Holley Shihan has over 37 years of Karate training and study as well as over 27 years of Kobudo (weapons) study. He currently holds the ranks of Nanadan (7th Dan) in Shotokan, Godan (5th Dan) in Okinawan Kobujitsu, and Sandan (3rd Dan) in Japanese Goju-Ryu karate.
Holley Shihan has trained with an impressive list of notable instructors including Katsumi Niikura, Shihan of the International Budo Byokukai; Kunio Sasaki of the JKA in Manila; Isao Aioki in Funchu City, Japan, at the Funchu Air Station; and Kobudo training under Rafael Reston and Henry Tuazon, just to name a few.
Holley Shihan takes much pride in sharing his wealth of experience and knowledge with his students. He has taught hundreds of students but to date given out no more than 60 black belts because of his strict adherence to tradition. Many say he is a perfectionist, he would say only that he seeks perfection of his students. After nearly 40 years of study and practice he still proclaims he is only a student of Karate-do.
Holley Shihan is a member of Dai Nippon Butokukai, the oldest martial arts association in Japan. This association is sanctioned by the Japan Ministry of Education and the Imperial Family of Japan. This is among the highest order of recognition a Karate practitioner can receive.
