Sensei Daniel Simons, Kyoshi
Nanadan (7th Degree Black Belt)
Sensei
Daniel Simons started his journey in the martial arts 35 years ago when
he took a self defense class at Catonsville Community College in 1971.
In August of that year he met Sensei James Lilley
Hachidan (8th Degree Black Belt) at his karate class at Mt. Hebron
High School, and has been studying with him ever since.
He received his Shodan (1st Degree Black Belt) in January of 1976 in Kobayashi Shorin Ryu (founded by Choshin Chibana) from Lilley Sensei. Sensei Simons has been to Okinawa several times and studied with Sensei Lilley’s teacher Takeshi Miyagi Judan (10th Degree Black Belt). In August of 1997 while in Okinawa, he was promoted to Rokudan (6th Degree Black Belt) and received a teacher’s license from the head of the Okinawa Shorin Ryu Karate and Kobudo Federation, Katsuya Miyahira, Judan. Six years later in August of 2003, he was promoted to the rank of Nanadan (7th Degree Black belt). Sensei Simons has competed in the Pre-World Tournament in 1995 and in the World Tournament in 1997. He was also a referee at the World Tournament in 2002.
Sensei Simons has been teaching Kobayashi Shorin Ryu with Sensei Lilley since 1976. In February of 2004 Sensei Simons opened his own dojo at Saint Brigid’s Church and School in Baltimore City. The Saint Brigid Dojo is a very traditional karate school and all of the students are taught in the same manner that Sensei Simons was taught which is the way the style is still taught in Okinawa today. He is also certified to teach Kobudo (weapons), specifically, Bo, Sai, Nunchaku, Tonfa, Eku Bo (oar), and Kama.
