Hanshi 10th Dan Koseido-ryu Jiu-Jitsu

Joseph Hedderman began his martial arts training in jiu-jitsu in 1950 at the age of fifteen under the founder of Koseido-ryu, Dewey Deavers. Growing up in a rough inner-city neighborhood, he had to rely on his jiu-jitsu training on numerous occasions, defending himself against both armed and unarmed attackers, and multiple opponents.

Hedderman trained under Deavers until Deaver’s death in 1973. He is currently the head of the Koseido-ryu jiu-jitsu style. He is a former member of the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai, and has demonstrated his style of jiu-jitsu at their headquarters in Kyoto, Japan. He currently has the rank of 10th Dan and the title of Hanshi, which were given to him by the Zen Nihon Budo Renmei located in Kyoto, Japan.

Hanshi 9th Dan Chito-ryu Karate-do

Joseph Hedderman began his training in karate-do in 1957 while stationed at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri in the U.S. Army. The army post had a karate club that taught both Shotokan and Goju-ryu karate. The Shotokan karate classes were taught by Victor Lemire, a 5th dan (5th degree black belt) in the French Shotokan Association. Hedderman spent most of his time training in Shotokan which was closer to the striking techniques in Koseido-ryu jiu-jitsu than Goju-ryu karate.

After being honorably discharged from the Army in 1959, Hedderman became the first person in the Pittsburgh area to teach karate-do. His teaching incorporated striking techniques from Koseido-ryu jiu-jitsu with Shotokan karate-do, and used the Shotokan kata (forms) curriculum. Since it wasn’t exactly Shotokan karate, he referred to what he was teaching as Koseido-ryu karate-do.

In 1972, he joined the United States Chito-ryu Karate Federation under William Dometrich. At the age of 51, Hedderman was the oldest member of the U.S. Chito-ryu Karate Federation to compete in the 1986 Soke Cup, held in Kumamoto, Japan. In 2004, he, along with several of the most experienced instructors in Chito-ryu karate-do in the United States, left the United States Chito-ryu Karate Federation to form the Koshin-ha Chito-ryu Karate Association. He is currently a member of the Koshin-ha Chito-ryu Karate Association Technical Committee.

Hedderman is a former member of the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai, and has demonstrated karate at their headquarters in Kyoto, Japan. He currently has the rank of 9th Dan and the title of Hanshi, which were given to him by the Zen Nihon Budo Renmei located in Kyoto, Japan.

Kyoshi 6th Dan Chito-ryu Karate-do

Tony Hedderman began his training in Chito-ryu karate in 1973 at the age of seven, under his father Joseph Hedderman. In 1986, he was a member of the United States Chito-ryu Karate Federation’s kumite (fighting) team to the Soke Cup in Kumamoto, Japan.

As a former member of the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai, he has demonstrated karate at their headquarters in Kyoto, Japan. He is currently a member of the Koshin-ha Chito-ryu Karate Association Technical Committee. He currently holds the rank of 6th Dan (6th degree black belt) in Chito-ryu karate. He also has the title of Kyoshi from the Zen Nihon Budo Renmei in Kyoto, Japan.

Early in his professional career as a mechanical engineer, Tony was transferred to various parts of the United States. During this time, he gained experience in Enshin-ryu karate and Pang Gai Noon Ryu (Uechi-ryu) karate.

Menkyo Kaiden 6th Dan Koseido-ryu Jiu-Jitsu

Tony Hedderman began his training in Koseido-ryu jiu-jitsu in 1980 under his father Joseph Hedderman. Tony is a former member of the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai. He has trained in and demonstrated jiu-jitsu at the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai’s headquarters in Kyoto, Japan. In 2003, he was granted a Menkyo Kaiden (full teaching license), signifying his completion of the formal training in Koseido-ryu jiu-jitsu. He currently holds the rank of 6th Dan (6th degree black belt) in jiu-jitsu.

2nd Dan Matayoshi-ryu Okinawan Kobudo

Tony Hedderman began his training in Matayoshi-ryu Okinawan kobudo in 1991 under Mikio Nishiuchi in Sacramento, California. He trained under Nishiuchi, a 5th Dan, while he was living in Sacramento. Upon his return to Pittsburgh, he began teaching Okinawan kobudo at the Allegheny County Budo-Kai. He remained a student of Nishiuchi for 14 years. Due to career and family commitments, he discontinued his kobudo training and turned all teaching responsibilities over to his kobudo black belts, Susan Sbuscio, Richard Sbuscio, and Stanley Penkala.

