Hanshi 8th 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 8th Dan (8th degree black belt) in Chito-ryu karate. He also has the title of Kyoshi from the All Japan Seibukan Martial Arts Association 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 7th 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 7th Dan (7th 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.

Kyoshi 6th 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 6th Dan (6th degree black belt) in Chito-ryu karate and is currently a member of the Koshin-ha Chito-ryu Karate Association Technical Committee.

Renshi 6th 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 as members of the Okinawa Kobudo Doushi Rensei-Kai.

The Okinawa Kobudo Doushi Rensei-Kai was founded 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. The current president of the organization is Sensei Neil Stolsmark. Sbuscio currently holds the rank of 6th degree black belt in Okinawan Kobudo.

Kyoshi 6th 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 6th Dan (6th degree black belt) in Chito-ryu karate and is currently a member of the Koshin-ha Chito-ryu Karate Association Technical Committee.

Renshi 6th 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 as members of the Okinawa Kobudo Doushi Rensei-Kai.

The Okinawa Kobudo Doushi Rensei-Kai was founded 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. The current president of the organization is Sensei Neil Stolsmark. Sbuscio currently holds the rank of 6th degree black belt in 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.