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Head Instructor:

Jim Hoffer

Jim Hoffer

 Jim Hoffer began the study of Okinawan karate in 1976 at a local YMCA.  Over the next 9 years, he lived in 6 cities, including one year in Tokyo as a college exchange student in Sensei Morio Higaonna's (featured in The History Channel's "Human Weapon") and studied various styles of Okinawan and Japanese karate.  

In 1985, Jim Hoffer was introduced to Grand Master Katsuya Miyahira's Shidokan Shorin-ryu style of karate, taught in North America by Sensei Seikichi Iha, 10th Dan.  Since 1985, Jim Hoffer has trained in this style and currently holds a 5th dan (5th degree black belt) in Shido-Kan Shorin-Ryu.  

Jim Hoffer is a member of Sensei Allen Mayne's Shibu Dojo and head of the Detroit area Fuku-Shibu branch Dojo.  Jim Hoffer visits Sensei Seikichi Iha (10th dan) at his Lansing dojo to train as well as other Michigan dojo's run by Sensei Iha's senior students. He is a member of The North American Beikoku Shido-Kan Shorin-ryu Association  and the Ryukyu-Ocho-Shurite Kobujutsu Association.

In addition to receiving instruction from Sensei Iha and Sensei Iha's senior American students, Jim Hoffer has trained under various Okinawan instructors visiting Sensei Iha in Lansing Michigan, including Okinawan full contact champion, Sensei Koichi Nakasone.