SENSEI
Those who made the road
before
Thomas Zadan
Isshinryu lineage: Tatsuo Shimabukuro >
Harry G. Smith
> Thomas C. Voelker
> Thomas Zadan
Born 1963
Tom began training with Thomas C. Voelker, sixth
dan, in 1983. Mr. Voelker’s own training began at Harry Smith’s
school in Pittsburgh in 1963. All of Mr. Voelker’s black belt
degrees were awarded by either Tatsuo Shimabukuro, Angi Uezu, or
Kichiro Shimabuku.
While at college, Tom Zadan studied at the Penn
State Karate Club (Isshinryu) under Senseis Dane Sutton, Robert
Nyahay, and Don McCandless from 1983 to 1985 where he was able to
attend seminars by Kichiro Shimabuku. The Club’s emphasis on
tradition and substantial kata study provided an invaluable
foundation. Tom then trained continuously under Mr. Voelker until
Mr. Voelker’s death in 2003. Tom gives demonstrations and has been
particularly interested in cross-training with practitioners from a
variety of other styles throughout the years.
Tom earned first, second, and third dan from Mr.
Voelker and has been instructing continuously since 1991. In
addition to traditional Isshinryu, Tom incorporates weapons
defenses, joint locks, women’s self defense, Thai boxing and other
concepts into his teaching curriculum. In 2006, as the class began
its 35th year of continuous operation, The North Pittsburgh
Isshinryu Karate Class, now headed by Robert B. Wolf (fourth dan),
moved to a new state of the art facility in Franklin Park,
Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh.
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