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Isshin-Ryu Hall of Fame |
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Don Bohan
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Don
Bohan was born in NYC, Greenwich Village, on May 23, 1936. He enlisted in the US
Marine Corps in 1953, and spent 21 years in the service of his country. He saw
action in Korea and Viet Nam. He began Isshin-Ryu training in 1958 with Sensei Don Nagle at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina while both were stationed with the United States Marine Corps. In 1959 Sensei Bohan was sent to Okinawa where he began training in Isshin-Ryu under Master Tatsuo Shimabuku. Sensei Bohan visited Master Shimabuku's dojo as often as possible while in the Far East with the Marines until Master Shimabuku's death in 1975. He opened dojos across the country, including North Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, and Florida. |
Some of his accomplishments as a competitor
were as follows: Winner All Marine Grand Championships two years consecutively for
Black Belt kumite. Winner All Service Championships. Winner North Carolina
Grand Championships for kata, weapons, and kumite.Sensei Bohan was
recognized for his lifetime of dedication to the Martial Arts by the following
Organizations: Awarded the Official Karate "Karate-Ka of the Month".
Awarded the "AOKA Spirit of Isshin-Ryu" award. Elected an
honorary member of the Isshin-Ryu Brotherhood (IB). He was also featured five times
in "Official Karate" magazine, and wrote several articles for that
publication.
Sensei Bohan was promoted through the rank of 7th Dan by Master Tatsuo
Shimabuku. He was awarded his 8th and 9th Dan by the American-Okinawan Karate Association
(AOKA), which he has been a member of since 1970. He was also a member of the United
Isshin-Ryu Karate Association (UIKA) and the United States Karate Association (USKA).
He held black belts in Isshin-Ryu and Bando, and trained with world renowned
martial arts masters including Eizo Shimabukuro and Dr. Maung Gyi.
Sensei Bohan passed away on February 9, 1998 after a losing his battle with cancer.
Webmaster@isshinryu.nxs.net.
Copyright © 1997 Isshin-Ryu Hall Of Fame, Inc. All rights reserved.
Revised: July 06, 2008.
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