KARATE (DIRECT) LINEAGE

There have been many, many stories written as to the history of Karate as to who studied under who, how long they studied, where and when. However, this is all hearsay, conjecture, guess work etc. Some of the stories are based upon facts that have been passed down from one mouth to another; some were passed in written form, some are true, some are false, some are part true and some have been glamorized. We will never truly know for sure who did what back in the 1700's, 1800's, and for the most part even the beginning 1900's.

So my time line really starts at the date in time that I started Karate and became a Black belt. I will state for a FACT as to what happened from 1960 (on Okinawa) to the present date, for I was there and I am still active.

The students that I have listed under "students stationed on Okinawa from 1960 to 1964" (when I left and relocated back to the United States). These men became Black belts as well as others that I can no longer remember while stationed on Okinawa (1960-1964). They all became very strong Black belts.

The following Black belt students listed are not in chronological order. I have listed only students that have reached Sho-Dan and above.

 

INDIA BIRTH PLACE OF KARATE, the oldest recorded form of empty hand combat

CHINA Wong Chung-Yoh

Chantan Yara 1668-1730's studied in China 20 + years

Takahara Pechin........Kusanku (Chinese)

Karate "Sakugawa" March 5, 1733 - August 17, 1815 Home: Shuri "Akata Village"

Bushi "Matsumura", Sokon 1792-1886

Itosu Yatsusune 1830-1915 Azato Yatsusune Chotoku Kyan, "Chan-Migwa" Yabu Kentsu Chomo Hanashiro

Zenryo Shimabukuro Shuzen Maeshiro

Nabe "Matsumura"

Hohan Soken

Fusei Kise

Jimmy Coffman

Students stationed in Okinawa from the period of 1962 to 1964

**Pops, **Artie Spanski **Barnett, **Richard Renz **Peter Lucas **Donald Lucas **James Kennedy **Chip Digeaus **Walter Ivey **Bo **Gary Saluter **Bob Peters **William Spicer   Plus Others

Coffman's Students

***Gary Saluter	1963-64 Go-Dan
*Rick Nemarious	Ni-Dan
***Ingo Noback	Yon-Dan
***G. Dan Smith*	Yon-Dan
*Gary Thornhill & Jean Thornhill	Yon-Dan & Ni Dan
George Granofsky	San-Dan
*Buddy Reyes	San-Dan
*Allen Lawson	Ni-Dan
***Murzy Jhabvala	Yon-Dan
*Jesus Garcia	Sho-Dan
Jim Skelton	San-Dan
Ronald Lee	Sho-Dan
Lawrence Wong	Sho-Dan
*George Dillman	Sho-Dan
*Alex "Alex Plus One"Sternberg
*Clarence Murry	Ni-Dan
*David Smith	Sho-Dan
*James Robinson
*Paul Wood
*Sterling Johnson
*Charles Lowery	Sho-Dan
*Alan Brauer
*James Stargel
*Carl Dunn	Sho-Dan
*David Murhpy	Sho-Dan
*Steven Graham	Sho-Dan
*Christoher G. Casey	Sho-Dan
Raymond Gonthier	Sho-Dan
*Kenny Zerfass	Ni-Dan
***Al Gagne	Roku-Dan
***Deus & Claire Marchacos	Yon-Dan & San-Dan
*Joseph Rademsky	Sho-Dan
Fred Sypher	Go-Dan
Kirk Laleman	Yon-Dan
***Ed Marucci*	Roku-Dan
Susan Wells(1st woman Black belt)	Ni-Dan
Paul Badanes	San-Dan
***Steve Abert	Yon-Dan
Michael Kaufmann	Sho-Dan
Curtis Otey	Ni-dan
Camillus Wells	Sho-Dan
Richard LaViolotte	Sho-Dan
David Sall	Sho-Dan
Carl Hoffman	San-Dan
*Michael McCumber	Sho-Dan
Gary Bunk	Yon-Dan
Walter Ellis	Sho-Dan
*Earnest Wyant	Sho-Dan
*Lee Uhl	Sho-Dan
Erik May	Sho-Dan
*Frank Banks	Sho-Dan
*David Garber	Sho-Dan
*Joyce Archambault	Sho-Dan
*Greg Karabinus	Ni-Dan
Bret Snover	Sho-Dan
Frank Bizzoco	Ni-Dan

*** ** *

Students that have reached 4th Dan and above, Senior students under Sensei Coffman Students that made Black belt on Okinawa under Sensei Coffman Students that came from other systems as Black belts to train under sensei Coffman