshin-Ryu Upper Body Basics); Sensei Don McCandless, Renshigo, 6th Dan (Applications of Seisan Kata); and Sensei Matthew Pain, 3rd Dan (Kumite Sparring).
Penn State Karate Club, Isshin-ryu Karate, Dan Rank Testing & Seminar, April 21, 2007: In a special presentation, three of our Renshigo, 5th Dans, Senseis Denny Nau, Jim Miller, and Que Dang (2nd row seated, 2nd, 5th, and 6th from left) were promoted by Sensei Sutton (2nd row seated, 4th from left) to the distinguished rank of Roku Dan [6th Dan].
Special seminar segments were presented by: Sensei Dave Willey, Instructor, 4th Dan (The Teaching Craft); Senseis Ira Sasowsky, Renshigo, 5th Dan, and his wife Kathryn, 2nd Dan (Power Development); Senseis Liz Ehrstein, Instructor, 4th Dan, and Linda Suarez Gamboa, 2nd Dan, and her husband, visiting Sensei Alberto Gamboa (Brazilian Ju-Jutsu); Sensei Paul Cote, Instructor, 4th Dan, with Sensei Jon Green, Renshigo, 4th Dan ('fin di' - 'changing hand' methods); and Sensei Sutton and Sensei Don McCandless, Renshigo, 6th Dan (tanbo - short stick).
Penn State Karate Club, Isshin-ryu Karate, Dan Rank Testing & Seminar, March 18, 2006: At this PSKC event, the regular training and testing for promotions were followed by special seminar segments presented by: Sensei Fredrick Wasser, Renshigo, 5th Dan (Legal Aspects of Self-Defense and Realities of Street Encounters); Sensei Ira Sasowsky, Renshigo, 5th Dan (Preparing to Win: Self-Defense Situations, Defusing Dangerous Situations, Philosophies on the Use of Force); Sensei Paul Cote, Instructor, 3rd Dan (Translation of Bo Kata to Unarmed Techniques: Tokomeni No Kun); Sensei Don McCandless, Renshigo, 6th Dan (Empty Hand Flow Drills, Locks, and, Leg Checking Drills), Sensei Sutton (Adaptive Potential vs Stress, Components of Fitness, Skill Development, Control of Movement, Traditional Concepts of Duty and Obligation).
Penn State Karate Club Member Host Site:
Academic Training Traditions
Isshin-Ryu Karate and Karate/Kobudo Clinics
Sensei Paul J. Cote, Instructor, 5th Dan
Academic Training Services, Inc.
PO Box 475
New Market, Maryland 21774
e-mail: att8@verizon.net
phone: 240-994-0475
Academic Training Traditions. Click this link only if you want to browse the Academic Training Traditions (ATT) website for our other services and activities. Much of the information on this page also is posted on the Academic Training Traditions website on our 'Classes' and 'Links' pages, and there is some additional background on Isshin-ryu karate on our 'Martial Arts' page. We teach orthodox Isshin-ryu karate several times each month at the Montgomery Karate Club dojo in Germantown, Maryland, and participate in numerous Penn State Karate Club functions. We offer occassional seminars in orthodox Isshin-ryu karate, and also specialized clinics in karate and kobudo for those interested in our extended services, as described below and on the ATT website.
Upcoming Events and Clinics - Academic Training Traditions Karate/Kobudo:
IWKA World Championship Tournament, June 18-20, 2009, Pittsburgh, Pa: We will be in Pittsburgh, Pa. next summer attending seminars by Master Kichiro Shimabuku and competing in the various events. For further information and registration click on IWKA Tournament 2009
Penn State Isshin-ryu Karate Club, Dan Rank Testing and Seminar, October 4, 2008, noon-5:00pm: We will be in University Park, Pa. assisting in the testing and seminar portions. This event is not open to the public.
Fall 2008 Isshin-Ryu Karate Review Sessions: ATT will offer 4 karate review sessions this fall on September 7, October 19, November 9, and December 14. The sessions are held at Gilbert's Academy of Martial Arts (GAMA), Damascus, Maryland. These sessions are FREE for members and member dojos of the Penn State Karate Club. They are being held in advance of the Fall 2008 Rank Testing at Penn State (October 4, 2008), and as continuing review for the IWKA World Championship Tournament scheduled for June 2009 in Pittsburgh with Master Kichiro Shimabuku. These sessions are not open to the public except with special permission from ATT. We will review karate and kobudo kata. All belt ranks are welcome to attend. Sensei Dane Sutton, Kiyoshigo, 8th Dan, and head instructor from the Penn State Karate Club, has come down on occassion to oversee and instruct a number of these sessions in the past. Please contact us by e-mail (att8@verizon.net) at least one week in advance if you plan to attend any of these sessions. Directions to the GAMA facility are posted above under our Sunday taiji classes.
About Our Clinics: Please contact us at ATT about offering a clinic or seminar at your dojo. Clinics like those mentioned above feature general training in karate methods, and so your style of karate is not an issue. We do conduct clinics in certified orthodox Isshin-ryu Karate, for the novice, intermediate, and advanced practitioner, but we also can incorporate a number of advanced training methods from other martial arts styles that are highly relevant to all karate, including Isshin-ryu. Many of these methods are based on my 30+ years experience with karate, and 20 years of cross-training in the Chinese internal martial arts. You will definitely learn many new ways to apply your traditional kata, and the principles upon which these applications are based. Karate practitioners can develop more power, using less muscular contraction, through the application of proven methods that refine your root and body alignments for generating such power. Practitioners of internal martial arts can further discover some of the higher level fighting applications and principles inherent to karate kata.
All belt or sash ranks from all styles are welcome to ATT clinics, unless otherwise indicated. For these classes, formal uniforms can be worn, and any belt or sash that you are entitled to wear. Gi pants and T-shirts are also acceptable.