Hanshi Darren Myers
Darren Myers began training in the Martial Arts in 1974. Originally beginning in Kempo under Shihan Donald Bittner, he studied under many great teachers in Karate-Do, Judo, Jiu Jitsu, Aikido, Kobudo, Kendo, Iaido, Kung Fu and Escrima. In 1979, he met Soke Shogo Kuniba of Seishin Kai Karate Union and began his training in Shito-Ryu Karate-Do. He continued to train in Karate-Do, Kobudo, Goshin-Do and Iaido until Soke Kuniba’s passing in 1992. Hanshi Myers also studied with such notable instructors as Tola Lewis, Lemuel Stroud, Richard Baillargeon, Joseph Ruiz, Hiroshi Hamada, Ridgely Abele and many more.
Past and Present
Hanshi Myers was an active competitor in the 1980’s to mid 1990’s, winning many local, state and national titles. He has also served as a referee on a national level, and was on the Board of Directors for the USA National Karate-Do Federation and the Director of Marketing and Public Relations for USA Karate. He helped to organize and run the International Junior Championships and USA Open Karate Championships held annually in Las Vegas, as well as, the National Karate Championships and US Team Trials while serving on the USA Karate staff for 15 years.
Hanshi Myers currently serves as the Pan-American Honbucho (Director) and International Vice-President for Kuniba Kai International based out of Osaka, Japan. In 2018, the family head (Soke) of Kuniba Kai International honored him with the title of Soke Daiko (Soke Assistant). Other than Soke Kozo Kuniba, he is currently the only 9th degree black belt in Motobu-Ha Shito-Ryu Karate-Do in Kuniba Kai International worldwide. He also holds an 8th degree in Kuniba Ryu Goshin-Do, 7th degree in Kobudo and Iaido, and a 3rd degree in Kempo.
Virginia Martial Arts Center
Hanshi Myers founded Virginia Martial Arts Center in 1980 through the Parks and Recreation Departments of the cities of Chesapeake and Portsmouth. In 1983, the dojo had its first building on Oklahoma Drive in Chesapeake. The dojo was moved to a larger building on Canal Drive in 1987. In 1991, Soke Shogo Kuniba asked Darren Myers to take over his dojo in Portsmouth, Virginia. Hanshi Myers ran both dojo until 1997 when he moved them both into the current location on Taylor Road.