Shihan

Hilton J. Siegfried

Roku Dan, Shihan, 6th Degree Black Belt 

Shihan Hilton Siegfried began training in January of 1977 at the Red Dragon Karate School in Easton, PA, under Alick Smith III, 8th Dan, who was under his father, Grand Master Al Smith, 10th Dan (retired).

Grand Master Al Smith (Shihan) had trained under many instructors that helped him to develop his own unique application of karate. His first instructor was Grand Master Louis Casamassas where he studied Chinese Kenpo. Grand Master Casamassas is the owner and head instructor of the Red Dragon Schools in and around Los Angeles, California. Shihan also studied with Sifu Guy Savelli where he learned Kung-fu and Aikido. Sensei Robert Peters instructed Shihan in Okinawan Shorin-Ryu. His unique combination of study had helped him create the Red Dragon School in Easton, PA.

Shihan began working out with Sensei Alick Smith III on Wednesday nights in 1977. After 2 years, he began training with Grand Master Smith four nights per week. As a Green Belt, he began assisting Sensei Alick Smith with the newly formed Kids Class. The Kids’ Classes ran on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:30 to 7:45. It was here that Shihan learned to become a teacher and developed his love of working with kids. In November of 1982, Sensei received his 1st Degree Black Belt from Grand Master Al Smith directly from the hands of Grand Master Louis Casamassas when he was visiting Shihan Al Smith.

Shihan began his own school in Riegelsville in 1988 in his home with 3 students then known as Upper Bucks Martial Arts Center. It was three close friends that had suggested he teach their children the martial arts. With the encouragement of his wife, this began his teaching career. The main idea of the school was to teach on Saturdays to give students an alternative to watching cartoons on Saturday mornings. To this day, during the school year, classes are still held only on Saturdays. According to Sensei, it is important that kids have time to do their school work, attend other activities, train in the martial arts, and still have some time for their families.

When Shihan moved to Coopersburg, within a year, he opened the Coopersburg Karate Academy in 1993. Since then, the school has continued to grow and now has over 85 active students attending classes.

In April of 2010, Shihan had the opportunity to travel to Okinawa with Sensei Tim Spiess, 5th Dan, Sen Lin Chuan and Matt Faragasso, 2nd Dan at Coopersburg Karate.  The trip included training with 9th Degree Black Belt, Shihan Ron Nix., whose instructor is Grand Master Toma.  They had the opportunity to see much of the island with Master Nix’s and his lovely wife Akemi, 5th Dan. The trip also included a visit to Hanshi Fusei Kise, Head of Okinawan Matsumura Orthodox Shorin-Ryu style. Shihan and Tim Spiess were invited to dine with Grand Master Kise and celebrate his 75th birthday. The trip was a wonderful experience and they all had the privilege of meeting many wonderful martial artists and true Okinawans.

On August 7, 2010, Hanshi Larry Isaac of Okinawan Kenpo Karate Kobudu promoted Sensei to 5th Degree Black Belt, GoDan, according to the standards set by the Okinawan Matsumura Shorin-Ryu Karate and Kobujutsu.  This promotion came as quite a surprise.    His last promotion to YonDan had occurred in 1996 from Grand Master Al Smith of Red Dragon.

August 2013- Shihan Sensei Hilton Siegfried was named Pennsylvania Director of the American Jiu-Jitsu Karate Association International (AJKAI).u’ve chosen a terrific way of integrating images and text into your website. Move the image anywhere you want in this container and the text will automatically wrap around it. You can display events team members new products and more easily and creatively. To start add an image from the Image Picker and edit it as you would edit any image in the system. For example you can link the image to existing pages in your site a website URL a popup or an anchor. After you’ve chosen the image add your text. You can add text that describes the image you’ve selected or simply use the image for decorative purposes. \nYou’ve chosen a terrific way of integrating images and text into your website. Move the image anywhere you want in this container and the text will automatically wrap around it. You can display events team members new products more easily and creatively. To start add an image from the Image Picker and edit it as you would edit any image in the system. For example you can link the image to existing pages in your site a website URL a popup or an anchor. After you’ve chosen the image add your text. You can add text that describes the image you’ve selected or simply use the image for decorative purposes.

Hanshi Jim Gifford

Hanshi Gifford began his martial arts training in Isshin Shorinji Ryu Okinawa-Te under Shihan Ralph Chirico and Shihan Wayne Ben-Ali in 1978. He switched to Shinmei Shorin Ryu Karate Jutsu under Soke Matt Molineux in 1993, and currently holds the rank of Kudan, 9th Degree Black Belt.      

