Hanshi 8th Dan Chito-ryu Karate-do

Sensei Terry Valentino was born in Pittsburgh, PA in 1955. His training began informally under the guidance of his father, Anthony "Val" Valentino, who was both a student of Koseido-ryu Jiu-jitsu founder Dewey Deavers as well as a hand-to-hand combat instructor for the U.S. Navy during World War II. His formal training began in 1972 under Sensei Joseph Hedderman. In 2006 he received the rank of Shichidan (7th degree black belt). He has also achieved Chuden (2nd degree black belt) in Koseido-ryu Jiu- Jitsu, and in 2004 began the study of Tongbei Quan, Xingyi and Bagua Zhang with the Yin Cheng Gong Fa.

Sensei Valentino was the 1985 National Champion of the United States Chito-ryu Karate Federation, and the co-captain of the U.S. Team in the 1986 Chito-ryu World Championships held in Kumamoto, Japan. He was the vice chairman emeritus of the United States Chito-ryu Karate Federation and is a former member of the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai—Japan’s oldest martial arts society. Over the years he has taught many seminars for the U. S. Chito-kai, the Koshin-ha Chito-kai and he has also taught community self defense classes and helped develop and implement a martial arts curriculum for high school physical education classes.

He currently teaches Chito-ryu Karate and Koseido-ryu Jiu-jitsu at his dojo in Pittsburgh, PA. Professionally, he holds a Masters Degree in Counseling Psychology and works as a counselor for a local high school. He has also been the recipient of that community’s Outstanding Educator of the Year award.

Kyoshi 7th Dan Chito-ryu Karate-do

Tony Hedderman began his training in Chito-ryu karate in 1973 at the age of seven, under his father Joseph Hedderman. In 1986, he was a member of the United States Chito-ryu Karate Federation’s kumite (fighting) team to the Soke Cup in Kumamoto, Japan.

As a former member of the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai, he has demonstrated karate at their headquarters in Kyoto, Japan. He is currently a member of the Koshin-ha Chito-ryu Karate Association Technical Committee. He currently holds the rank of 7th Dan (7th degree black belt) in Chito-ryu karate. He also has the title of Kyoshi from the All Japan Seibukan Martial Arts Association in Kyoto, Japan.

Early in his professional career as a mechanical engineer, Tony was transferred to various parts of the United States. During this time, he gained experience in Enshin-ryu karate and Pang Gai Noon Ryu (Uechi-ryu) karate.

Menkyo Kaiden 7th Dan Koseido-ryu Jiu-Jitsu

Tony Hedderman began his training in Koseido-ryu jiu-jitsu in 1980 under his father Joseph Hedderman. Tony is a former member of the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai. He has trained in and demonstrated jiu-jitsu at the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai’s headquarters in Kyoto, Japan. In 2003, he was granted a Menkyo Kaiden (full teaching license,) signifying his completion of the formal training in Koseido-ryu jiu-jitsu. He currently holds the rank of 7th Dan (7th degree black belt) in jiu-jitsu.

2nd Dan Matayoshi-ryu Okinawan Kobudo

Tony Hedderman began his training in Matayoshi-ryu Okinawan kobudo in 1991 under Mikio Nishiuchi in Sacramento, California. He trained under Nishiuchi, a 5th Dan, while he was living in Sacramento. Upon his return to Pittsburgh, he began teaching Okinawan kobudo at the Allegheny County Budo-Kai. He remained a student of Nishiuchi for 14 years. Due to career and family commitments, he discontinued his kobudo training and turned all teaching responsibilities over to his kobudo black belts, Susan Sbuscio, Richard Sbuscio, and Stanley Penkala.

Kyoshi 7th Dan Chito-ryu Karate-do

Sensei Phil Arnold was born in 1942 in Ironton, OH. His family moved to Georgetown, KY in 1946 where he spent his childhood and also went to college. He graduated from Georgetown College with a degree in Biology and Chemistry. From there he moved to Louisville where he began his teaching career. He first became interested in the martial arts in the 1960s and was fascinated by the training and the potential for self-defense.

In 1975 he decided to pursue his interest in the martial arts. He enrolled in a YMCA course in karate that lasted for four months. Referred by a friend, he ended up at the Louisville Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in a class taught by a black belt named Dan Francis. The school was a branch school of the United States Chito-Ryu Karate Federation based in Covington, KY. Sensei Francis was a gifted instructor and motivator. As a result of his instruction Sensei Arnold decided to dedicate his time and effort toward the perfection of the art.

