Criteria for the Shihan title within the USCKF include at least 40 years of age, rank of Yon Dan or higher, and 25 years of training and service to the organization. In addition, the title may be awarded to individuals below the rank of Yon Dan if the the other two requirements are met and the individual has exhibited extraordinary dedication and service to the organization. There is no fee or test involved, the title of Shihan is an honor to the organization as much as it is to the individual. An individual may not apply for the title.

 

William J. Dometrich, Hanshi
March 15, 1935 - March 22, 2012
Ku Dan (Ninth Degree Black Belt) DNBK Certified
Chairman and Chief Instructor Emeritus USCKF
Began study of Chito-ryu in 1952
Promoted to Sho Dan 1954
Promoted to Shichi Dan and title "Kyoshi" by O-Sensei 1971
Promoted to Hachi Dan and title "Hanshi" by Hanshi Tesshin Hamada
of the Dai Nippon Butokukai (DNBK) 1999
Promoted to Ku Dan by DNBK in Kyoto, Japan 2008

Barbara E. Dometrich (Okusan), Kyoshi
Roku Dan (Sixth Degree Black Belt) DNBK Certified
Co-Founder USCKF
Chairman USCKF

Began Study of Chito-ry in 1962
Also holds black belts in Kendo and Iaido

 

Lawrence C. Hawkins, Jr., Esq., Kyoshi
Hachi Dan (Eighth Degree Black Belt) DNBK Certified 
Chief Advisor/Chairman Emeritus USCKF
Technical Team Coordinator
Began Study of Chito-ryu in 1962 
Chief Instructor Yoseikan II Dojo, Cincinnati, OH
Sherry Kembre, Kyoshi
Shichi Dan (Seventh Degree Black Belt) DNBK Certified
Began Study of Chito-ryu 1971
USCKF Vice Chair and Assistant Administrator
Instructor Yoseikan Hombu Dojo

Arthur Rott, Shihan
1918-November 2001
Shichi Dan (Seventh Degree Black Belt) awarded posthumously
Began study of Chito-ryu in 1966
Founder Yoseikan Apopka Dojo, Apopka, FL
Jerry Beshears, Kyoshi
Roku Dan (Sixth Degree Black Belt) DNBK Certified
Began study of Chito-ryu 1967
Instructor Yoseikan Hombu Dojo
Joseph J. Schertler, Shihan
12/2/17 - November, 1987
Yon Dan (Forth Degree Black Belt)
Received Shihan title posthumously 10/18/98

Stephen Wilhelm, Renshi
Roku Dan (Sixth Degree Black Belt) DNBK Certified
Began Study of Chito-ryu in 1967
Also holds rank in Aikido
Instructor Yoseikan Hombu Dojo


Terry Collis, Shihan
Roku Dan (Sixth Degree Black Belt) Member DNBK
Began Study of Chito-ryu 1962
Instructor Yoseikan Hombu Dojo

Michael Colling, Renshi
Go Dan (Fifth Degree Black Belt) DNBK Certified
Began Study of Chito-ryu 1971, Joined USCKF 1996
Chief Instructor Marion Bridge Yoseikan Dojo, Nova Scotia, Canada

Barbara Tarczynski, Shihan
Go Dan (Fifth Degree Black Belt) DNBK Certified
USCKF Judicial Committee
Began Study of Chito-ryu 1971
Chief Instructor Maryland Yoseikan Dojo

Gerald Meade, Shihan
Go Dan (Fifth Degree Black Belt) DNBK Certified
Began Study of Chito-ryu 1972
Instructor Yoseikan Hombu Dojo


Don Schmidt, Shihan
Go Dan (Fifth Degree Black Belt) DNBK Certified
Began Study of Chito-ryu 1972
USCKF Judicial Committee
Instructor Yoseikan Hombu Dojo

John Wellbrock, Shihan
Go Dan (Fifth Degree Black Belt) DNBK Certified
Began Study of Chito-ryu 1973
Instructor Yoseikan Hombu Dojo



Eric Ford, Shihan
Go Dan (Fifth Degree Black Belt) DNBK Certified
Began Study of Chito-ryu 1981
Instructor Yoseikan Hombu Dojo

Laura Stith Deck, PhD, Shihan
Yon Dan (Fourth Degree Black Belt) DNBK Certified
Began Study of Chito-ryu 1983
Instructor Yoseikan II Dojo, Cincinnati, OH

Laura Deck

 

Jansak

William Jansak, RN, Shihan
Go Dan (Fifth Degree Black Belt) DNBK Certified
Began Study of Chito-ryu 1982
Holds Rank of San Dan Ryukyu Hozon Shinkokai Kobudo

Matthew Scott, Shihan
Go Dan (Fifth Degree Black Belt) DNBK Certified
Began Study of Chito-ryu 1982
Instructor Yoseikan II Dojo, Cincinnati, OH
Matthew Scott
Brown
Dr. Jesse Brown, Jr., Min.D, Shihan
Go Dan (Fifth Degree Black Belt) DNBK Certified
Began Study of Chito-ryu 1971
Chief Instructor Rochester Chito-ryu Dojo, Rochester, NY
James Acampora, Shihan
Go Dan (Fifth Degree Black Belt)
Begin Study of Martial Arts 1981 - Shihan Art Rott
Chief Instructor Yoseikan of Orlando II Dojo, Orlando, FL
Acampora
Binkley Jamie Binkley, Shihan
Yon Dan (Fourth Degree Black Belt) DNBK Certified
Begin Study of Martial Arts
Chief Instructor Yoseikan of Orlando III Dojo, Orlando, FL
J. Wesley Ernest, Shihan
Go Dan (Fifth Degree Black Belt) DNBK Certified
Began Study of Chito-ryu 1975 NKU
Instructor at Five Seasons Health Club
Instructor Yoseikan Hombu Dojo
Ernest
Drummond Kevin Drummond, Shihan
Go Dan (Fifth Degree Black Belt) DNBK Certified
Began Study of Chito-ryu 1977
Chief Instructor Bridgeport Yoseikan Dojo, Bridgeport, WV
Joseph Petty, Shihan
Yon Dan (Fourth Degree Black Belt) DNBK Certified
Began Study of Chito-ryu 1984
Chief Instructor 9th District Yoseikan Karate Club
Instructor Yoseikan Hombu Dojo
Petty

LCH III

Lawrence Hawkins III, Esq., Shihan
Yon Dan (Fourth Degree Black Belt) DNBK Certified
Began Study of Chito-ryu 1980
Instructor Yoseikan II Dojo, Cincinnati, OH

Tony DiTerlizzi, Shihan
Yon Dan (Fourth Degree Black Belt) DNBK Certified
Began Study of Chito-ryu 1985
Resides in CT
Diterlizzi