Upon graduation from Air Force Undergraduate Pilot Training, he flew the KC-135R Stratotanker and was involved with multiple deployments which took him around the world.  Ultimately, he was chosen for the selectively-manned tanker Special Operations mission.  After McConnell Air Force Base assignment, Hanshi Gifford accepted a new assignment to Kadena AB, Japan.   It was out of Kadena that he was selected for the “Crossflow” program in which there is keen competition to transfer from heavy aircraft to fighters. He chose the F-15E Strike Eagle and flew in combat in multiple theaters. 

Hanshi Gifford held many command positions and attended several professional military colleges.    In 2009, Hanshi Gifford was stationed in Oklahoma as an instructor pilot in both the T-38 Talon and the T-6 Texan.  After serving as the Operations Officer in two squadrons, he was selected as the Commander of the 8th Flying Training Squadron.  In May of 2010, Hanshi Gifford was competitively selected to serve as a Military Aide to the Secretary of Defense, Pentagon.  Hanshi Gifford recently retired from the Air Force after over 24 years of dedicated service.

Hanshi Gifford holds a 9th Dan ranking in Shinmei Shorin Ryu Karate Jutsu under Soke Matt Molineux.  Additionally, he holds individual 8th Dan rankings in Shinto Yoshin Ryu Jujitsu and White Crane Karate under Hanshis John Chatwood and Tony Sandoval.  In June of 2014, he successfully passed the extremely difficult JKI Combat Ki Master’s test which involves taking full power blows to vital body parts.  Hanshi Gifford is currently the AJKAI Chief Instructor for Pennsylvania and the Chief Instructor of IOBK.

Hanshi Matthew Molineux

Hanshi Molineux began his martial arts training in Shorinryu karate in 1974 under Soke Mike Hancock.  In 1975, the dojo joined The American Jiujitsu and Karate Association International and started studying Shintoyoshinryu Jiujitsu with Hanshi Douglas Grose.

Molineux was promoted to Kudan, 9th Degree Black Belt, in March 2001 by Mr. Hancock and was, subsequently, recognized by Mr. Grose in May 2001. Since that time he has served as the Chief Technical Advisor for the AJKAI.  Molineux began training with Hanshi Tony Sandoval in Hakutsuru in 1995.  Mr. Sandoval recognized Molineux as a Master Instructor in November 2001 and Kudan in March 2009.  Molineux was officially recognized as Judan in January 2019.  Due to the untimely death of Mr. Hancock, Molineux was appointed President/Kaicho of the International Okinawan Budo-Kai in 2006.  Hanshi Molineux has traveled to Okinawa to train many times and was stationed there in the Air Force from 2009-2011.  He is the US Representative, Okinawa Shorinryu Matsumura Seito Karate-do Hozonkai (Okinawa, Japan), under the leadership of Mr. Yoshimatsu Akamine, direct student of Mr. Hohan Soken. 

Hanshi Molineux attended the US Air Force Academy from 1985-1989—graduating with Military Honors.  After the academy, he attended pilot training and graduated as a KC-135 air refueling aircraft pilot.  He flew for the Air Force and served in various command and staff positions for 29 years, retiring at the rank of Colonel.  His last assignments included Commander, 6th Operations Group, in Tampa, FL,  and Director of Air and Space Studies at the Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, PA, teaching both Theory of War and Strategy, and National Security Policy and Strategy.  He recently retired from the position of Vice Commandant of the Air War College, in Montgomery, AL.​

Hanshi John Chatwood

Hanshi John F. Chatwood has been active in the martial arts for over thirty years starting his martial arts career in Peoria, IL. He began his training under Master Douglas Grose in Shinto Yoshin Ryu Jiu-Jitsu, Shorei Ryu Karate and Shuri Ryu Karate.  He has also studied and is ranked in Tae Kwon Do and Judo.

In 1988 he relocated to Carson City, Nevada and became active in Dan Zan Ryu Jujitsu.  He successfully coached AAU medal winning teams that competed in Jujitsu kata.

Hanshi Chatwood established Sierra Jujitsu & Karate in 1995.  He founded WIDS (Women's Individual  Defense Systems) in 1996.  This program specializes in the unique and easily useable defense tactics available for women who are not involved in the martial arts. This seminar is a widely sought after and informative defense program for women.

In 2003, Grand Master Douglas Grose awarded him the Hanshi Menkyo Certificate.  

