Isshinryu Today presents Harvey Kennedy Sensei

Isshinryu Today is proud to present Harvey Kennedy Sensei to our program

I started in Isshinryu Karate in October 1967 with sensei Bill Pogue at Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, Louisiana. My second year of instruction with sensei Pogue, I assisted him classes at Louisiana Tech and in El Dorado, Arkansas where he had opened up a commercial dojo. When sensei Pogue moved back to Michigan in the fall of 1970, I took over as instructor of the Louisiana Tech karate club for the next two years. in August 1971 after graduating from Louisiana Tech, I moved back home and opened up a commercial dojo in Bossier city Louisiana. In the 1980s opened up a studio in Shreveport Louisiana on Texas Avenue and taught there until I moved to a new location on Youree Drive, where I am currently still teaching. I was the Louisiana state representative for the United States Karate Association under Robert Trias in the early 70s. I have also studied under sensei AJ Advincula, a first generation student of Tatsuo Shimabuku. We hosted sensei Advincula many times for extensive seminars. I was fortunate to have participated in other martial arts seminars with Bill Wallace, Joe Lewis, Jeff Smith, the Gracie Brothers, Fumio Dumero, and others. Also participated in business seminars with Jhoon Rhee, Dr. Beasley, Larry Doke, Jose Santamaria. My first and still current Sensei is master Bill Pogue. I was inducted into the Isshinryu Hall of Fame in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Locally, I am a member of the ArkLaTex Museum oh Champions. I was the Louisiana state champion in sparring in 1988, and the member of a three-man team that won first place at the world championships, beating a team from Argentina in the final match.