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Robert Sidoli (Married to Serikawa) was born in 1956 in Cardiff, Wales. In 1967 his family emigrated to B.C. Canada. He commenced his karate training as a member of the Vancouver JKA (Sensei Hiroo Yamashiro) via its satellite dojo in Mission City, mostly under the tutelage of his Sempai Greg Engelhart. Robert was one of the first students in the new Shoto-Ryu karate dojo on East Hastings Street set up by Shihan Hidetada Narumi in 1970; migrating with seniors Ritsu Goto, Bino Felix, Howard Hewitt, Greg Engelhart, Isamu Izumi, Mitchell Chang, Frank Massaro and others from the JKA Dojo. At the time he was a 7th Kyu. The Narumi Dojo was the representative of Zen Nihon Karate-Do Shiseikai Rengo, and became renowned in BC for producing great karate-ka, and competitive champions, namely Ritsu Goto, Bino Felix, Brian Williams, Kevin Kelly, and most famously James Johnson who became four times Canadian Kumite Champion. It was in this dojo that his true passion for karate began. The lessons learned would stay with him. For personal reasons Robert left the dojo in 1974, returning to the Shotokan fold. However he never lost the affection and respect for Narumi, whom he considered his true mentor. Robert was fortunate enough to meet and train with eminent karate men such as Richard Kim and Hidetaka Nishiyama, enjoying their tutelage and direction for several years. In 1987 Robert returned to the UK and circa 1995/6 followed the karate of Mikio Yahara. Robert has been the head judge of various courts and judged in the final matches in 6 World Championships, 3 European Championships. 2 Japan Championships. He has also organised 2 of the KWF World Events and 1 of the Europeans. In 2002/2003 contact was re-made with Shihan Narumi, albeit his membership continued with Yahara. In 2006 a serious and life changing shoulder/arm injury requiring two surgeries curtailed Robert's karate career. This was followed by a heart attack and again two sets of surgery. Although somewhat disabled, Robert's passion for karate continued. He continued seeking advice from Narumi via telephone conversations. In 2010 Robert and Shihan Narumi were re-united and the Shiseikai Shotokan-Ryu Karate Dojo re-entered the Gima-ha Shotokan Karate-Do Association.
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