Hanshi Chatwood has also been very active in Shin-Mei Shorin Ryu Karate under the instruction of Soke Dai Matt Molineux and Soke Mike Hancock.  He is also a member of the International Okinawan Budo-Kai Association.

In October of 2004 Master Grose awarded Hanshi Chatwood a Menkyo Kaiden to be presented to him upon Master Grose's death. He was hand picked by Master Grose to take over the leadership of the A.J.K.A.I.hihan Hilton Siegfried began training in January of 1977 at the Red Dragon Karate School in Easton, PA, under Alick Smith III, 8th Dan, who was under his father, Grand Master Al Smith, 10th Dan (retired).

Grand Master Al Smith (Shihan) had trained under many instructors that helped him to develop his own unique application of karate. His first instructor was Grand Master Louis Casamassas where he studied Chinese Kenpo. Grand Master Casamassas is the owner and head instructor of the Red Dragon Schools in and around Los Angeles, California. Shihan also studied with Sifu Guy Savelli where he learned Kung-fu and Aikido. Sensei Robert Peters instructed Shihan in Okinawan Shorin-Ryu. His unique combination of study had helped him create the Red Dragon School in Easton, PA.

Shihan began working out with Sensei Alick Smith III on Wednesday nights in 1977. After 2 years, he began training with Grand Master Smith four nights per week. As a Green Belt, he began assisting Sensei Alick Smith with the newly formed Kids Class. The Kids’ Classes ran on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:30 to 7:45. It was here that Shihan learned to become a teacher and developed his love of working with kids. In November of 1982, Sensei received his 1st Degree Black Belt from Grand Master Al Smith directly from the hands of Grand Master Louis Casamassas when he was visiting Shihan Al Smith.

Shihan began his own school in Riegelsville in 1988 in his home with 3 students then known as Upper Bucks Martial Arts Center. It was three close friends that had suggested he teach their children the martial arts. With the encouragement of his wife, this began his teaching career. The main idea of the school was to teach on Saturdays to give students an alternative to watching cartoons on Saturday mornings. To this day, during the school year, classes are still held only on Saturdays. According to Sensei, it is important that kids have time to do their school work, attend other activities, train in the martial arts, and still have some time for their families.

When Shihan moved to Coopersburg, within a year, he opened the Coopersburg Karate Academy in 1993. Since then, the school has continued to grow and now has over 85 active students attending classes.

In April of 2010, Shihan had the opportunity to travel to Okinawa with Sensei Tim Spiess, 5th Dan, Sen Lin Chuan and Matt Faragasso, 2nd Dan at Coopersburg Karate.  The trip included training with 9th Degree Black Belt, Shihan Ron Nix., whose instructor is Grand Master Toma.  They had the opportunity to see much of the island with Master Nix’s and his lovely wife Akemi, 5th Dan. The trip also included a visit to Hanshi Fusei Kise, Head of Okinawan Matsumura Orthodox Shorin-Ryu style. Shihan and Tim Spiess were invited to dine with Grand Master Kise and celebrate his 75th birthday. The trip was a wonderful experience and they all had the privilege of meeting many wonderful martial artists and true Okinawans.

On August 7, 2010, Hanshi Larry Isaac of Okinawan Kenpo Karate Kobudu promoted Sensei to 5th Degree Black Belt, GoDan, according to the standards set by the Okinawan Matsumura Shorin-Ryu Karate and Kobujutsu.  This promotion came as quite a surprise.    His last promotion to YonDan had occurred in 1996 from Grand Master Al Smith of Red Dragon.

August 2013- Shihan Sensei Hilton Siegfried was named Pennsylvania Director of the American Jiu-Jitsu Karate Association International (AJKAI).u’ve chosen a terrific way of integrating images and text into your website. Move the image anywhere you want in this container and the text will automatically wrap around it. You can display events team members new products and more easily and creatively. To start add an image from the Image Picker and edit it as you would edit any image in the system. For example you can link the image to existing pages in your site a website URL a popup or an anchor. After you’ve chosen the image add your text. You can add text that describes the image you’ve selected or simply use the image for decorative purposes. \nYou’ve chosen a terrific way of integrating images and text into your website. Move the image anywhere you want in this container and the text will automatically wrap around it. You can display events team members new products more easily and creatively. To start add an image from the Image Picker and edit it as you would edit any image in the system. For example you can link the image to existing pages in your site a website URL a popup or an anchor. After you’ve chosen the image add your text. You can add text that describes the image you’ve selected or simply use the image for decorative purposes.