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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.
She has been studying Okinawan Shido-kan karate with Sensei Curtis and Sensei Iha ever since. She made her first trip to a National Training Seminar to study with Sensei Iha in 2013. She’s since attended numerous seminars with Sensei Iha and his senior instructors, studied at the Hombu dojo in Lansing, Michigan, and attended Sensei Iha’s Tookachi celebration and seminar in Okinawa in 2019.
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%.
Denise continues to teach women’s and co-ed classes at Sensei Curtis’s dojo. She also teaches women’s self-defense (volunteer) for several organizations in Alexandria for young and at-risk women.
Okinawan Karate for Women is under the direction of Master (Hanshi) Roberto Curtis, 9th Dan and Grand Master (Hanshi) Seikichi Iha, 10th Dan.
Born in Okinawa, Sensei Iha has taught traditional Okinawan Karatedo for more than 60 years all around the world. He leads an organization of over 30 dojos from around the world. Sensei Iha is an Intangible Cultural Asset Holder in the category of Okinawa Karate and Kobujutsu, a certification granted by the Okinawa Prefectural Government.
Hanshi Curtis became a direct student of Grand Master Seikichi Iha in 1979 and is now one of his senior students. Roberto began his martial arts journey in 1969 practicing Judo, Kung Fu, Shotokan, Goju Ryu, and Shorinkan karate.
The Beikoku Shidokan Association has Shibu (branch) dojos throughout North America.
Copyright © 2020 Okinawan Karate for Women - All Rights Reserved.
Karate for Women. Karate for Self-Defense. Karate for Life.
Premier Martial Arts for Self Defense
Proud member of the Beikoku Shidokan Karatedo Association.
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