Internationally Certified Roku Dan (6th Degree Black
Belt)
Born on March 9, 1949, and raised in Lake
Providence, Louisiana. I graduated high
school in 1967 and after college, I went to
work for AT&T in 1972. After a couple of
years in West Monroe, Louisiana, I moved to
Shreveport. There I started Isshinryu
karate in January of 1975 under John Lloyd
at the the Dixie National Karate Studio in
Bossier City, Louisiana. In August of 1980
I was promoted to Sho Dan.
By the nature of my work with AT&T, I moved
around the south quite a bit. In 1981, I
moved to Mandeville, LA (right outside of
New Orleans). I opened a dojo at a fitness
center in Madisonville and ran it for the
three years we were there.
In 1984, my job took me to Memphis, TN.
There I found a student of Master A.J.
Advincula's named Steve Valdez. Steve was
in the Navy and stationed at Millington
NAS. He had an Isshinryu dojo there on base
that I helped him run until I left in 1990.
On 05-12-83 I received my Ni Dan.
At the Isshinryu Karate-Do Association’s
1987 seminar and black belt testing I
received my San Dan. That association was
lead by William L. "Bill" Pogue. At that
seminar and black belt test, several notable
black belts were in attendance. Masters A.J.
Advincula, Allen Wheeler, and Kenneth
Pittaway … they all participated in the
testing that year.
In 1990, my job took me to Birmingham, AL.
I had a home based dojo while in Birmingham.
The basement of my house was unfinished and
perfect for 6-8 people to train in.
In 1995, I moved to Atlanta, GA. What a
blessing and surprise to find my sensei
(John Lloyd) living only a few miles from
me. I attended his classes and assisted in
teaching while there. On 11-11-95, I was
promoted to Yo Dan. I was only in Atlanta
for two years, but it was great to be that
close to my sensei.
In 1997, I moved to Dallas, TX. At that
time, I became acquainted with Clay Robbins
and his sensei, Master Sherman Harrill. I
spent quite a bit of time with Mr. Robbins
and Mr. Harrill over the next few years.
This included several seminars taught by
Master Harrill and a couple of Carson, Iowa
trips to spend the week and train with
Master Harrill at his dojo.
I retired from AT&T in December of 1998 and
moved back to Shreveport, LA in August of
1999. There I taught in Harvey Kennedy's
dojo for three years. In 2000 I received my
Go Dan.
In July of 2002, I moved to Cabot, AR ...
just outside of Little Rock. I ran into an
old Isshinryu friend, Bobby Holley, who has
a dojo in Conway, AR ... just a few miles
from my home. I am presently there
assisting him with the Isshinryu classes. I
received my Roku Dan on 11-08-03.
In January of 2004 I celebrated the
completion of my 30th year in
Isshinryu.
Timeline for
Ronnie
H. Brasher
01/01/1975 -
Started Isshinryu in Bossier City at Dixie
National Karate Studios w / John Lloyd
12/31/1979 -
Completed 5 years in Isshinryu
08/4/1980 -
Shodan promotion by Gary Lloyd, Mark Clark,
Jim Harbour
05/12/1983 -
Ni dan promotion by Harvey Kennedy & Jim
Harbour
12/31/1984 -
completed 10 years in Isshinryu
11/21/1987 -
San Dan promotion by Bill Pogue, Harvey
Kennedy, Larry Dreher, Ken Green,
Tony Giardina, Ken
Richardson
Board certification by
A.J. Advincula, Kenneth Pittaway, Alan
Wheeler, Bill Pogue,
Harvey Kennedy, Larry
Dreher
12/31/1994 -
completed 20 years in Isshinryu
11/11/1995 -
Yo Dan promotion and board certification
test by Bill Pogue, John Lloyd,
Harvey Kennedy, Clay
Robbins, Phillip Worbingtion, Ken Richardson
12/31/1999 -
completed 25 years in Isshinryu
11/11/2000 -
Go Dan promotion and board certification by
Ed Johnson, Bill Pogue, John Lloyd,
Harvey Kennedy,
Larry Dreher, Phillip Worbington, Jimmy
Christensen and
Clay Robbins
11/8/2003 -
Roku dan by IKA board Bill Pogue, Larry
Dreher, Harvey Kennedy,
John Lloyd, Phillip
Worbington
12/31/2004 -
completed 30 years in Isshinryu
