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 All Japan Seibukan Martial Arts Association 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 who was a member of the United States Karate Association. The Goju-ryu classes were taught by Captain Nickolson who studied karate while stationed in Okinawa. 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 All Japan Seibukan Martial Arts Association located in Kyoto, Japan.