Biography
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SOSHU
MASTER LEE E. DAWSON, 9TH DAN
Founder of Seishin Ryu Karate Kokusai Ltd., and The Seishin Ryu Martial Arts Association (S.R.M.A.A.) |
"To avoid criticism: Do nothing, say nothing, be nothing."
~One of Soshu's favorite sayings.
Click here to view Soshu's creditials.
 Soshu Lee E. Dawson, a retired Police officer after 34 years of service, was born on January 5th, 1941, in Waterloo, Iowa to Ella and Howard (Howdy) Dawson. His father fought professionally as a boxer since his early teens, and always had a ardent desire to become a police officer. This had a strong influence on the younger Dawson, (Soshu). From his early youth his ambition in life was to be like his father.
As a teenager he was involved in a organized boxing group until he joined the United States Armed Forces. While in the Air Force over seas Soshu joined a Judo Club, where he attained the level of Shodan (1st degree Black Belt).
Returning from overseas Soshu Dawson met a Black Belt of Kyokushin, Mr. Stephen P. Smith who was stationed as an Airman at a Air Force Radar Site in a nearby town. Soshu studied Kyokushin Karate with him. When the Airman's tour was up, he recommended that Soshu write Sosai Oyama. That is how Soshu found Sensei Charles V. Gruzanski. Sensei Gruzanski, a training officer for the Chicago Police Department, met Sosai Oyama during his tour in the States and also trained under Sosai in Japan as well as with masters of Kobudo. Sensei Gruzanski was affiliated with the United States Karate Association and was the Kyokushin representative to the U.S.K.A.
While training with Sensei Gruzanski, Soshu joined the Cedar Falls Police Department, where he became a certified officer and later the Defensive Tactics Training Officer. Soshu also became the first Defensive Tactics Trainer in Northeast Iowa, teaching Basic and Advanced Tactics to Police Officers, and thousands of hours of Self Defense to women and children through out the Midwest.
 When Sensei Miyuki Miura, the Midwestern Representative for Kyokushinkai Kan, arrived in the United States, Soshu traveled to Chicago(Elmhurst, IL.) to train with him. In the early 1970's Shihan became a Branch Chief with Kyokushinkai. However after several years Soshu became disenchanted with the organization due to changes, restrictions and financial demands, dropped from the Kyokushinkai organization.
| In the mid-sixties Soshu began training a group of police officers in the Martial Arts, which became the foundation for his first school of Karate. After dropping from the Kyokushinkai Kan, Soshu called his karate, American Kyokushin Karate, teaching the Kyokushin Karate that he had been taught. Soshu affiliated with the United States Karate Association under Master Robert A. Trias and became the style and Iowa State Representative. |
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| Soshu's break 1970 |
During Soshu's career of over 35 years in the Martial Arts he has trained under several notable masters and competed, coached, judged/refereed and instructed through out the Midwest. His students now continue in karate though out the world, see the "International Directory." Presently a 9th degree Black Belt and founder of the Kyokushin based "Seishin Ryu Karate Kokusai Ltd.," he and his organization are affiliated with and hold positions in the United States Karate Association, United States Karate Alliance and the United States Karate Kai, (and world organizations affiliated with them).
In 1997, Soshu founded his own association, "the Seishin Ryu Martial Arts Association - SRMAA." The idea behind S.R.M.A.A. (Seishin Ryu Martial Arts Association), was to unite all of Soshu's students, past, present, (Locally, Nationally and World Wide) active and inactive, into one organization. S.R.M.A.A. is also to be a "service organization" for those who feel the need. School and Martial Artists who have, in one way or another lost their Instructor and/or Style Head, are discontent with there present organization (fees or practices), or just desire to become part of S.R.M.A.A.
S.R.M.A.A. now boasts of members in Canada as well as the United States, with inquiries through out the world.
To join contact us by e-mail, telephone or mail/post: E-Mail - soshu@seishinryu.com, Telephone 1-319-266-5923, S.R.M.A.A. Honbu, 522 East 18th Street, Cedar Falls, Iowa, USA 50613
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