Shihan 5th Dan Chito-ryu Karate-do

Richard Sbuscio began his martial arts training in 1973 at age of 13. He originally studied Wing Chun Gung Fu. He discontinued training in gung fu in 1975 when his gung fu instructor relocated and began studying karate. His early karate training was in Shito-ryu and then Shotokan under James Keenan and James Sproat. In addition to Shito-ryu and Shotokan, he has experience in Tang So Do, and aikido. Due to the intermingling of styles taught at the school, James Keenan renamed his karate method Dotokushin Kai in 1978.

In 1980, Sbuscio, along with his wife, founded the Point Park College Karate Club. Sbuscio eventually achieved the rank of 3rd degree black belt in Dotokushin Kai karate. Due to other commitments, he discontinued the karate classes at the college in 1986. Shortly thereafter, the school he had been training at since 1973 discontinued their karate program. Left without a school, he continued to train on his own until 1993 when he joined the Allegheny County Budo-Kai.

Although he had 20 years of karate experience, he chose to begin his study of Chito-ryu karate as a white belt. He currently holds the rank of 5th Dan (5th degree black belt) in Chito-ryu karate and is currently a member of the Koshin-ha Chito-ryu Karate Association Technical Committee.

4th Dan Matayoshi-ryu Okinawan Kobudo

Richard Sbuscio began his training in Matayoshi-ryu Okinawan kobudo in 1993 under Tony Hedderman. After Hedderman discontinued his kobudo training in 2005, he along with the other kobudo black belts started training under Michael Calandra, the Northeastern United States representative of the Okinawa Kobudo Doushi Rensei-Kai.

The Okinawa Kobudo Doushi Rensei-Kai is headed by Gakiya Yoshiaki, an 8th degree black belt and direct student of the late Shinpo Matayoshi, the son of the founder of Matayoshi-ryu Okinawan Kobudo. Sbuscio currently holds the rank of 4th degree black belt in Matayoshi-ryu Okinawan Kobudo.

Shihan 5th Dan Chito-ryu Karate-do

Susan Sbuscio began her training in karate in 1973 at age of twelve. Due to multiple changes in teaching staff at the school she was training at, she acquired a wide variety of experience in karate. Her early karate training was in Shito-ryu and then Shotokan under James Keenan and James Sproat. In addition to Shito-ryu and Shotokan, she has experience in Tang So Do, and aikido. Due to the intermingling of styles taught at the school, James Keenan renamed his karate method Dotokushin Kai in 1978.

In 1980, she, along with her husband, founded the Point Park College Karate Club. Sbuscio achieved the rank of 1st degree black belt in Dotokushin Kai karate. Due to other commitments, she discontinued the karate classes at the college in 1986. Shortly thereafter, the school she had been training at since 1973 discontinued their karate program. Left without a school, she continued to train on her own until 1993 when she joined the Allegheny County Budo-Kai.

Although she had 20 years of karate experience, she chose to begin her study of Chito-ryu karate as a white belt. She currently holds the rank of 5th Dan (5th degree black belt) in Chito-ryu karate and is currently a member of the Koshin-ha Chito-ryu Karate Association Technical Committee.

4th Dan Matayoshi-ryu Okinawan Kobudo

Susan Sbuscio began her training in Matayoshi-ryu Okinawan kobudo in 1993 under Tony Hedderman. After Hedderman discontinued his kobudo training in 2005 she took over the kobudo program at the Allegheny County Budo-Kai. In 2006, she along with the other kobudo black belts started training under Michael Calandra, the Northeastern United States representative of the Okinawa Kobudo Doushi Rensei-Kai.

The Okinawa Kobudo Doushi Rensei-Kai is headed by Gakiya Yoshiaki, an 8th degree black belt and direct student of the late Shinpo Matayoshi, the son of the founder of Matayoshi-ryu Okinawan Kobudo. Sbuscio currently holds the rank of 4th degree black belt in Matayoshi-ryu Okinawan Kobudo and is the Pennsylvania Representative for the Okinawa Kobudo Doushi Rensei-Kai. She is the senior instructor of the kobudo program at the Allegheny County Budo-Kai.