Daniel Diskin

Nanadan Candidate of 2024

BUTOKUKAN - Sixty-Three years young - Twenty-Three years of training

As a teenager and young man, I experimented and tried different martial styles\systems in the greater Boston area. In 1995 my fully committed and serious journey in the martial arts began with the study of the CMAA Self Defense System with Soke Paul Cervizzi. This is a multi-discipline style rooted in Kempo with a focus on kata, sparing, kumite, ju-jitsu, weapons and self-defense.

On November 7, 1999 I successfully passed my Shodan exam, and I am honored to be the first black belt awarded in the CMAA system holding Dan Certificate Number 01. I continued on with my training ultimately achieving my Nidan rank on May 5th, 2002. I am grateful for Cervizzi Sensei’s influence and positive impact on my life, and I continue to remain close to and mentored by him in my training and current life.

My introduction and interest in Uechi-Ryu came in 1996 after reading a trade journal for the martial arts industry titled “Martial Arts Professional”. The November 1996 edition featured Durkin Sensei on the cover and his Uechi-Ryu article entitled “The New Mission for Tradition” best defined his approach, practice and method of instruction of Martial Arts. I was captivated by the article and full color photo of Sensei kneeling in the Butokukan Dojo in Atkinson, NH.

In 2000 my wife and I were looking to relocate our family to southern New Hampshire. The relocation provided me the opportunity to meet with Durkin Sensei in the Atkinson Dojo and explore the opportunities that he and Uechi-Ryu would provide in our lives. Lead by Mr. Durkin’s instruction and as an active member of the Butokukai for the past 24 years I have worked towards developing and best understanding the practice of Uechi-Ryu. I have personally grown and developed in many positive ways through my studies and training inside of the dojo and the extension of that experience to my everyday life outside of the dojo.

The unequivocal benefits of my almost 30 years of training, study and experiences have extended beyond myself to my entire family. All evident in the relationship with my loving and supportive wife, son and a wonderful daughter, son in-law and in-laws that also practice Uechi-Ryu. Each of us in our own way living with a dedication and purpose to improve our lives and those we train with and interact with both inside and outside of the dojo. Living a Uechi-Ryu Lifestyle!