USIK
Grand Masters
The title of Grand Master represents the highest levels of dedication, experience, and responsibility within the Isshinryu community.
Through decades of leadership, guidance, and commitment to this art, they ensure that the principles, techniques, and spirit of Isshinryu continue to be passed on to future generations.
We proudly honor the Grand Masters of our association and recognize their profound contributions to our dojos, our students, and the legacy of Isshinryu Karate.
Grand Master Lewis Lizotte (1935-2018)
Sensei Lizotte was born in Caribou, Maine on August 22, 1935. He started his Martial Arts in the Art of Judo in 1947 at the age of 12. In 1949, he started training in Jujitsu. Prior to going into the Military Service in 1952, he trained for a short period in the Arts of Shorin-Ryu and Goju-Ryu.
In 1954, at the age of 19, he joined the U.S. Marine Corp. Like many other servicemen, Sensei Lizotte was looking for something to do during his off duty time. It was in 1955 when he decided to start training in Isshin-Ryu Karate. He met with and began formal training with Grand Master Shimabuku Tatsuo. Before leaving the Okinawan Island he would obtain brown belt level from Master Shimabuku.
Sensei Lizotte would continue his training under Grand Master Don Nagle who was one of the chosen pioneers to head Isshin-Ryu in the United States. He received his black belt from Master Nagle in 1958. Sensei Lizotte was discharged from the Marine Corp. in 1959 and settled in the Chicago, Illinois area.
While in the Chicago area, he taught at the local YMCA. In 1960, he opened his own Dojo in the Chicago area. During the years in Chicago, he also taught self-defense tactics to various Law Enforcement Agencies. Later while in the Connecticut area he taught at area colleges and universities, such as the University of Massachusetts and Amherst College in Massachusetts.
On July 28, 1963, Sensei Lizotte became the first full contact Karate World Champion. In his first defense of the title in 1964, he was beaten by Mike Stone in a very close match. In 1964, he was chosen to perform a Martial Arts Demonstration at the World’s Fair, held in New York City. Other notable Isshin-Ryu instructors on hand at the World’s Fair included Gary Alexander, Don Bohan and Ed McGrath. Thousands of spectators were in attendance to witness the former World Champion perform. The following year, 1965, he was again chosen to perform at the World’s Fair. Sensei Lizotte opened his first Dojo in the Enfield, Connecticut area in 1966. He then moved on to Holyoke, Massachusetts and opened a dojo. He also taught in his home in Somers, Connecticut until opening a dojo in Enfield, Connecticut.
In 1969, Sensei Lizotte began training with Grand Master Steve Armstrong, who at that time was the owner, director and Chairman of the Board of the AOKA, an organization founded by Tatsuo Shimabuku, Harold Mitchum, and Steve Armstrong in 1960. Master Armstrong was also one of the chosen Americans to head Isshin-Ryu Karate in the United States.
Grand Master William Salinardi
William (Bill) Salinardi served in the Air Force from 1961 through 1965. After leaving the military he began training in Isshinryu in 1965 under Grand Master Lewis Lizotte. Master Salinardi has also trained in the arts of Judo and Jujitsu. Master Salinardi earned his Sho-Dan in 1967.
Master Salinardi has been active in various martial arts organizations throughout his career. He served as an official for the Karate Referees’ Association of New England (KRANE) for 30 years. During this time, he also served as a tournament coordinator for many of the Krane tournaments. He is a tournament coordinator for the American Okinawan Karate Association (AOKA), served on the AOKA Promotion Board, Board of Directors American Okinawan Karate Association (AOKA) and Advisory Board for the United Southern Isshinryu Karate organization (USIK).
Master Salinardi has been awarded the AOKA Instructor of the Year and Spirit of Isshinryu. He has attended and participated as an official in numerous AOKA, USIK and IHOF tournaments always willing to help in any capacity. He continues to train and mentor senior Black Belt instructors in the New England area.
Grand Master Ronald L. Boucher
Ron Boucher began his martial arts training after high school with Grand Master Lewis Lizotte and made First Degree Black Belt in 1967. Master Boucher spent 1967 – 69 with the U.S. Army as an Operations N.C.O. with the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, NC.
After the military, he resumed his martial arts training with Grand Master Lizotte. Active as both an instructor and competitor, Master Boucher was ranked among the top fighters in New England during most of the 1970’s and was regionally rated #1 as a forms and weapons competitor in the 1980’s. He also spent several years competing on the National circuit in both weapons and kata.
Master Boucher has been active in various martial arts organizations throughout his career, having served on the Board of Directors for the Karate Referees’ Association of New England (KRANE), American Okinawan Karate Association (AOKA) and Advisory Board for the United Southern Isshinryu Karate organization (USIK).
Master Boucher served as a tournament coordinator for most of the major national tournaments in New England. He has been awarded the AOKA “Instructor of the Year” and “Spirit of Isshinryu” awards, along with being inducted into the KRANE Hall of Fame.
Master Boucher is a graduate of the University of Connecticut with a bachelor’s degree in science and Natural Resources Conservation. He is currently retired and splits his time between his home in Florida and visiting his family in Connecticut
Grand Master Mitch Kobylanski
Mitch Kobylanski began his studies of Isshin Ryu in 1969 in Holyoke, MA under the tutelage of Master Lewis Lizotte. Prior to relocating to North Carolina in 1977, Master Kobylanski was an avid competitor in New England. In the early to mid-70’s, he was rated as one of the top kumite competitors.
