Rank: 5th Dan
School: Briamonte Karate
Bill Briamonte Jr., Roku-Dan, Isshinryu Karate Bill Briamonte Jr. started his Isshinryu karate training at the age of ten years old. He quit after about 6 months. In 1981 at the age of 17, Bill Jr. approached his Sensei, who was also his father, and asked to start lessons again. His father, Mr. William Briamonte Sr., apparently still annoyed that his son quit at age 10 told him to go take Tae Kwon Do lessons. This being an unacceptable option, Bill Jr. started practicing what he remembered of the Isshinryu basic exercises and kata he learned as child. After letting Bill Jr. struggle for awhile his Sensei started making corrections and teaching him again. Soon after, Sensei Briamonte Sr. began teaching a large karate class of high school runners and wrestlers. After Bill Jr. reached the rank of Ik-Kyu, Sensei Briamonte Sr. asked his Sensei, Grand Master Don Nagle to test and evaluate Bill Jr. for the rank of Sho-Dan. On December 1st, 1990 in Jersey City, Grand Master Don Nagle and Master Dennis Hoare tested Bill Jr. Grand Master Don Nagle then promoted Bill Jr. to the rank of Sho-Dan. Grand Master Don Nagle also acknowledged Bill Jr.'s, promotion to San-Dan in 1994 by awarding him a rank certificate for that rank. He was promoted to the rank of Yo-Dan in January of 2000 and then Go-Dan in February of 2002. He currently holds the rank of Roku-Dan having been promoted by Master Ralph Passero and Master George Wanko upon the recommendation of his Sensei, Mr. William Briamonte Sr. Bill Jr. has returned to the East Coast numerous times. He was very fortunate that on several occasions Grand Master Nagle took the time to meet with him and give him brief lessons and invaluable instruction prior to his untimely death. Bill Jr. has also received instruction from Master Dennis Hoare and Master George Wanko. Over the years, Bill Jr. has run several small Isshinryu dojos and taught women's self-defense courses. He as also instructed local, state and federal law enforcement officers. Bill Jr. resides in Tucson Arizona and is an 18 year veteran with the Tucson Police Department. He has been a detective for 8 of those years, following in the footsteps of both his father and Grand Master Nagle. He worked 6 years in violent crimes, aggravated assault / homicide and is currently assigned as an undercover intelligence detective.