Sensei Bio

Charles Valentin's Accomplishments

I’ve been involved with Karate since 1970, when I studied Henry Cho’s Korean Tae Kwon Do in Bx, NY.

After training in Tae Kwon Do, I joined Shotokan Karate Club (SKC) on 161st 3rd Ave, Bx, NY (under Sensei’s Phillip and Michael McRae).
I tested Shodan on Oct. 30th, 1974, after a 2-hour examination based on Shotokan Kihon (Basics), Kata Forms) and Kumite (Sparring).

From 1975-1976, I was an Assistant Instructor (Sempai) at the (SKC) Shotokan Karate Club Dojo.

In 1977, I joined United States Marine Corps and was stationed in Parris Island, SC and later at Camp LeJeune, NC.
While in the Marines, I taught Karate at Camp Johnson, NC barracks to fellow USMC Marines and Officers.

In 1980, I returned to City College of NY (CCNY) and studied for a degree in Computer Science.

While at (CCNY), I was an active member of the Shotokan Karate Club and Lacrosse Teams.

I continued to train at PAL center 183rd Bx, NY and competed in Local Traditional Karate Tournaments.

In the early 1980-90’s, I trained with several Shotokan Karate Dojo’s and Karate Organizations:

  • SKA (Shotokan Karate of America).
  • JKA (Japan Karate Association).
  • Matsubayashi Shorin-Ryu.
  • Okinawan Goju-Ryu.


In 1995, I became a member of SKJF (Shotokan Karate of Japan Federation) and founded my Dojo:
“Shotokan-Ryu Karate Dojo-USA” in Orangeburg, New York.

In January, 2002, I was introduced to SKIF-USA by a friend (Sensei Charles Lee – N.J.) RIP.
Sensei introduced me to Sensei Glenna Burleson of Peak Performance Dojo in MN.
Sensei Burleson greatly assisted my group w SKIF-USA membership and preparing for the
1st SKIF Yudansha-Kai International Resident Seminar in Hong Kong (Nov. 2002).

To learn (SKIF-USA) training/teaching syllabus, I attended weekly training sessions with
Sensei Charles Lee (traveling from Orangeburg, NY to his Newark, NJ Dojo).

In addition to weekly NJ training, I attended many SKIF-USA Seminars with
Kanazawa Soke and other Senior SKIF/SKIF-USA HQ Instructors from Japan and USA Technical Committee.

SKIF-USA Grading Examinations & Partial List of Seminars attended:

SKIF-USA recertified Shodan (June 22nd, 02), grading by Kanazawa Soke
during SKIF-USA Summer Seminar New Hyde Park, NY (SKIF Shodan Diploma# 109160).

SKIF-USA Miami Seminar with Kanazawa Soke (Hosted by Sensei’s Marcos Moron and Jimmy Wong).

SKIF Japan 1st Yudansha-Kai International Resident Seminar in YMCA Wu Kai Sha, Hong Kong. 
(Kanazawa Soke, Murakami Shuseki Shihan, Francis Fong Shihan, Dr. Phillip Kwok and other Senior Instructors).

Double-grading examination, University of Houston, Texas during by Kanazawa Soke SKIF-USA Tour.

June 21 st , 2003 – (SKIF Nidan Diploma# 24167, SKIF Sandan Diploma# 32084).

Grading examination (Rochester, New Hampshire) – Soke Kanazawa, Kanazawa Nobuaki Kancho
Summer USA Tour. (Hosted by Sensei’s J. Shea, M. Cook, S. Warren) – SKIF Diploma# 41307.

SKIF-USA Instructor Training (Long Meadow, MA (Hosted by Sensei’s J. Shea, M. Cook, S. Warren).

Murakami Shuseki Shihan Rochester, NH Seminar. (Hosted by Sensei’s J. Shea, M. Cook, S. Warren).

Fujishima Shihan Long Island Seminar (Hosted by Sensei’s Charles Macolino, Terry Nichiporuk).

SKIF-USA Central Regional Karate Tournament, Minnesota (Glenn Stoddard, Shihan).