During a quarterly meeting of Isshinryu black belts from Mississippi and Louisiana, Scott Roberts of Hattiesburg, MS was promoted to Nidan (2nd Degree black belt) and Baton Rouge student, Brad Taylor was promoted to Yondan (4th Degree black belt) by Sensei Ken Green, Shichidan (7th degree black belt) and Sensei Mike Junkins, Yondan (4th degree black belt).

Isshinryu karate is an Okinawan style based on the combination of two traditional styles of karate, Shorinryu and Gojoryu. Isshinryu founder, Tatsuo Shimabuku, introduced the style to American military forces during WWII. Shimabuku had an arrangement with the U.S. Military that allowed them to train at no charge in his Agena, Okinawa dojo. After their tour of duty was completed, the servicemen brought the style back to America and began their own dojos. One of the most prominent teachers in the style of Isshinryu is Arcenio Advincula. After completing his tour of duty in Okinawa, Sensei Advincula returned regularly to Okinawa for 17 years to further his training under Shimabuku until the founder’s death in 1975.