Hanshi Joseph Hedderman
05/04/1935 to 03/31/2018
Obituary by Janice Crompton, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

It is with profound sadness and the deepest regret that we must announce the passing of Joseph Hedderman, Hanshi. Judan (10th dan) in Koseido-ryu Jiu-jitsu and Kudan (9th dan) in Koshin-ha Chito-Ryu Karate-do, Hanshi Hedderman's martial arts career spanned 68 years. The senior members of the Allegheny County Budo-kai wish to extend our condolences to his family, friends and students. We have truly lost an irreplaceable friend, instructor and leader.

A highly respected, knowledgeable and skilled martial artist, Hanshi Hedderman started his training jiu-jitsu and karate-jitsu in 1950, under Sensei Dewey Deavers. As the head of the style, Hedderman continued Deaver's legacy by teaching and continuing to develop Koseido-ryu jiu-jitsu.

In 1957, while stationed in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri in the U.S. Army, Hanshi Hedderman began his training in karate-do. After his discharge from the Army in 1959, Hedderman became the first person in the Pittsburgh area to teach karate-do.

In 1972, he joined the United States Chito-ryu Karate Federation. As part of the organization he was a senior member and valued instructor. At the age of 51, Hedderman was the oldest member of the U.S. Chito-ryu Karate Federation to compete in the 1986 Soke Cup, held in Kumamoto, Japan. While a member of the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai, Hedderman demonstrated his jiu-jitsu style at their headquarters in Kyoto, Japan.

In 2004, he, along with several of the most experienced instructors in Chito-ryu karate-do in the United States, formed the Koshin-ha Chito-ryu Karate Association. Until his death he was a member of the Shihan-kai and Shibu-kai Technical Committees.

In 2009, he was promoted to the ranks of Judan in Jujitsu and Kudan in Karate-do and given the title of Hanshi by the All Japan Seibukan Martial Arts Association located in Kyoto, Japan.

To those of us who were lucky enough to call him our Sensei, we remember him as a no-nonsense instructor who spent his life passing on his knowledge of the arts he loved to future generations. When he was not teaching the martial arts, we remember him as a loyal friend, a wise mentor and a man who could always make you laugh. He will truly be missed by all of us.