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WHEREAS, Isshinryu Karate Academy Pittsburgh is celebrating its 25th year at their 600 Greentree Road location in the Ridgemont neighborhood of the City of Pittsburgh and 48 years in the City of Pittsburgh having been in the North Side for 2 years and downtown Pittsburgh for 21 years prior; and,
WHEREAS, Isshinryu Karate Academy is a non-profit organization teaching children and adults five days a week the art of Isshinryu, which originated in Okinawa, Japan. Since its inception, they have taught over 400 students, 38 of whom received their black belt or higher degrees of black belt; and,
WHEREAS, the school's students are members of the Isshinryu World Karate Association (IWKA) which has over 40,000 members worldwide, whose purpose is to spread and preserve true traditional Isshinryu Karate; and,
WHEREAS, the school has hosted the Isshinryu World Karate Association (IWKA) Championships in 1985, 1992 and 2009, drawing more than 300 participants from as far away as India. The school's students have won 60 division championships and 11 IWKA Grand Championships, with one student, Kevin Kumpf, winning 7 of the 11; and,
WHEREAS, Head Instructor, the late William H. Duessel, was a first-generation, Isshinryu karate master who learned directly from the founder of Isshinryu karate, Tatsuo Shimabuku. In 1990, Mr. Duessel was awarded the formal title "Hanshi" when he was promoted to 9th degree black belt and became the highest ranking expert of IWKA Isshinryu Karate in the United States and second worldwide; and,
WHEREAS, since his passing in 2014, the school's instructors carry on Mr. Duessel's legacy traveling to Ohio, New Jersey, Texas, Indianapolis, and Maine to teach seminars and promote the art of Isshinryu karate; and,
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NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby congratulate the Isshinryu Karate Academy Pittsburgh for 25 years in their Ridgemont location and 48 total years teaching the art of ...
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