Hanshi 10th Dan Koseido-ryu Jiu-Jitsu

Joseph Hedderman began his martial arts training in jiu-jitsu in 1950 at the age of fifteen under the founder of Koseido-ryu, Dewey Deavers. Growing up in a rough inner-city neighborhood, he had to rely on his jiu-jitsu training on numerous occasions, defending himself against both armed and unarmed attackers, and multiple opponents.

Hedderman trained under Deavers until Deaver’s death in 1973. He is currently the head of the Koseido-ryu jiu-jitsu style. He is a former member of the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai, and has demonstrated his style of jiu-jitsu at their headquarters in Kyoto, Japan. He currently has the rank of 10th Dan and the title of Hanshi, which were given to him by the All Japan Seibukan Martial Arts Association located in Kyoto, Japan.

Hanshi 9th Dan Chito-ryu Karate-do

Joseph Hedderman began his training in karate-do in 1957 while stationed at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri in the U.S. Army. The army post had a karate club that taught both Shotokan and Goju-ryu karate. The Shotokan karate classes were taught by Victor Lemire who was a member of the United States Karate Association. The Goju-ryu classes were taught by Captain Nickolson who studied karate while stationed in Okinawa. Hedderman spent most of his time training in Shotokan which was closer to the striking techniques in Koseido-ryu jiu-jitsu than Goju-ryu karate.

After being honorably discharged from the Army in 1959, Hedderman became the first person in the Pittsburgh area to teach karate-do. His teaching incorporated striking techniques from Koseido-ryu jiu-jitsu with Shotokan karate-do, and used the Shotokan kata (forms) curriculum. Since it wasn’t exactly Shotokan karate, he referred to what he was teaching as Koseido-ryu karate-do.

In 1972, he joined the United States Chito-ryu Karate Federation under William Dometrich. 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. In 2004, he, along with several of the most experienced instructors in Chito-ryu karate-do in the United States, left the United States Chito-ryu Karate Federation to form the Koshin-ha Chito-ryu Karate Association. He is currently a member of the Koshin-ha Chito-ryu Karate Association Technical Committee.

Hedderman is a former member of the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai, and has demonstrated karate at their headquarters in Kyoto, Japan. He currently has the rank of 9th Dan and the title of Hanshi, which were given to him by the All Japan Seibukan Martial Arts Association located in Kyoto, Japan.

Hanshi 9th Dan Chito-ryu Karate-do

Sensei George Van Horne was born in Ashland, Kentucky in 1935. Around 1959, after moving to New Jersey he began studying Jiujitsu and in 1961 he began studying Isshin-ryu Karate under Sensei Don Nagel, one of three men responsible for bringing this style of Karate into the US. In 1963 after becoming a Methodist Minister he would move to Kentucky to pastor and during this same year he would begin training in Chito-ryu Karate and shortly thereafter was ranked as Sandan in Chito-ryu. In 1966 after moving to Frankfort, Kentucky to serve as a History Professor at Kentucky State University, he opened his first Karate school; The Frankfort Yoseikan Dojo a school still in operation today.

Sensei Van Horne trained numerous times with Dr. Tsuyoshi Chitose, the founder of Chito-ryu Karate. Twice he traveled to Japan to train with O-Sensei, staying in the Chitose family home both times. Over the years he trained with virtually every senior student of Dr. Chitose. Over the years he studied many marital arts holding Yudansha ranks in Isshin-ryu Karate, Kendo, and Iaido.

In 2002, as a member of the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai, he demonstrated Chito-ryu karate at the Butoku-den (Martial Arts Hall) in Kyoto, Japan while attending the Butoku-sai (Martial Arts Festival). In 2004 he, along with several other Chito-ryu senior teachers formed the Koshin-ha Chito-ryu Karate Association of which he would serve on the Shihan-kai and Shibu-kai Executive Committees until his death. On August 9, 2006 he received the rank of Kudan (9th Degree Black Belt) in Karate and the title of Hanshi (Model Teacher).

Kudan 9th Dan Chito-ryu Karate-do

Sensei James Davenport was born at Fort Bragg, North Carolina in 1956. As a child his Father introduced him to a very rustic form of Jiujitsu that he had learned while serving as a member of the 82nd Airborne Unit, US Army, Fort Bragg. He began practicing Chito-ryu Karate in 1970 under Sensei George Van Horne. In 1984, Sensei Davenport took over the teaching duties of the Frankfort Dojo when his teacher moved to Northern Kentucky. In 1985, he joined the army and served as a Counter Intelligence Agent in the 11th Special Forces Group. Over the years he has trained with a large number of senior martial artist from numerous styles as well as having taught Defensive Tactics to many police officers and military personnel. In 2002, as a member of the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai, he demonstrated Chito-ryu karate at the Butoku-den (Martial Arts Hall) in Kyoto, Japan while attending the Butoku-sai (Martial Arts Festival).

Sensei Davenport served as the Deputy Chief Instructor of the US Chito-ryu Karate Federation for 10 years. In 2004 he, along with several other Chito-ryu senior teachers formed the Koshin-ha Chito-ryu Karate Association of which he now serves on the Shihan-kai and Shibu-kai Executive Committees. On September 23, 2006 he received the rank of Hachidan (8th Degree Black Belt) from his teacher one day prior to his teacher’s death. In 2007, he received the title of Hanshi.

Shihan 6th Dan Chito-ryu Karate-do

Sensei Alec Mackenzie was born in Arkansas in 1961. He began his martial arts training in 1979. During his high school and college years he studied several martial arts including Judo, Jiujitsu, Shoto-kan, and Wado-ryu Karate. In 1984 he began training in Chito-ryu Karate with Sensei Danny Francis in Louisville, Kentucky and around 1986 he began training with Sensei George Van Horne in Frankfort, Kentucky. Sensei Mackenzie often seized the opportunity to train under many senior martial artist.

He earned his bachelors degree from the University of Louisville and graduated from the University of Kentucky Law School. He served as an attorney for the Kentucky State Government, Cabinet for Protection of Natural Resources.

Through his dedication to the art of Chito-ryu, he eventually became the most senior student of Sensei Davenport greatly assisting him in the teaching duties at the Frankfort Dojo. Sensei Mackenzie demonstrated Chito-ryu Karate several times as a member of the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai and served as a board member of the legal branch of the United States Chito-ryu Karate Federation. He was promoted to the rank of Rokudan (6th Degree Black Belt) on October 26, 2007. He served as a member of the Shihan Kai Executive Committee from the time the Association was formed until his death.