jemmott

Shihan Jemmott's formal karate training began in the early seventies in Panama under Sensei Ricardo Llewelyn, with whom he studied for many months. Sensei Llewelyn departed to the U.S., so Jemmott, along with friend and fellow classmate Haywood, were now under the direction of Sensei Johns. Sensei John's was Llewelyn's teacher and was returning to Panama to be stationed as a U.S. soldier. In 1975, Shihan Jemmott, left Panama to the United States to go to college in Seattle Washington. Shihan continued training every opportunity he had while studying in Seattle and subsequently joining the US Marines where he was an avionics technician working on the F-4 jets at the El Toro Marine Corp Air Station, in CA.

After being honorably discharged from the Marines, Shihan Jemmott and his family moved to Riverside, where he now resides and has his headquarters dojo. To get back into formal karate, Shihan Jemmott signed up to Sensei Ray Dalke's Riverside Karate Club and trained there for several months. He was called by Sensei Johns to help and be part of a new organization of his old students, at which time he went on to teach at the La Sierra Park and Recreation Center of Riverside, in 1986.

In 1990, Shihan Jemmott formed the Dai Ichi Shotokan Karate Institute (D.S.K.I.), prompted by his good friend and fellow marine Fernando Cover who became his first student. His friend was mostly impressed by Shihan Jemmott's method of communicating the lesson. This unique way of keeping the class interesting and challenging everyday is what students most like about training with Sensei. Shihan Jemmott has polished his style of instructing by attending seminars and studying under some of the best instructors in the world including O'Sensei Hidetaka Nishiyama, Hanshi Vincent Cruz, Sensei Kawasoe, Sensei Hiroshi Shirai, Kyoshi Ricardo Johns, Sensei Kanazawa Sensei Ray Dalke, Sensei Leonel Worrell, Sensei Kennei Mabuni, Sensei Kizaki, Sensei Enrique Kelly, Sensei Robert Stevenson, and a few others.

Shihan Jemmott is a high ranking member/instructor of the International San Ten Karate Association (I.S.K.A.) led by Hanshi Vincent Cruz (Hanshi), who is the father of karate in the country of Panama . He is also a member of the (I.S.K.A.) elite Competition Team. Shihan is a member of the American Amateur Karate Federation (A.A.K.F.) and the International Traditional Karate Federation (I.T.K.F.) led by Master Hidetaka Nishiyama.

In 1998, Shihan Jemmott founded the International Traditional Karate Institute Shihan SideKick (I.T.K.I.) with the intent of standardizing the basic knowledge that student/teachers must have in order to spread the art correctly. This Institute focuses on the proper training and preparation of teachers as well as their certification. Since its formation, the I.T.K.I. has received visitors from Central America, Mexico, England, France, and Germany at it's headquarters at D.S.K.I. This has motivated Shihan Jemmott to give seminars and clinics on topics from self-defense to bio-mechanics. He has been asked to give his seminars and clinics all over the U.S.A. as well as Panama, Canada and one in Europe is in the works.

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