Lloyd Curtis Johnson III Kyoshi
Mr. Johnson began his training under his father, MSgt. Lloyd Curtis Johnson II in 1959. The MSgt. Johnson, began his training in Okinawa under Seikichi Toguchi Sensei in 1954. MSgt. Johnson received all his kyu and yudansha promotions from Seikichi Toguchi Sensei. In fact, his Shodan Menjo was also signed by Seiko Higa Sensei. Msgt. Johnson passed away in 1963 and held the grade of Sandan from Toguchi Sensei.
Mr. Johnson continued his Shoreikan training under Sgt. Eddie Prime, also a student of Toguchi Sensei from 1963-1968.
Mr. Johnson continued to train in the Shoreikan system until he enlisted in the military and arrived on Okinawa in 1970, he quickly set out to find a gojuryu dojo, what he found was that gojuryu classes were offered on the base, where he trained in Jundokan Gojuryu mainly under Tetsunosuke Yasuda Sensei, with visits by other Jundokan seniors and Miyazato Sensei, as wel as, trips to the Jundokan itself.
After his discharge from the military in the mid 1970s, Mr. Johnson returned to New York were he became a direct student of Nantambu Bomani Sensei, maintaining his connection to the Jundokan Dojo. In 1990, he opened the Jundokan Shibu Dojo of Kentucky and was awarded the title of Shibu-cho. Mr. Johnson traveled and assisted Bomani Sensei for several years. Mr. Johnson suceeded Mr. Bomani as the second president of the Okinawa Gojuryu Karate-do Kyokai Jundokan USA.
Although Mr. Johnson has remained a loyal student of Mr. Bomani, in 2004 with Mr. Bomani's permission, Mr. Johnson joined the Kenshikai of Tetsuhiro Hokama. He continued this affiliation until 2006 when he joined the Dai Nippon Butokukai. Currently Mr. Johnson continues to teach in Louisville, and visits our dojo several times a year.