Master Scott Shamblin Kudan (9th degree black belt) began his
training in Isshin-Ryu karate on November 16, 1973, under the instruction of
J.C. Burris in Athens, Tennessee. His study continued with Angi Uezu, first in
1987, in Fredericksburg, Virginia, and again in 1993 as Master Shamblin
traveled to and trained in Okinawa. Master Shamblin was also a long-time
student of the late Allen Wheeler of Powell, Tennessee.
Master Shamblin has also studied ToriteJutsu, Sport Jujitsu and Tae Kwon Do. In competition he was the first person at the Isshin-Ryu Hall of Fame Tournament to ever win first place in Weapons, Kata, and Kumite as well as Grand Champion in Kata, Weapons and Kumite. Mr. Shamblin was the youngest black belt to win the Kata Grand Championship at the Battle of Nashville. He was the overall champion in weapons, Kata, and Kumite for the Tennessee Karate Circuit in 1990. At the 1999 A.A.U. Nationals, he received the bronze medal for Kata, silver for weapons, and brought home the gold for fighting. He was undefeated in fighting in 1999 at the state, regional, and national levels.
Notable Awards:
• 1974 Isshin-ryu Junior Championships held at the Knoxville Civic Coliseum.
• 1975 I.I.K.A. Junior Advanced Free fighting Champion,
• 1980 I.H.O.F. Karate Ka of the Year,
• 1981 I.I.K.A. Championships Grand Champion,
• 1982 I.H.O.F. Tournament Grand Champion,
• 1988 O.K.U. Outstanding Achievement Award (with his wife Ruth Ann),
• 1990 O.K.U. Outstanding Achievement Award (with Ruth Ann),
• 1990 Included as a member of the United States Sport Jujitsu Team,
• 1990 Silver & Bronze medal – World Sport Jujitsu Championships,
• 1990 Tennessee Karate Circuit – Overall Grand Champion – Kata, Kumite &
Weapons,
• 1991 Inducted into World Martial Arts Hall of Fame – Male Fighter of the
Year,
• 1994 O.K.U. Master Shimabuku Award (with Ruth Ann),
• 1998 Became the President of the Okinawan Karate Do Union (O.K.U.),
• 1999 National A.A.U. Kumite Champion (30 – 39 yr. old male),
• 2005 Inducted into the Isshin-ryu Hall of Fame.
Outside the
competitive arena, Mr. Shamblin has had the honor of participating in the
Isshin-ryu Karate demonstration during the Restoration Festival of Shuri Castle
in Shuri, Okinawa. Master Shamblin has been inducted into the World Martial
Arts Hall of Fame and is also the recipient of the Master Shimabuku Award,
which is the highest honor bestowed upon any person by the Okinawan
Karate-Do Union, He has had the privilege of serving on the Board of
Directors for the International Isshin-ryu Karate Association and the Okinawan
Karate-Do Union.He currently serves as president of the O.K.U. and was chosen
by Master Allen Wheeler, before his passing, to carry on the legacy of
embracing and teaching good Isshin-ryu Karate.
Master Shamblin currently provides private lessons to advanced students, is an off-campus advisor to the Bryan College karate program, and teaches the Kobudo Instructor Certification courses for the IIKA. Master Shamblin currently lives in Ocoee, Tennessee with his wife Ruth Ann.