About Shihan Diaz
Shihan Diaz began his journey in the martial arts at the age of 13 when his uncle, who had been stationed at Kadena Air Force Bace on Okinawa began showing him Karate techniques he had learned while there. Little did Shihan know at the time, after graduating high school and joining the U.S. Marine Corps, that he would be stationed on Okinawa and begin his training in Okinawan Karate.
After leaving active duty, through a friend and later teacher, Craig Osmer, Shihan met then Shihan (now Soke) Joseph Miller, who at the time was a USAF serviceman and started his formal training in Hakko-Ryu Ju-Jitsu reaching the rank of Shodan-jo before Soke Miller returned to Japan. Shihan Diaz's friend and fellow student Sensei Craig Osmer then became his instructor. Shihan obtained the rank of Nidan (2nd degree black belt) in Hakko-Ryu under Sensei Osmer.
After a time, Shihan was invited to Join the American Federation of Martial Arts. While a member of AFMA, Shihan was offered a promotion to Sandan(3rd degree black belt). After discussing this with Sensei Osmer, he was given his blessing.
Later, Shihan received Yondan-Shihan (4th degree black belt Master Teacher) from AFMA.
For personal reasons, after several years Shihan Diaz left AFMA.
Shihan cross trained with then Shihan (now Hanshi) Myron Lubitsch in the Shorinjiryu Kenryukan system for 15 months straight with 3 to 5 nights a week. Both Shihan and Hanshi Lubitsch obtained their Shodan(1st degree black belt) in each other's systems. Shihan Diaz still teaches at Hanshi Lubitsch's Imperial Dragon Dojo in Brooklyn, NY on a regular basis.
On then 7th of October 2023, Shihan received a promotion to Godan (5th degree black belt) from Soke Joseph Miller in his Taizan Ryu Goshin Jutsu as well as a lifetime membership and license in Soke Miller's Peaceful Mountain organization.
On 16 December 2023, Shihan Diaz was promoted to the rank of Shichidan (7th degree Black Belt) in Goshin-Ryu Aiki-Kempo Ju-Jitsu and awarded the honorific title of Kyoshi (Professor or Expert teacher) organized by Hanshi Myron Lubitsch and held at his Imperial Dragon Hombu Dojo in Brooklyn, NY. His certificate was signed by 11 of his peers ranging in rank from Sandan to Judan of which it is necessary to make mention of the following: Soke Joseph Miller (10th Dan Tanzan Ryu), Shihan Jeff Lovering (10th Dan Goshinkan), Hanshi Myron Lubitsch (9th Dan Shorinjiryu Kenrykan), Sijo Thomas Gettling (8th Dan San lung Toa),
Kyoshi Troy Lester (8th Dan Shorinjiryu Kenrykan), Kyoshi Vincent Capers Jr. (8th Dan Shorinjiryu Kenrykan), and Kyoshi Richard Mills (7th Dan Shorinjiryu Kenryukan).
To Date, Shihan Diaz holds ranks in several martial arts besides his major art of Goshin-Ryu Aiki-Kempo ju-Jitsu.
Godan in Soke Joseph Miller's Taizan Ryu Goshin Jutsu.
Nidan in Hakko-Ryu Ju-Jitsu.
Shodan in Shorinjiryu Kenryukan Karate
Shihan Diaz has Lifetime Memberships in several organizations as listed below.
Shorinjiryu Shinzen Kyokai
World Warrior Alliance
Peaceful Mountain System Taizan-Ryu Goshin-Jutsu
Third Marine Division Association
Disabled American Veterans
Shihan's favorite Japanese saying is "Makeru ga kachi" or
"To win is to lose" meaning avoid physical conflict whenever possible, but train for it just in case.
Shihan Diaz began his journey in the martial arts at the age of 13 when his uncle, who had been stationed at Kadena Air Force Bace on Okinawa began showing him Karate techniques he had learned while there. Little did Shihan know at the time, after graduating high school and joining the U.S. Marine Corps, that he would be stationed on Okinawa and begin his training in Okinawan Karate.
After leaving active duty, through a friend and later teacher, Craig Osmer, Shihan met then Shihan (now Soke) Joseph Miller, who at the time was a USAF serviceman and started his formal training in Hakko-Ryu Ju-Jitsu reaching the rank of Shodan-jo before Soke Miller returned to Japan. Shihan Diaz's friend and fellow student Sensei Craig Osmer then became his instructor. Shihan obtained the rank of Nidan (2nd degree black belt) in Hakko-Ryu under Sensei Osmer.
After a time, Shihan was invited to Join the American Federation of Martial Arts. While a member of AFMA, Shihan was offered a promotion to Sandan(3rd degree black belt). After discussing this with Sensei Osmer, he was given his blessing.
Later, Shihan received Yondan-Shihan (4th degree black belt Master Teacher) from AFMA.
For personal reasons, after several years Shihan Diaz left AFMA.
Shihan cross trained with then Shihan (now Hanshi) Myron Lubitsch in the Shorinjiryu Kenryukan system for 15 months straight with 3 to 5 nights a week. Both Shihan and Hanshi Lubitsch obtained their Shodan(1st degree black belt) in each other's systems. Shihan Diaz still teaches at Hanshi Lubitsch's Imperial Dragon Dojo in Brooklyn, NY on a regular basis.
On then 7th of October 2023, Shihan received a promotion to Godan (5th degree black belt) from Soke Joseph Miller in his Taizan Ryu Goshin Jutsu as well as a lifetime membership and license in Soke Miller's Peaceful Mountain organization.
On 16 December 2023, Shihan Diaz was promoted to the rank of Shichidan (7th degree Black Belt) in Goshin-Ryu Aiki-Kempo Ju-Jitsu and awarded the honorific title of Kyoshi (Professor or Expert teacher) organized by Hanshi Myron Lubitsch and held at his Imperial Dragon Hombu Dojo in Brooklyn, NY. His certificate was signed by 11 of his peers ranging in rank from Sandan to Judan of which it is necessary to make mention of the following: Soke Joseph Miller (10th Dan Tanzan Ryu), Shihan Jeff Lovering (10th Dan Goshinkan), Hanshi Myron Lubitsch (9th Dan Shorinjiryu Kenrykan), Sijo Thomas Gettling (8th Dan San lung Toa),
Kyoshi Troy Lester (8th Dan Shorinjiryu Kenrykan), Kyoshi Vincent Capers Jr. (8th Dan Shorinjiryu Kenrykan), and Kyoshi Richard Mills (7th Dan Shorinjiryu Kenryukan).
To Date, Shihan Diaz holds ranks in several martial arts besides his major art of Goshin-Ryu Aiki-Kempo ju-Jitsu.
Godan in Soke Joseph Miller's Taizan Ryu Goshin Jutsu.
Nidan in Hakko-Ryu Ju-Jitsu.
Shodan in Shorinjiryu Kenryukan Karate
Shihan Diaz has Lifetime Memberships in several organizations as listed below.
Shorinjiryu Shinzen Kyokai
World Warrior Alliance
Peaceful Mountain System Taizan-Ryu Goshin-Jutsu
Third Marine Division Association
Disabled American Veterans
Shihan's favorite Japanese saying is "Makeru ga kachi" or
"To win is to lose" meaning avoid physical conflict whenever possible, but train for it just in case.