Shihan Meeder

Current Rank: 4th degree Black Belt – Issho-Ryu Karate

3rd degree Black Belt – Tae Kwon Do

3rd degree Black Belt – Goshin Jutsu Karate

3rd degree Black Belt – Aikido

July 2, 2020 – Shihan Meeder was promoted to Yondan (4th degree black belt, jr. master) in Issho-Ryu Karate.

April – June 2020 – Led the black belts of USA Martial Art to review and revise all kyu testing qualifications in the style of Issho-Ryu.

January 11, 2020 – Daughter, Olivia, was born.

August 2018 – Began to co-facilitate the martial arts club at North Point High School in Waldorf, Maryland.

December 17, 2017 – Daughter, Noelle, was born.

January 2016 – Promoted to High School Test Coordinator at North Point High School.

August, 2013 – Promoted to Science Department Chair at Westlake High School in Waldorf, Maryland.

August, 2013 – Graduated from University of Phoenix with a Master of Education in Administration and Supervision with a perfect 4.0 GPA.

June 21, 2013 – Daughter, Abigail, was born.

June 30, 2012 – Married his wife, Lauren.

August 2012 – Started to teach AP Microeconomics and AP Macroeconomics in addition to science classes.

August 2009 –Began his career in education as a science teacher at Westlake High School in Waldorf, Maryland.

June, 2009 – Earned a Post- Baccalaureate Certification in Secondary Education from Mercyhurst College in Erie, PA.

July 14, 2007 – Promoted to Sandan (3rd degree black belt.) During the ceremony, a special honor was bestowed upon Shihan Meeder. He was presented with the belt his instructor wore as a Sandan. Shihan Meeder was entrusted to guard and wear this belt with pride until the time came to pass it on to another deserving member of the United Systems Association.

April 29, 2006 – Graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Economics.

2002-2007 – Turned attention to helping students at USA’s North Shore Dojo to moving up in rank. This included two Shodan promotions and one Nidan promotion.

2002-2006 – While at the University of Pittsburgh, Shihan Meeder briefly studied Shotokan Karate and Judo to broaden his martial arts training.

August 2002 – Began studies at the University of Pittsburgh.

July 2002 – Promoted to Nidan (2nd degree black belt.)

2000 – With the encouragement of Soke Herschel Schenck, Soke J. Brown took the best of the styles he had studied to create his own style called Issho-Ryu. Shihan Meeder began to teach Issho-Ryu Karate under the guidance of Soke Brown.

January 2000 – Promoted to Shodan (1st degree black belt) in Goshin Jutsu Karate and Aikido.

July 24, 1999 – Promoted to the rank of Shodan (1st degree black belt) in Tae Kwon Do.

1997-1998 – As an advanced kyu (under black belt) student, Shihan Meeder, Soke Brown, and several other of Soke Brown’s advanced and black belt students conducted a thorough system review. This resulted in the restructuring of much of the system including moving technique and kata requirements and new waza explanation sheets.

August 1992 – After watching a demonstration put on by Soke J. Brown and his students at Dan Rice Days in Girard, PA, Shihan Meeder decided to begin studying martial arts. Shihan Meeder decided early on that he would make the martial arts a lifelong pursuit.

January 7, 1984 – Justin J. Meeder was born the oldest of four and raised by his parents in the Erie, Pennsylvania area.