Virginia Dojo - Alexandria Karate Dojo

Bios

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  Robert Roberto Curtis

  9th Degree Karate Master

  Roberto has been a student of internationally renown Karate Grand Master Seikichi Iha since 1979 and is now one of Iha's senior Karate students. Grand Master Seikichi Iha was honored in 2022 with the extremely rare title of "Intangible Cultural Asset" by the Okinawan Government for his Shorin Ryu Shidokan Karate skills. During Homeleave from an overseas assignment, when Sensei Iha understood Roberto was teaching US Marines overseas he started teaching him advanced hand techniques found in kata. He said, "imagine there are no blocks in kata!" Plus the focus on Nagashi Uke, soft redirecting blocks, dramatically changed the focus from a brawler's type of "punch-kick-block' karate to a truly effective self defense karate that men and women use effectively regardless of size. Roberto began his martial arts practice in 1969 studying Judo, Karate, and Kung Fu before beginning his training with Karate Grand Master Seikichi Iha. Roberto served for 35+ years as a U.S. Foreign Service Officer and Civil Servant. He was a 4-year Peace Corps Volunteer. During overseas long-term assignments Roberto taught self defense Karate to U.S. Embassy Security Personnel, U.S. Marines, foreign security agents, and people like you. Whenever stationed in Washington, DC, he always developed a cadre of Karate students in DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Roberto is a member of the Mid-West and National Beikoku Shidokan Shorin Ryu Karate Black Belt Examination Boards. He is also a member of the International Ryukyu Karate Research Society led by Hanshi Patrick McCarthy. Recent Martial Arts Awards include: * Marquis Who' s Who, 2024 * Best Karate Classes in Alexandria, 2023 * Best Local Martial Arts Business, 2023 * Best Martial Arts School, Alexandria, VA 2022 * Best Martial Arts Instructor, Alexandria, VA 2021, 2020 * Best Martial Arts School DC-Area, 2019 * Best Martial Arts Instructor in DC-Area 2018, 2017 During his overseas assignments, he was recognized by the US Marine Corps, Secret Service, the Drug Enforcement Agency, as well as foreign government agencies for his self defense martial art karate instruction.

  Certifications:

  Link: Robert Roberto Curtis

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  Denise Coursey

  Co-Owner, 4th Degree Black Belt

  Denise started training in martial arts in 1998, when her father enrolled her and her sister in classes so they could learn to defend themselves. Little did he know how much of a positive impact that class and the years of training that followed would have on her life. Over the next two decades, Denise studied several styles under different instructors. In 2011, she met Hanshi Roberto Curtis (9th Dan), who introduced her to the teachings of Grand Master Seikichi Iha (10th Dan). Of all the styles she'd studied so far, this was by far the most practical for self-defense and applicable for her -- for women and people of smaller stature. Throughout her martial arts career, she’s often been one of only a few women in the dojo. So in 2018, she started a women’s class through Sensei Curtis at his dojo, becoming one of the first female karate instructors in his dojo, to try to bring more women into martial arts. She succeeded in increasing the ratio of women from 10% of students to more than 30%. For much of her martial arts career, she was one of only a few women at the karate dojo. As a result, she became passionate about bringing more women into the martial arts because it builds confidence in every aspect of life -- career, home, community, and, of course, in the ability to defend oneself. Outside the karate dojo, Denise formerly served as President of Motley Fool Asset Management, where she was also often the “only woman in the room.” Denise's Homepage: Okinawan Karate for Women

  Services:

  Link: Denise Coursey