User:Ev44665/sandbox/St Leger Emile van Heerden

Emile van Heerden (1951), Kyoshi (7th Dan) Started Karate with Sensei Johan Roets, at the time the Chief Instructor of Shukukai Ryu, South Africa after joining the South African Air Force at the age of 16 years in 1968. Was invited by Professor Samuel Tonkin of Jikishin Ju-Jitsu, Edenvale in 1993 to join his Kobudo class. My wife, Penny and I studied under his guidens for some time until he recommended we should find the Ryukyu Kobudo roots in Okinawa for advanced training. Joined Ryukyu Kobudo Hozon Shinko Kai, Honbu Dojo of Sensei Eisuke Akamine (Second Association President) in Tomigusuku in April 1995. Practiced under Hiroshi Akamine Sensei (Third Association President) after the death of his father, Dai Sensei in 1999. Presently a senior member and instructor of Ryukyu Kobudo Hozon Shinko Kai, Kochinda Honbu Dojo under present Association Head (Kaicho) Kuniyoshi Yukio. He is the

Competencies: • Ryukyu Kobudo. Kyoshi, 7th Dan. Teacher’s and Dojo license issued by Ryukyu Kobudo Hozon Shinko Kai, Okinawa, Japan. Experience in old weapons martial arts of Okinawa as an instructor, competition judge and practitioner • Japanese Sword Arts. 6th Dan. Zen Nippon Iai-Do Renmei, Kyoto, Japan and the Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu, Kyoto, Japan and Okinawa, Japan • Shorin Ryu Karate. Shihan, 5th Dan. Teacher’s and Dojo license issued by Shorin Ryu Kyokai, Okinawa, Japan. Experience in empty hand martial arts of Okinawa as an instructor, competition judge and practitioner • Practical Shooting. Instructor’s license issued by South African Institute or Range Officers and Instructors (SAIRO) (License not current). Large experience in practical shooting, safety, competition judging and handling of small arms.

Professional Experience: 1968 – 1995. Practitioner of Martial Arts in South Africa. Student. 1995 – 2001. Headquarters Dojo, Tomigusuku, Okinawa. Cultural student (Martial Arts). 2001 – 2004. Durban, South Africa. Dojo owner, practitioner and instructor. 2004 – 2006. Tokyo, Japan. Practitioner and instructor in Kobudo and Karate. Student in Iai-do. 2006 – 2015. Headquarters Dojo, Kochinda, Okinawa. Practitioner, senior instructor. Student in Iai-do. 2015 – 2018. Budapest, Hungary. Dojo owner, practitioner and senior instructor. 2018 – Present. Basingstoke, United Kingdom. Dojo owner, practitioner and senior instructor.