Hanshi Roberto Curtis, 9th Degree

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Sensei Roberto Curtis, 9th degree, has trained in the martial arts for over 50 years, and is a direct student of Grand Master Seikichi Iha, Hanshi, 10th degree. Sensei Curtis started training with Seikichi Iha in 1979 in the Lansing, Michigan, Hombu Dojo. He is now one of Sensei Iha’s senior students and sits on the testing board of the Beikoku Shidokan Karatedo Association for all of North America.  Before beginning his training with Sensei Iha, Sensei Curtis trained in Judo, Shotokan, Shorinkan and Goju Ryu Karate, and Kung Fu.

Over his 50 years of practice, Sensei Curtis has observed that karate is an evolving art. We learn from and observe the teachings of the great masters, but in the end, we must all “make karate our own” both in our practice and in our teaching. In the words of Sensei Curtis:

"The karate I taught when I first began teaching is nothing like the karate I teach now. A long time ago, when I first started martial arts training, our concern was to hit, kick and block hard. With much pride we’d show off our bruised arms and shins after training, calling them “Okinawan Sunburn”! Now I focus more and more on flow, or Nagashi blocks that are so soft that you can  respond to an attack before your opponent even knows their attack was blocked. No more Okinawan sunburn for me! Plus this is better for women and older people who don’t enjoy banging up their arms.

In the last 5 years or so, I have begun focusing even more on teaching the tussling (tuite/Chin Na) applications found in our karate rather than solely percussion. I spent decades learning these effective applications. What is the sense of keeping it to myself and not helping others cut through the learning curve to begin to understand what is in their kata rather than wait two or three decades when they might discover it." 

For over 45-years as a Foreign Service Officer and Civil Servant, Sensei Curtis taught effective Self Defense Karate to U.S. Embassy Security Personnel, U.S. Marines, foreign security agents, and people like you. When he settled back in the U.S. and retired from public service, he founded Virginia Okinawan Karate to continue to share his passion for karate, teaching, and self-defense. He strives to create a community of adult learners and karateka, who are committed to the lifelong journey of martial arts.