SHIHAN MCCAMMON

Sensei McCammon, Godan (5th Degree Black Belt) Shihan

Shihan McCammon began training in the spring of 1987 in Hampton, Virginia under tutelage of, then, Kyoshi (8th degree black belt and Master) Frank Hargrove. Kyoshi Hargove was the President of the North American Shorin-Ryu Karate-Do Association and a direct and senior student of Hanshi (10th degree black belt and Highest Expert) Shugoro Nakazato who inherited the leadership of the (Kobayashi) Shorin Ryu system after the passing of its first recognized grandmaster, Chosin Chibana, widely noted as the “last bushi (warrior) of Okinawa.”

McCammon received his Shodan (1st Degree black belt) in the winter of 1993 under Sensei Donald Bagwell, a staff instructor of Kyoshi Hargrove. McCammon tested for his Nindan (2nd degree) and Sandan (3rd degree) under Kyoshi Hargrove directly in 1996 and 1999 respectively.

In 2013, Nakaza-Hanshi passed away of stomach cancer, and Heired his karate legacy and the Kiyobukan Association to his star student, and McCammon’s long time mentor, Brian Hobson.  Before his passing Nakaza promoted Hobson to the rank of 9th degree Black Belt, and bestowed upon the title of Hanshi (Highest Expert).  Before Nakaza’s passing, McCammon had the honor of being only the 2nd person to be promoted in the International Kiyobukan Hombu Dojo, in Itoman City, Okinawa, behind Brian Hobson.

In 2013 McCammon is achieved  Godan (5th Degree Black Belt) and Renshi (High Teacher), a rank and title that was bestowed in recognition of his skill and experience as a teacher. Achieving the rank of 5th Degree and Renshi was a bitter sweet honor for McCammon, as it was awarded on the death bead of  his teacher, Hanshi Nakaza.  It is an honor that he will cherish always.

In May of 2019, McCammon was awarded his interational Shihan license, recognizing him for proficiency as a teacher of Shorin Ryu Karate and authorizing him to represent the system anywhere in the world.  The title Shihan translates to ‘model, or master, teacher.’ It implies that McCammon has been recognized as one who has the recognized ability to refine a student through training and instruction, and more importantly, develop other students into the position of instructors of the art.

McCammon also serves the Kiyobukan and the Vice-Director of the International Kiyobukan, under Hanshi Hobson.  In this role he seeks to hold to his promise to their late teacher, and association founder, to keep the association strong, and preserve the legacy of Okinawan Karate.

In addition to his roles in the dojo and the association, McCammon also maintains active membership and certifications with the USA National Karate Federatation (USANKF).  USANKF is the the governing body for sport karate in the United States, and the only organization recognized by the USA Olypmic Committee for matriculation of US karate atheletes to the Olympics.  Within this organization, McCammon maintains annual certifications as a Coach (Level III) and regional referee (Referee B).  McCammon also maintains NRK Karate as a USA Karate recoginized training club in good standing the certification and training of the facility and its staff.

Sensei McCammon lives with his family in San Marcos, California. He is a degreed mechanical engineer, and a strong advocate for childhood education particularly in areas of  science, technology, engineering and  mathematics.  He was formerly the president of the Board of Directors, for the Vista, CA Boys and Girls Club.  Currently, he holds a board position with ConnectED, the Center for College and Career.

WATER CAN PENETRATE ANY ROCK, BUT YET EMBRACES EVERY STONE.

BE SLOW TO BE AS ROCK, BUT SWIFT TO BE AS WATER. EMBRACE THAT WHICH WOULD LOOK TO STOP YOU. IN DOING SO YOU WILL FIND YOUR WAY OVER, UNDER, AROUND OR THROUGH IT.