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David M. Kahn began studying Uechi-ryu Karate in 1982 under the
instruction of Richard Baptista, Godan (5th Degree Black Belt). Mr. Baptista is a
student of George E. Mattson, Hanshi (9th Degree Black Belt Master) the highest
ranking and most renowned Uechi-ryu Karate teacher in North America.
Sensei Kahn holds the rank of Yondan (4th Degree Black
Belt) having been personally tested for the rank, and promoted by, Master Kanmei Uechi.
His rank is certified by the Uechi-ryu Karate-Do Association, Okinawa, Japan. He is also
ranked as Senior Instructor, certified by the International Uechi-ryu Karate
Federation: North American Chapter.
Sensei Kahn has been teaching Uechi-ryu Karate since 1986. He began, under the guidance of
his teacher, as an assistant instructor at the Waltham, Massachusetts dojo. Upon his
return to the Chicago area in 1989, Sensei Kahn began teaching a small group of dedicated students. To date, Sensei Kahn has personally taught 100's of students, several of who have attained the
rank of Black Belt.
Additionally, Sensei Kahn is a certified KRANE (Karate
Referees' Association of New England) official and a certified IUKF (International Uechi-ryu Karate Federation) official. His officiating skill is in demand at
many national tournaments. He is also the Director of Operations for the Annual New
England Open National Karate Championships, held yearly in Boston, Massachusetts.
Sensei Kahn is a senior member of the IUKF:
North American Chapter, serving on its Black Belt Test Board, Membership Committee and
Teacher Certification Sub-committee. He is also the Administrator of the Uechi-ryu Black
Belt Bureau Registry.
In addition to his
teaching duties, Sensei Kahn has spent a great deal of time as a tournament
competitor and coach, as a demonstration team performer and coordinator, and as an author
of several articles on Uechi-ryu Karate. He is also in demand as a seminar leader,
traveling around the country to teach Uechi-ryu. His biography is listed in the American Uechi ryu Handbook.
In addition to his Uechi-ryu
training, Sensei Kahn has also trained extensively in Filipino Combat
Arnis (stick and knife fighting) under Guro Raffi Derderian's Shinko-ryu Association, and
Knife/Counter-Knife Combatives under Hock Hochheim's Scientific Fighting Congress. Sensei Kahn has also cross-trained in Aikido, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Jeet Kune
Do, Judo, Modern Arnis and Wing Tsun Kung Fu.
Both of Sensei Kahn's daughters have studied Uechi-ryu since the age of two. He lives
with his supportive wife Debra, an honorary Uechi student, in Wheeling, Illinois.
Sensei
Kahn takes great pride in the success of his students, both in and out
of the dojo. His teaching philosophy embraces the idea that each student is unique, with
individual goals and needs. Through his personalized instruction, Sensei Kahn teaches each student as if that student was his
sole responsibility; a responsibility he takes very seriously. It is Sensei Kahn's belief
that within each white belt beginner is a Black Belt Master waiting to be released. Sensei Kahn can lead his students along that path, but it is
the student that must make the journey.
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