He received his Shodan (1st degree black belt) in 1982. In 1984 Dr. Francis graduated from the Seminary and accepted a pastorate in Winchester, KY. Before he left he appointed Sensei Arnold to take over as the Dojo head, a position he has maintained to this day. Sensei Arnold received the title of Shihan in 2002 and in 2008 he was promoted to the rank of Rokudan (6th degree black belt). He later received the title of Kyoshi in 2009 and he was promoted to the rank of Shichidan (7th degree black belt) in 2014.

Kyoshi 6th Dan Chito-ryu Karate-do

Richard Sbuscio began his martial arts training in 1973 at age of 13. He originally studied Wing Chun Gung Fu. He discontinued training in gung fu in 1975 when his gung fu instructor relocated and began studying karate. His early karate training was in Shito-ryu and then Shotokan under James Keenan and James Sproat. In addition to Shito-ryu and Shotokan, he has experience in Tang So Do, and aikido. Due to the intermingling of styles taught at the school, James Keenan renamed his karate method Dotokushin Kai in 1978.

In 1980, Sbuscio, along with his wife, founded the Point Park College Karate Club. Sbuscio eventually achieved the rank of 3rd degree black belt in Dotokushin Kai karate. Due to other commitments, he discontinued the karate classes at the college in 1986. Shortly thereafter, the school he had been training at since 1973 discontinued their karate program. Left without a school, he continued to train on his own until 1993 when he joined the Allegheny County Budo-Kai.

Although he had 20 years of karate experience, he chose to begin his study of Chito-ryu karate as a white belt. He currently holds the rank of 6th Dan (6th degree black belt) in Chito-ryu karate and is currently a member of the Koshin-ha Chito-ryu Karate Association Technical Committee.

5th Dan Matayoshi-ryu Okinawan Kobudo

Richard Sbuscio began his training in Matayoshi-ryu Okinawan kobudo in 1993 under Tony Hedderman. After Hedderman discontinued his kobudo training in 2005, he along with the other kobudo black belts started training under Michael Calandra, the Northeastern United States representative of the Okinawa Kobudo Doushi Rensei-Kai.

The Okinawa Kobudo Doushi Rensei-Kai is headed by Gakiya Yoshiaki, an 8th degree black belt and direct student of the late Shinpo Matayoshi, the son of the founder of Matayoshi-ryu Okinawan Kobudo. Sbuscio currently holds the rank of 5th degree black belt in Matayoshi-ryu Okinawan Kobudo.

Kyoshi 6th Dan Chito-ryu Karate-do

Susan Sbuscio began her training in karate in 1973 at age of twelve. Due to multiple changes in teaching staff at the school she was training at, she acquired a wide variety of experience in karate. Her early karate training was in Shito-ryu and then Shotokan under James Keenan and James Sproat. In addition to Shito-ryu and Shotokan, she has experience in Tang So Do, and aikido. Due to the intermingling of styles taught at the school, James Keenan renamed his karate method Dotokushin Kai in 1978.

In 1980, she, along with her husband, founded the Point Park College Karate Club. Sbuscio achieved the rank of 1st degree black belt in Dotokushin Kai karate. Due to other commitments, she discontinued the karate classes at the college in 1986. Shortly thereafter, the school she had been training at since 1973 discontinued their karate program. Left without a school, she continued to train on her own until 1993 when she joined the Allegheny County Budo-Kai.

Although she had 20 years of karate experience, she chose to begin her study of Chito-ryu karate as a white belt. She currently holds the rank of 6th Dan (6th degree black belt) in Chito-ryu karate and is currently a member of the Koshin-ha Chito-ryu Karate Association Technical Committee.

5th Dan Matayoshi-ryu Okinawan Kobudo

Susan Sbuscio began her training in Matayoshi-ryu Okinawan kobudo in 1993 under Tony Hedderman. After Hedderman discontinued his kobudo training in 2005 she took over the kobudo program at the Allegheny County Budo-Kai. In 2006, she along with the other kobudo black belts started training under Michael Calandra, the Northeastern United States representative of the Okinawa Kobudo Doushi Rensei-Kai.

The Okinawa Kobudo Doushi Rensei-Kai is headed by Gakiya Yoshiaki, an 8th degree black belt and direct student of the late Shinpo Matayoshi, the son of the founder of Matayoshi-ryu Okinawan Kobudo. Sbuscio currently holds the rank of 5th degree black belt in Matayoshi-ryu Okinawan Kobudo and is the Pennsylvania Representative for the Okinawa Kobudo Doushi Rensei-Kai. She is the senior instructor of the kobudo program at the Allegheny County Budo-Kai.