John L. Ingram, Ku Dan
WUIKA Director
Sensei John Ingram began studying Isshinryu in 1974. His wife Cindy began in 1977. They studied from Jim Canter who was a Ni Dan at the time. Jim learned from Willie Adams in Detroit, then moved to Florida and opened a dojo.At that time they were with the American Okinawan Karate Association (AOKA). During this period, John attended two AOKA functions and Cindy attended one.
Before Jim Canter retired from teaching karate he took two of his black belts (one of them being John) to Georgia to get promoted to Ni Dan. That is when John first met Sensei Harold Mitchum. Sensei Mitchum looked at the two of them do kata and then promoted Jim Canter so that he could promote his own students.
Jim retired soon after and John and Cindy took over the school (which had about 15 students). They had a lawn service in New Port Richey, Florida where they mowed about 80 lawns a week by themselves and then worked out and taught karate in the evenings. They took their two daughters with them and one of their daughters, Sheri, went on to get her black belt and is presently a Go Dan who teaches karate at the Ingrams' dojo.
A growing lawn service and over 100 students at a local recreation center pushed the Ingrams to make a tough decision. They decided that something had to go — and it would not be teaching Isshinryu! They opened a second school in Palm Harbor, Florida which ran full time and grew to over 300 students. The dojo is still in operation under Sensei Dean Lavas. The recreation center dojo in New Port Richey was moved to a full time facility and now has over 300 students.
Some of Sensei John's notable accomplishments are:
- Two time Florida State Kickboxing Champion in the 1980s. (ISKA - internationally accredited)
- Rated one of Florida’s top point fighters in the 1980s by Karate Illustrated Magazine.
- Member of the U.S. Kickboxing team that traveled to Germany in 1986.
- Did two exhibition fights with Bill "Superfoot" Wallace at the US Open night of champions.
- Florida Director for the ISKA after retiring from competition.
- Promoter of the Florida Open Karate Championships for the past 17 years.
- Inducted into the Florida Hall of Fame in 1998.
- President of the United Isshinryu Karate Association.
- Most honored accomplishment is Sensei Mitchum telling him that he is his #1 student!
Daniel A. Holloway, Ku Dan
President
Chief Instructor and Founder of Holloway's Isshin-Ryu Karate School, Waterford, Michigan. Sensei Holloway was born in Japan in October, 1952. His father was an American serviceman and his mother was a native to the country. Sensei maintains his ethnic traditions and speaks conversational Japanese.Sensei Holloway is also the winner of many awards himself. He was the OKU Kumite champion in 1987 (executive division), and 2005 Hall of Fame kata champion (Master's Division). He is a two time recipient of the Master Shimabuku award. He has also been recognized for his community involvement and was given the "Outstanding Young Men of America Award".
Sensei Holloway began his martial arts training in 1968 at the age of 15 under Sensei Norbert Donnelly. Sensei Donnelly was a world class tournament and kickboxing champion. Sensei Holloway's black belt was confirmed under the direction of Louis Grinnell and he went on to receive the rank of sixth dan under Alan Wheeler. In 1997 he was given the rank of seventh dan by Sensei Harold Mitchum (ninth dan, hanshi). Also confirming was the late Sensei Sherman Harrill (seventh dan). Both of the men were Okinawan-trained by Master Shimabuku, with Mr. Mitchum receiving the distinction of Head Dojo instructor and highest-ranking American. Sherman Harrill was a leading seminar instructor and also held Udansha rank in weapons (kobudo). Sensei Holloway was promoted under Sensei Mitchum to the rank of eighth dan in 2005. Sensei Holloway gives credit to these men for his success in karate.
Cindy Ingram, Hachi Dan
Secretary - Treasurer
Cindy Ingram is one of the most accomplished people in Isshinryu Karate. She is the holder of a seventh degree black belt and is Sensei Mitchum's senior female karateka. Sensei Ingram is one of the finest instructors in North America. She has taught children as well as adults and has a real knack for communicating. She is responsible for training many gold medal winners and continues to reach the community with her other activities.After giving up a successful lawn care business she and Sensei John opened two dojos in the New Port Richey / Palm Harbor area of Florida.
Some of Sensei Cindy's notable accomplishments are:
- Florida State point fighting champion for four consecutive years in the 1980s.
- Rated #4 in the United States in point fighting by NASKA in 1989.
- 1989 Female rookie of the year by NASKA.
- 1994 state champion in weapons and kata.
- Presented the Warriors Cup for being top in kumite, kata, and kobudo all in the same year.
- Inducted into the Florida Hall of Fame in 1996.
- Won the Masters Kata Division at the IWKA World tournament held in New York in 1997.
- President of FAME (Florida Affiliation of Martial Arts Events) in 1998
