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Shihan Paul Dal - 5th Dan
Head Instructor (San Diego County)
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Sensei Rodolfo Lopez - 3rd Dan
Instructor
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Sensei Robert Yedidsion - 1st Dan
Instructor
Shihan Paul Dal - 5th Dan Hayashi-Ha Shito Ryu Kai
Chief Instructor
USA Karate-do 3rd Dan. Official governing body of USA
Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu Iado (quick draw sword) - 3rd San
Zen Nihon Karate-do - 1st Dan All-Japan Karate.
Zen Kuren - 1st Dan All Japan University Karate.
Shihan Dal is an experienced karate teacher having begun his training in San Diego in November of 1983. By 1988, he had attended numerous tournaments and held a brown belt. Yearning to further his skills, he traveled to Osaka, Japan to train under the world renowned Grand Master Teruo Hayashi, 9th degree and head of Hayashi-ha Shito Ryu, living National Treasure of Japan. He remained under the great teacher's tutelage for five years. During his stay, he also trained in Iai-do (quick draw sword) attaining 3rd degree, attended four semesters of full time Japanese language study at a private school, and practiced Japanese calligraphy.
He returned in 1993 to complete his university studies. In May of 1996, he served as Grandmaster Hayashi's personal interpreter and assistant during the Grandmaster's scheduled seminar in Southern California. Shihan Dal returned to Japan in June of 1997 as an exchange student at Doshisha University studying Japanese Cultural History in Japanese. He was indoctrinated into the university's karate team and endured the infamous university workouts while continuing his competition.
In the year 2000, he attended the USA National Karate Federation National Tournament in Sacramento, CA where he passed the board certification for USA NKF Coach, the officially recognized Olympic governing body in the US, and passed the examination for 3rd degree black belt in the same organization. At the same event Sensei Dal also passed the 4th degree Dan test. Shihan also holds a 1st degree black belt from All Japan Karate as well as 1st degree from Doshisha University Karate Team. In June 2001 Shihan Dal received a degree in Microbiology and Japanese Studies from the University of California in San Diego.
Sensei Rodolfo Lopez - 3rd Dan
Sensei Lopez started training Karate at the age of nine, under Shihan Dal in 1996 as one of the original members of his San Diego-based dojo. He trained diligently, progressed through the kyu ranks, and assisted Shihan as the organization expanded.
When he was fifteen years old he attained the rank of Shodan (First-degree Black Belt). He was put in charge of his own National City-based location and was soon after given a second location in southern San Diego. It was here he became aware of his passion for teaching. For the next several years he continued to instruct at his own locations, while also teaching for Shihan Dal at countless Dojos, Recreation Centers, YMCAs, Boys & Girls Clubs, after-school programs, and summer camps.
In 2012 Sensei Lopez was handpicked by Shihan Dal to assume control of San Diego Hayashi-ha. He continued to train new students, helping them advance in rank, prevail at numerous local tournaments, and become stronger, better-rounded individuals, while also pursuing his own growth as both student and instructor.
He has trained under several karate masters, both in the United States and at the hombu dojo in Osaka. It was on one of these trips to Japan he was granted Sandan (Third-degree Black Belt) by Sensei Kazunori Namikawa, as well as having the privilege of watching several of his students receive their own black belts.
Aside from Karate, Rudy enjoys long distance running and hiking. He has completed numerous hiking trails all over San Diego and southern California. He is an amateur astronomer, and enjoys sharing his hobbies with friends and family.
Sensei Robert Yedidsion - 1st Dan
Sensei Yedidsion is a fully seasoned athlete with extensive knowledge on traditional Japanese Karate. He continuously strives to push through the barrier and fine tune his Karate through rigorous training methods such as early morning beach trainings.
Sensei Yedidsion began his Karate in 2001 training at the age of 8. After achieving brown belt, Robert had participated and medaled in numerous competitions. By 16 years of age (2009) he had achieved his 1st Dan Blackbelt and immediately began teaching advanced Karate to both kids and adults.
After moving to university, Yedidsion had continued his training, exposed to both Shotokan and Goju Ryu disciplines of Karate. Passionate and looking to pass down Martial Arts, Sensei Yedidsion founded the Cal Poly Pomona Karate Club teaching for 3 years before graduating with a degree in Biotechnology and Chemistry.
Returning to San Diego he co-instructs teaching Hayashi-Ha Shito Ryu as well as advancing his martial arts skill, learning Okinawan Karate and Kobudo. In 2019 he received Grand Champion at the Hayashi-Ha International Competition in Seattle Washington.
With over 20 years of Karate experience, Sensei Yedidsion continues to teach and train with his students. He has a keen attention to detail and hard training both in the dojo and even early mornings at the ocean, a rigorous and difficult “weight training” to solidify one's Karate form.
-”My biggest success is the success of my students.”
Outside of Karate, Robert is a strong cyclist, badminton enthusiast, and an excellent pianist. He also works as a Cancer Research Scientist for the Proteogenomics Research Institute.