BIOGRAPHIES
National Martial Arts Association
Serge DeCasien has over 73-years experience in the martial arts. He started as a young boy under the direction of his father and has continued his journey to the present. He started teaching jiujitsu while in the military. He took the ancient techniques given to him by his late father and added those he felt worked in the real world. A major influence in his training and art was Kodokan Judo. Hanshi-Se DeCasien has always had a major love for the art of judo and to this day teaches it at the main dojo.
DeCasien, Hanshi-Se wanted to keep the combat techniques given to him by his father separate from his judo, so he founded Nisei Kito Ryu JiuJitsu (NKJJ). He wanted to put his father's teachings into a system that could be passed on. The current form of NKJJ is in constant evolution, always adapting to new, more effective applications of the ancient systems.
Hanshi-Se is also a master swordsman and teaches iaido (the art of drawing the sword) and kenjitsu (Samurai sword fencing art) at the dojo. He devotes much of his time studying the sword arts to compliment his jiujitsu.
Hanshi-Se is a senior member on the board of directors for the National Martial Arts Association and is always a featured instructor at NMAA Gasshuku and seminars. He also conducts many seminars and workshops for other martial arts schools in the New Jersey area in order to spread the teachings of NKJJ.
At the age of 78-y.o. DeCasien Hanshi-Se continues to be the Chief Instructor at the dojo and teaches often. He devotes countless hours a week to his martial arts journey and as the leader of his system.
Hanshi-Se Lemuel Stroud may be small in stature, but his love of the martial arts is bigger than life. A native of Deep Run, NC, he is known as the resident jiujitsu master in Kinston, NC. He holds a 10th degree blackbelt in jiujitsu, awarded by the National Martial Arts Association, as well as other degrees in Shito-Ryu Karatedo, kobudo, and judo.
He started his martial arts career more than 50-years ago under the training of Sensei Gene Roper, his first instructor. Stroud, Hanshi-Se received his black belt in Hakko-Ryu JiuJitsu 1967 in Wilmington, NC. He also trained in Kodokan Judo under Master Bill Coward.
In 1970, Stroud Hansi-Se traveled to Japan where he studied Hakko-Ryu JiuJitsu at the Hakko-Ryu Hombu. Later, he and his friend, Master Butch Velez of Swansboro, studied for a month under 23-year old Shinzi Tori. Eventually Hanshi-Se began teaching in 1970 and 1971, he opened his dojo that he and his students built in the same place it still stands today in Kinston. A traditional dojo, the concrete-block building does not sport air-conditioning and only has two space heaters, a fact that Hanshi-Se is proud of.
A member of several martial arts associations, Hanshi-Se Stroud is a senior member of the board of directors of the NMAA. He has been recognized in "Who's Who in the American Martial Arts" and has been honored for his multiple contributions to his community and to the martial arts.
Married to the late Dr. Pat Stroud, he has two sons, Joe and Paul, both of whom are married with children. Stroud, Hanshi-Se quotes: "I have met some of the finest people in the world in the martial arts and it has been rewarding to see my students do so well."
Hanshi Clayton Tucker of Wilson, NC has trained in the martial arts
as long as Hanshi-Se Stroud has been teaching: since 1970. One of Hanshi-Se Stroud's first students, Tucker Hanshi holds an eighth degree blackbelt in Hakko-Ryu JiuJitsu and a first degree blackbelt in Shito-Ryu Karatedo. He opened his own dojo in the 80's in Wilson, where he continues to teach today. He is a member of several martial arts associations and is a co-founder and senior member of the board of directors of the National Martial Arts Association. He has been recognized in the "Who's Who of American Martial Arts" and has received numerious honors and awards for his teaching and expertise.
Hanshi Tucker is married to Gilda Tucker and they have two sons: Jeremy and Ryan.
HANSHI-SE LEMUEL "DOC" STROUD, 10TH DAN
HANSHI CLAYTON TUCKER, 8TH DAN
HANSHI JAMES L. SEMMES, JR., 10TH DAN
MEMBERSHIP CHAIRMAN
HANSHI GREGORY T. JOHNSON, 8TH DAN
NMAA CHAIRMAN
James L. Semmes, Jr. has logged over 54-years as a martial artist. His training began in Aiea Heights, HI under the guidance of Walter Francis Sung, Shorinji Kempo and Li Zihao, Mok Gar Kuen. Earned 1st through 3rd degree blackbelt.
