Quantum Pilates -- Dupont Circle, 2130 P St. NW, Washington DC

Ryan Hodgkinson
Sandan (third-degree black belt) in Keishin Kan Karate-Do
Student Pilates Instructor

Having been diagnosed with a chronic disease at an early age, Ryan Hodgkinson began training in Keishin Kan Karate-Do, a traditional Japanese style of martial arts emphasizing speed and power, to strengthen himself both physically and mentally. Under the tutelage of Sensei Isaac Espinoza, Godan (fifth degree black-belt) and head of United States Keishin Kan, Ryan began his journey in karate.

Finding new understandings of his body, strengths and determination, Ryan was better able to cope with his illness and even found success competing in the US and traveled to Japan where he took third place in the Keishin Kan World Chapionships. In 1995, Ryan earned his Shodan (first degree black-belt) in Keishin Kan under Grandmaster Masanoa Takazawa.

For the next several years, Ryan continued to practice Keishin Kan and again traveled to Japan where he took third Keishin Kan World Chapionships. It was during this time that Ryan took up the arts of wrestling, boxing and kickboxing as well and he eventually earned his Nidan (second degree black-belt) in 1999.

While attending Gonzaga Universty, Ryan began training in Goju-Ryu with Sensei Teruo Chinen, head of Jundokan International. Goju-Ryu is an Okinawan style of martial arts that emphasizes power and grappling. While in college, Ryan spent his summers training in Keishin Kan with Sensei Espinoza in Idaho and the academic year practicing Goju-Ryu with Sensei Chinen in Washington. He traveled to Japan for the third time in 2000 where he and team USA took second place in the Keishin Kan World Championships. In 2002, Sensei Chinen promoted Ryan to the rank of Shodan (first degree black-belt) in Goju-Ryu.

Ryan is again training in Keishin Kan Karate-Do and has recently been promoted by Sensei Espinoza to the rank of Sandan (third degree-black belt).