John Viol Shihan

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SEI SHIN KAN CHIEF INSTRUCTOR JOHN VIOL SHIHAN

John M. Viol Shihan receives Menkyo Kaiden in Japan - 1991

PLEASE GO TO THE NEW PAGE ON JOHN VIOL SHIHAN

The Chief Instructor at the Sei Shin Kan is John Viol Shihan Mr. Viol began his Martial Arts career in 1967. He has lived, trained, tested and been certified in Japan by some of the top Japanese Martial Arts masters of our time. He is the only non-Japanese to have served 3 terms in Japan as an Uchi Deshi - live in apprentice. He was awarded the All Japan Outstanding Budoka Award 4 times in Japan for significant contributions to Japanese Budo.

He is the only non-Japanese ever to win the elite All Japan Invitational Karate Championships 4 consecutive times in Japan. He is a graduate of all 4 levels of International Instructor Training Programs and holds high rankings in Jujutsu, Iaido, Iai Jutsu, Karate, Buki Jutsu and Kobujutsu. Mr. Viol has trained extensively with and taught high ranking members of the All Japan Self Defense Ground Forces Division of the Japanese Army. He is one of only a handful of Westerners who has a Dojo and teaches Martial Arts in Japan. In 1977, Mr. Viol was sent by the Hombu Dojo to establish a branch Dojo in Michigan.

In 1991, at a special ceremony in Japan Mr. Viol was presented with the highest

level Martial Arts teaching license available, the coveted Menkyo Kaiden shown to the right being presented in Kyoto Japan. Also at that time in Japan, Mr. Viol was awarded the title of Shihan - Master Teacher by a panel of his peers. In 1997, Viol Shihan was given the title of Cultural Ambassador and appointed the sole United States representative for the All Japan Sogo Budo Federation.

Each year, Viol Shihan returns to Japan to live with his family, teach and train. He travels extensively to learn authentic Japanese Martial Arts from the highest living sources available today. He is diligent at keeping up to date with current events and developments within the traditional Martial Arts community there. He brings that information back and passes it on to his students at the Sei Shin Kan Sogo Budo Dojo in Rochester Hills Michigan. Viol Shihan has no other job. He has always made his living by instructing the Martial Arts 7 days a week. He has devoted his life to the study, practice, promotion, preservation and teaching of authentic Sogo Budo.

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JOHN VIOL SHIHAN - UCHI DESHI IN JAPAN - Read excerpts from the book