Martial Arts Highlights
- 1959-1961: San Diego, CA - Kodokan Judo from George Campbell and earned rank of 3rd kyu
- 1961-1963: Tallahassee, FL - Shotokan Karatedo from "Red" Anderson at Florida State University, and earned 1st degree blackbelt; freestyle collegiate wrestling for 2-years
- 1966-1970: Shorin-Ryu Karatedo and saijitsu from Shimizu Azusa; Eishin-Ryu Kenjitsu from Nakamura Hideki; bojitsu and saijitsu from Iha Nobuhara; and bojuitsu from Kinjo Seishu
- 1970-1971: Pyongtaek Korea: Moo Duk Kwan Taekwondo with Neil A. Ehrlich and also with Roy Kurban
HANSHI-SE SERGIO DECASIEN, 10TH DAN
Hanshi Gregory T. Johnson began his martial arts journey in Chicago, IL in August 1963 with Senpai Steve Hayward, Goju-Ryu Karatedo. Later that year he began Kyokushin Karatedo with the late Sensei Charles V. Gruzanski, 5th degree blackbelt, and one of Kancho Mas Oyama's first caucasian students. Hanshi Johnson was awarded 1st degree blackbelt in Kyokushin Karatedo in November 1966 and he has continued in this karate style to this day.
Throughout his martial arts career, Hanshi Johnson has been a steadfast Kyokushin Karatedo practitioner. He has attended nearly every one of Richard P. Baillargeon's NKJU summer camps since 1982
in order to increase his knowledge and expertise in karatedo. Among those with whom he has trained are: Richard P. Baillargeon, William K. Knoblock, Tola Lewis and Bill Wallace.
UPDATED 08/14/2011
Among Hanshi's Notable Achievements Are:
- March, 1967: Opened the Southwest Academy of Kyokushin Karatedo
- April, 1971: Ranked 2nd degree blackbelt by Kyokushinkai IKO
- April, 1972: Branch Chief/Certified Instructor Kyokushinkai IKO
- October, 1972: Training seminar with Kancho Mas Oyama, Shihan T. Nakamura and
Shihan Y. Oyama New York, NY- November, 1973: 3rd degree blackbelt Kyokushin Karatedo, U.S. Kyokushin Association
- 1974-1977: As a police officer and Chief Instructor for the Chicago Police Academy, taught defensive tactics and martial arts to 3,000 police recruits
- November, 1978: Visited the Kyokushinkai Hombu, met Kancho Mas Oyama and Hombu instructors
- March, 1981: Joined the National Karate JiuJitsu Union and began training with
Soke Richard P. Baillargeon- July, 1982: Promoted to 4th degree blackbelt by Soke Baillargeon
- November, 1994: Promoted to 5th degree blackbelt by NKJU-I
- July, 1995: Promoted to 6th degree blackbelt by NKJU-I
- October, 1997: Formed the National Martial Arts Association with Shihans Sergio DeCasien, Lemuel "Doc" Stroud, Alan S. Gardner and Clayton Tucker. Promoted to 7th degree blackbelt
and designated as NMAA Chairman- July 1999: Promoted to 8th degree blackbelt by NMAA and titled as Hanshi
Hanshi Johnson is extremely proud of his students and the Southwest Academy of Kyokushin Karate will celebrate its 44th Birthday on March 1, 2011 making his dojo the 2nd oldest in the Chicagoland area.
- 1981: Joined the National Karate JiuJitsu Union under Soke Richard P. Baillargeon. Ranked from 4th degree blackbelt to 8th degree blackbelt by NKJU
- 1999: Joined the National Martial Arts Association. Ranked 9th and 10th degree blackbelt by NMAA
Recently promoted to 10th degree blackbelt and titled as Hanshi, he is a member of the board of directors of the National Martial Arts Association and is its membership chairman. At the age of
64-y.o. Hanshi Semmes continues to devote himself to the mastery of his arts; and he has been equally tireless in his efforts to help others with developing their skills to gain mastery of their own martial arts disciplines.
SHIHAN ERICK JOHNSON, 5TH DAN
Shihan Erick Johnson returned to martial arts training in 1992. He has primarily trained in Kyokushinkai Karatedo under his father, Hanshi Gregory T. Johnson, and with Shihan Leslow Samitowski. He has also competed in full contact karate and kickboxing. He has also earned a blue belt in Brazilian jiujitsu under Mike Rose. Shihan Erick continues to teach and train in the Chicagoland area.
