MEMORIAL - HANSHI JODY PAUL

It is with sadness that we announce the passing of HANSHI JODY PAUL, 9th Dan Seidokan - Motoburyu Karate and Kobudo. Hanshi Paul passed away in the early hours of December 2, 2015.

Hanshi Paul has been a good friend of the Mr. & Mrs. Heilman for over four decades. They first met in 1972 in Dover, Delaware at Mr. Paul's Dojo when he was having Hidy Ochiai Sensei in for a training session, and have remained the best of friends ever since.

Hanshi Paul was one of the IKKF's Executive Board Members and a member of the IKKF Board of Hanshi. Additionally, he has been a Guest Instructor at the IKKF's Annual Trainings and Winter Camps over the decades. His last visit was for our 2014 IKKF Annual Training at which he was a Guest Instructor. In honor of our long time friend, the Heilman's wanted to include this little pictorial presentation of a great martial artist and his accomplishments.


Hanshi Paul's Background:

Hanshi Paul was an Internationally recognized Martial Arts Instructor who had been a student of the Arts since 1960. The founder of the ISMR and his Okinawan Karate Academies, he began his training in Japan as a member of the Military. He was recognized as one of the leading representatives of Grand Master Shian Toma's Seidokan systems in the United States. Hanshi Paul was among the nations foremost authorities in the art of Okinawan weaponry, or Kobudo and the Ancient History of the Arts. He had trained in the Chinese Kenpo, Okinawa Karate-Do, Motobu Udun Ti Kobujutsu, Japanese Karate/Toide, Shorinji Kempo, Shorinji-Ryu, and Okinawa Kenpo Karate Kobudo. He has had the opportunity to train under a veritable who's who of the leading Masters of Japan and Okinawa. The most significant include Grand Master Shian Toma, the head of the Zen Okinawa Seidokan Karate Kobudo Renmei, Grand Master Seikichi Odo, Head of the Okinawa Kenpo Karate Kobudo and Grand Master Seikichi Uehara, the 12th Soke of Motobu Udun Ti. Hanshi Paul held the rank of 9th Dan. Throughout his teaching career, he gave his knowledge in exactly the same manner as his teachers without deviating from their methods and beliefs. Hanshi Paul also served his Country with great honor having served as a UDT Frogman (pre-curser to the Navy Seals) in both the Bay of Pigs and in Vietnam. He truly was a man of honor, character and loyalty. He will be missed by all who had the honor to know and train with him.


Historical Photos:

Photo of Hanshi Jody Paul.

Jody Paul was one of the few Americans to have had the opportunity to study Motobu Udun Di under Hanshi Seikichi Uehara.

Hanshi Seikichi Uehara head of Motobu Udun Di.

Then Renshi Paul with Uehara Sensei in Okinawa.

Another photo of Jody Paul with Seikichi Uehara in Okinawa.

Hanshi Paul's main style of Karate was Seidokan Karate under Hanshi Shihan Toma.

Hanshi Shihan Toma, the Founder of Seidokan Karate and Kobudo.

Hanshi Toma working technique with Paul Sensei during one of Toma Sensei's visits to the States.

Hanshi Toma, Jody Paul and Sensei's Chinen and Tomae during one of Toma Sensei's visits to the States.

Photo of Jody Paul in Okinawa.

Jody Paul also studied Okinawa Kenpo Kobudo with Hanshi Seikichi Odo in Okinawa.

Photo of Hanshi Odo and Paul Sensei at Odo Sensei's Dojo in Okinawa.

Hanshi Odo working tekkos technique on Paul Sensei at Odo's Dojo in Okinawa.

Another photo of Hanshi Odo working tekkos kata with Paul Sensei at Odo's Dojo in Okinawa.

Another photo of Hanshi Odo with the Heilmans and Mr. Paul.

Photo of the first Annual Training in Reading in 1984. It was in 1984 that Mr. Heilman was appointed by Master Odo to be his U.S. Representative for Master Odo's Okinawa Kenpo Karate Kobudo Federation (OKKKF).

Group photo participants at the Annual Training held at The Cloisters in Reading, Pa.

IKKF Annual Training 2004 - Group Photo.

IKKF Annual Training 2004 - Photo of Kyoshi's and Hanshi's in attendance.

IKKF Annual Training 2004 - Photo of Victor Coffin, Jody Paul and Chuck Merriman.

IKKF / ISMR Joint Annual Training - Kyoshi Paul discussion on the finer points of the use of the nunte bo.

IKKF / ISMR Joint Annual Training - Kyoshi Paul working toide technique on Kurt Seiber.

IKKF / ISMR Joint Annual Training - The Heilman's and Mr. Paul at the Annual Banquet.

USKA Annual Seminar's 2004 - Jody Paul demonstrating toide on Danny Gilliland.

IKKF Annual Training 2009 - Kyoshi Paul giving history lecture.

IKKF Annual Training 2009 - Special photo - Kyoshi Jody Paul, IKKF Executive Board Member.

Group photo at the 2010 IKKF Winter Camp in Mandeville, LA.

Jody Paul receiving his promotion to Hanshi, 9th Dan at IKKF Annual Training in Reading in 2012.

Group photo of friday participants at the 2012 IKKF Annual Training.

Group photo of saturday participants at the 2012 IKKF Annual Training.

Gathering of Renshi, Kyoshi and Hanshi Instructors at recent IKKF Annual Training.

Hanshi Paul working technique on Renshi Matt Apsokardu at training in Reading, Pa.

Discussion of Hanshi's - Jody Paul, Glenn Keeney and Bruce Heilman at USAMA event in Albuquerque, NM recently.

Gathering of Hanshi's at recent IKKF Annual Training held in Reading, Pa. in 2013. Individuals include: Ann-Marie Heilman, Bruce Heilman, Larry Isaac, Jody Paul, Charles Mann and Bill Hayes.

Photo of Hanshi Instructors from 2014 IKKF Annual Training in Reading, Pa. Individuals include: Bruce Heilman, Bill Hayes, Nick Adler, Marilyn Fierro, Renee Ibarra, Miguel Ibarra and Jody Paul.

Closing photo of Hanshi Jody Paul at 2014 IKKF Annual Training.

Hope you have enjoyed this walk back through time with our long time friend, Jody Paul.

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