The Orange City dojo (a Honbu dojo) was first opened in 1983, by Grand Master Chester Holubecki, a 10th Degree Black Belt, when he moved to Orange City from his home in Massachusetts.
When Grand Master Holubecki returned to Massachusetts in 1996, the dojo was operated at two other locations before being reopened at 1900 North Volusia Avenue, as a “Black Belt only” dojo by local attorney, Sensei and Master John B. Crowther (Hachidan—8th degree Black Belt), in July 1998, through the generosity of Ms. Mary Parker Sizemore, herself an Isshinryu Black Belt (Nidan—2nd degree Black Belt).
In January 1999, the dojo was converted into a “full enrollment” dojo, where both Black Belts and Color Belts can train. Through the efforts of Sensei and Mrs. Crowther, the students, and many contributors and volunteers, the dojo moved to its present location at 120 May Street, on January 15, 2008.
The dojo is affiliated with the Isshinryu Network, an association of Isshinryu dojos located throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. Each year students from the dojo travel to various Championships to participate as competitors, judges and referees. In 1995, the dojo sponsored the American Okinawan Karate Association (A.O.K.A.) World Championships when they were held in Daytona Beach.
The dojo was honored in 1999, when two of its members were inducted into the A.O.K.A. Hall of Fame at the 25th Annual World Championships held in Philadelphia. Sensei Crowther was inducted as Outstanding Male Black Belt, and Mr. Howard Savage (Godan—5th degree Black Belt) was inducted as Outstanding Male Student. In 2000, Sensei Crowther was chosen as a Finalist for the A.O.K.A.’s Instructor of the Year; and in 2003, the dojo was again honored when Mr. Steven Hyde (Yondan—4th degree Black Belt) was inducted as the A.O.K.A.’s Outstanding Male Youth Black Belt.
In July 2019, three of our students won six awards at the Isshinryu Hall of Fame (I.H.O.F.) Tournament held in Gatlinburg, TN, including a first place trophy in kumite and a second place trophy in hand kata (Mr. Mike Danyus, Nidan [2nd degree Black Belt], then a Shodan [1st degree Black Belt]); a second place trophy in kumite (Mr. Dick Dillon, Sandan (3rd degree Black Belt), then a Shodan); and a second place trophy in hand kata, a third place trophy in weapons kata, and a fourth place trophy in kumite (Mr. Jeremy Schrimscher, Nidan, then a 2nd degree Brown Belt).
Due to the COVID-19 virus, no Isshinryu Hall of Fame Tournament was held in 2020 or 2021.
In July 2022, five of our students won six awards at the Isshinryu Hall of Fame (IHOF) Tournament in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, including a first place trophy in hand kata (Enrique Albornoz, Orange Belt); a second place trophy in kumite, a third place trophy in hand kata, and a fourth place trophy in weapons kata (Dick Dillon, Sandan, then a Nidan); a third place trophy in kumite (Mike Danyus, Nidan); a fourth place trophy in weapons kata (Marcel Comley, Yondan); and a fourth place trophy in weapons kata (Gary Thornhill, Kudan [9th degree Black Belt], then a Hachidan).
CONGRATULATIONS TO MR. DICK DILLON ON HIS PROMOTION TO SANDAN (3rd degree Blackbelt) THIS AFTERNOON (09/10/2022) AND HIS BEING AWARDED THE TITLE OF “SENSEI”. This is an important milestone and accomplishment for an Isshinryu blackbelt, as it identifies him or her as an Instructor, fully authorized to teach the entire Isshinryu Karate-do system to others.
We began at 9:30 a.m., with the performance and critiquing of the required eight (8) weapons kata, followed by the ten (10) hand kata. After performing each kata, Sensei Dillon was required to demonstrate multiple bunkai (self-defense techniques) from the kata.
Joining me on the Testing/Promotion Board were Grandmaster (GM) Gary Thornhill, Kudan (9th degree Blackbelt) and Sensei Marcel Comley, Godan (5th degree Blackbelt), who traveled all the way from Jacksonville to be with us (be certain to thank your supervisor for giving you the day off, Sensei Comley, so that you could join us).
Serving in the important position of Uke (the person upon whom the self-defense techniques are applied) for Sensei Dillon’s bunkai demonstrations and for the advanced bunkai techniques demonstrated by the Testing/Promotion Board members, was Sensei Peter Gepilano, Sandan (3rd degree Blackbelt).
Thank yous to Mrs. Mia Lee, Shodan-ho (1st degree Blackbelt, provisional) and Marshall Lee, Sankyu (3rd degree Brownbelt) for cleaning and preparing the screened porch for the weapons kata; to GM Thornhill for the breakfast sandwiches; and to Carol and Sensei Dillon for the delicious sandwiches, chips, drinks, AND delicious brownies from Firehouse Subs, for our lunch.
Testing concluded at 3:30 p.m. with the presentation by me of the Sandan Menkyo (Certificate of Promotion to 3rd degree Blackbelt) to Sensei Dillon, the formal bow-out led by GM Thornhill, and a round of picture-taking for posterity’s sake.
Congratulations Sensei Dillon and thank you again for all who participated and assisted in making this a great day!
Crowther Sensei
