Charles Valentin’s Accomplishments
Charles Valentin, has been involved with Martial Arts since 1970, when he began studying Henry Cho’s Korean Tae Kwon Do in the South Bronx, NY.
After one year of training in Tae Kwon Do, Charles joined: Shotokan Karate Club (SKC) on 161st/3rd Avenue, Bx. (under Sensei Philip McRae).
Charles was awarded his 1st Degree Black Belt (Shodan) on Oct. 30th, 1974 after two hour grading examination on Kihon, Kata, Kumite.
From 1975-1976, Charles was an Assistant Instructor at the Shotokan Karate Club Dojo. In 1976, Charles joined the United States Marine Corps & was stationed in Parris Island, South Carolina & then Camp LeJeune, North Carolina. While serving in the Marines, Charles taught Karate at the Camp Johnson, N.C. Barracks to fellow Marines & USMC Officers.
In 1980, Charles returned to City College and studied for a degree in Computer Science. While attending City College of NY, he was a member of the
Karate Club & La Crosse Teams. Charles Valentin continued to train/teach at the(Police Athletic League) & competed in local Traditional Karate Tournaments.
In 1985, Charles joined Shotokan Karate of America Organization under Master Tsutomu Ohshima. He trained for several years with (SKA) in New York before moving to the Rockland County area in 1995. In addition to Shotokan-Ryu Karate, Charles has also studied Okinawan Styles: Matsubayashi Shorin-Ryu and & Goju-Ryu. In 1995, Charles became a member of the SKJF (Shotokan Karate of Japan Federation) & founded Shotokan-Ryu Karate Dojo-USA in Orangeburg, New York (Rockland County).
Charles is currently a member of SKIF-USA and Black Belt Holder (Yudansha-Kai). He was promoted to the rank of 4th Degree Black Belt (Yon-Dan) by Kanazawa, Kancho in ‘2007. He continues to train under the tutelage of Charles E. Lee, Sensei (Godan). He also attends SKIF-USA Seminars and Instructor training sponsored by Senior SKIF Instructors & Technical Committee members.
The (SKIF) organization has over (2 million members) Worldwide in over 100 countries) under founder Kanazawa Hirokazu, Kancho (10th Dan President/Chief Instructor).
At this point, Charles Valentin is very satisfied with his continued learning & teachings of the Traditional (SKIF) Shotokan-Ryu Karate System. Thus far, Charles has had the privilege to train with Kanazawa Kancho & other Senior Instructors @ numerous SKIF Seminars including Long Island, NY, Miami,Fla , Houston,Texas, CT, Rochester, NH & a week long Black-Belt Holder’s (1st Advanced SKIF Yudansha-Kai International Resident Seminar) held in Nov. ‘2002 at the YMCA of Hong Kong, Wu Kwai Sha Youth Village, Shatin New Territories, China.