Master Kobylanski began as a member of the American Okinawan Karate Association (AOKA). He has held a variety of positions with the AOKA, including member of the Promotion Board, member of the Board of Directors and finally the President of the Association. He travels extensively through the Southeast, South, Midwest and Northeast promoting Isshin Ryu karate in the form of seminars, testing and tournament participation. He has personally conducted seminars in MS, FL, SC, TN, NC, VA, IN, IL, MI, MA, CN and RI.
In 2008, Master Kobylanski hosted the first Kyufest. This is a tournament for Isshinryu karatekas that are under Black Belt. It offers a safe environment for our Isshinryu students to test their skills in Weapons, Kata and Kumite. This is an invitational tournament that is judged only by Isshinryu Black Belts for Isshinryu students of all ages and ranks white through brown belt levels. Students must compete in both kata and kumite, and each division is pre-determined to max out at 8 competitors. The local support from the Isshinryu Black Belt community has been great and we are always able to have 5 judges in each of the rings.
Although there was always a close relationship with all Isshinryu dojos, we formally started the United Southern Isshinryu Karate organization in 2017. We hold multiple seminars throughout the year which our members can attend at no cost. Our goal is to maintain consistency in our Isshinryu training and give our members the opportunity to work with and learn from a variety of talented Black Belt instructors.
Since the 70’s, Master Kobylanski has actively been involved in raising money for various charities through seminars, demonstrations and clinics. He has helped generate monies for the Shiner’s Hospital, Holy Angels (orphanage), outside play equipment for a local pre-school and fund raisers for area Middle and High Schools.
Master Kobylanski received the Sensei of Sensei Award in 1999 from the IHOF and was inducted to the Hall of Fame in 2003. He was also inducted to the Legends of Carolina Martial Arts, Class of 2018.
Grand Master Tim Boykin
Ku-Dan (9th Degree)
Sensei Tim Boykin began his Isshinryu studies with Mitch Kobylanski in August 1977 in Monroe, N.C receiving his Sho Dan in 1980.
He was promoted to Ku Dan in 2017. He holds a Nana Dan in Isshin Do Tai Goshin Jutsu; a Yon Dan in Jujitsu from the United States Judo Association (USJA); and a Sho Dan in the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program (MCMAP).
As a proud veteran of the US Navy, Sensei served 30 years and was recognized via multiple personal awards, including the Department of the Navy Outstanding Volunteer Support Medal (Hawaii Special Olympics), retiring as a Commander/05 in 2007. His martial arts awards include the Spirit of Isshinryu (1996), Dojo of the Year (2004), and Outstanding Male Instructor (2006) via the American Okinawan Karate Association (AOKA) and Male Instructor of the Year (2009) from the Isshinryu Hall of Fame (IHOF). He was inducted into the IHOF in 2010.
Sensei Boykin supports numerous civic organizations, including the US Navy Institute, the Charleston Navy League, and the Navy and Marine Corps Relief Society. He is a life member with the United States Judo Association (USJA) and is certified as a Level I coach. He attended Wingate College (AS), University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) BA and Purdue University MS. He is a certified Lean Six Sigma Green Belt and a Project Management Professional (PMP), via Project Management International.
As the President of the United Southern Isshinryu Karate (USIK), he continues to plan and execute the organization’s showcase event, Kyufest tournament since 2008. Additional duties include planning and implementation of training, mentoring, development programs, as well as testing black belts within the organization.
Grand Master Tim Grismer
Ku-Dan (9th Degree)
Sensei Tim Grismer began his Isshinryu studies with Mitch Kobylanski in September 1977 in Monroe, NC receiving his Sho-Dan in 1983.
He was promoted to Ku-Dan in 2021. He was recognized as the Outstanding Male Instructor (2003) from the AOKA. He is also a certified USJA Level 1 Coach. Additionally, he has trained in Systema since 2010 and became a certified instructor in 2013.
Sensei Grismer has been very active in the Isshinryu community since his promotion to black belt. Over the years, he was one of the primary contributors in three successful AOKA tournaments in Charlotte, NC. He helped with the preparations and logistics in helping these events run smoothly. In addition to this, he has helped run the Kyufest Tournament for 15 yrs. This tournament brings together over 60 Isshinryu Black Belt and 110-130 kyu ranked competitors each year.
As Vice President of the USIK (United Southern Isshinryu Karate), he travels to the local dojos working with the students but specifically with the black belt instructors. He is on our Regional Promotion Board which oversees all black belt testing for 4th Dan and above. Sensei Grismer also travels in the region and instructs at our USIK sponsored seminars.
He has also been very active with the Boy Scouts of America since 1990 winning numerous awards along the way: Silver Beaver Award, Cubmaster and Scoutmaster of the for Union District, Scouters Key, Scouters Training Award, Powderhorn, Woodbadge Award, Vigil Honor in the Order of the Arrow and Founder Award Order of the Arrow.
Grand Master Doyle Seiber
Ku-Dan (9th Degree)
Sensei Doyle Seiber began his Isshinryu studies in Petros Tennessee at the Long family home with Harold Long later training with Sherman Harrill and Harold Mitchum with private instruction.
He was promoted to Sho-Dan under the direction of Harold Long and recognized by both Kichiro Shimabuku and Angi Uezu.
He has been recognized by multiple martial arts associations for his dedication to Isshinryu and his Outstanding Instruction. He has promoted many skilled martial artists and World Champion competitors.
Through the years, Sensei Seiber has been very active in the Isshinryu community. He works with many other styles and systems bringing Isshinryu to those groups helping spread Isshinryu over North America and Germany.
Sensei Seiber attended the AOKA tournament in Pennsylvania in 1999. This is where he met Sensei Kobylanski and through the years they would meet at various tournaments and became friends. Sensei Seiber has been very supportive of the United Southern Isshinryu Karate and the Kyufest.