Rank: 6th Dan
School: St. Peter's College Isshinryu Karate
Martial Arts Bio
Shihan H. J. Saunders, MA, CET
Roku Dan - 6th degree Black Belt
AOKA Isshinryu Karate at St. Peter's College Dojo
Exercise Physiologist and Consultant
P.O. Box 6452
Jersey City, N.J. 07306-0452
201-433-8993 email: hj@cofitness.net www.aokainc.com
As a youngster, H.J. trained in Judo under Sensei Hamlin of Judo Kai, Englewood, New Jersey. At Fort Lee High School (Fort Lee, New Jersey) he was a wrestler and sprinter. Soon thereafter, he became a certified lifeguard and was introduced to Koei-Kan Karate. H.J. trained in Koei-Kan Karate under Hanshi Ed Kaloudis at the Martial Arts Institute in Clifton, New Jersey and with Sensei Dan Smiley at the University of Connecticut Dojo in Storrs, Connecticut (UCONN). There, he also studied with Professor Andrew Yiannakis, Soke-Wa Shin Ryu Jujutsu.
Currently, Shihan Saunders is a Roku Dan - 6th degree black belt in Isshinryu Karate (March 2009) under the auspices of the American Okinawan Karate Association (AOKA). Together, with Shihan Robert Mansfield (8th Dan), Shihan George Strydio (6th Dan), Shihan Tom Flagg (7th Dan), Shihan John Wozniak (6th Dan), and Shihan Bill Stoms (6th Dan), he has conducted various workshops on street awareness, self-defense, and ne-jitsu (fighting from the ground). Sensei Saunders has been a contestant, judge and referee at various Isshinryu Karate and other mixed martial arts tournaments. His weapons of choice are the cane, bo, and sai.
Since 1995, he has been studying, practicing, and teaching adults and children of all ages at the Saint Peter's College Isshinryu Karate Dojo (Jersey City, New Jersey). There, in addition to his Isshinryu practice, he has conducted campus safety and security programs, women's self defense seminars, and karate demonstrations. Shihan Saunders considers it an honor and privilege to have studied and trained directly under Shihan Robert Mansfield who is one of Grand Master Don Nagle's original students; thus placing this dojo in direct lineage to Soke Tatsuo Shimabuku. The dojo is traditional; passing on the Isshinryu style of karate, and lifestyle principles that would have made Soke proud.
H.J. has a master's degree in exercise physiology from UCONN. He is a personal trainer at several corporate fitness centers and is a certified exercise technologist by the American College of Sports Medicine. As president and founder of the non-profit Youth Fitness Coalition, Inc., H.J.'s leadership, guidance, humor, and wisdom have helped the Project ACES--All Children Exercise Simultaneously program grow tremendously. Since 1989, Project ACES has reached millions of children, their parents and teachers in all 50 states and 49 different countries. USA Today and Ripley's Believe It or Not have called Project ACES 'The World's Largest Exercise Class'. Visit www.projectaces.com or www.cofitness.net for more information.
H.J. is also a professional actor, and member of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA). He has appeared in movies and on television. He credits much of his success in life and bushido to Master Shimabuku's tenet of Seishin Shuyo. 'Isshinryu should develop one's character and attitude'.
Thank you Soke.
(Revised 03/09)