PLIMSHOF Inductee #7
Soke Dave Shelton
Founding Father
10th Dan / Kaicho / Hanshi
Grandmaster, Executive Director
International Matsumura Seito Society
Martial Arts Official, Administrator and Instructor, Dave Shelton is a 10th Degree Black Belt, Grandmaster, and "Soke" of Shorin Ryu Matsumura Soken Do Karate. He started training in January 1965. He studied Tae Kwon Do and Kung Fu before being fortunate enough to study Shorin Ryu Matsumura Seito Karate under Grandmaster Hohan Soken of Okinawa. He was the second American to receive the Shihan (Master) Instructor Certificate from Grandmaster Hohan Soken in October 1969. And he is the founder of Shorin Ryu Matsumura Soken Do. He was also the first authorized Instructor to teach Shorin Ryu Matsumura Seito, outside of Okinawa, in November 1969.
He was a top competitor on the Gulf Coast 1970-1975, and began officiating in 1970. Since then he has acted as Chief Judge, Chief Referee, Tournament Official, Tournament Director, Weapons Advisor, and Special Guest, for numerous national tournaments.
He was featured in "Who's Who In Karate", published in 1982. Served as President of the High Dan Board of the United Martial Arts Association 1981-1985.Conducted seminars on rape prevention, law enforcement self defense, women's self defense, tournament judging and weapons training in the continued education program.
Served as Vice Chancellor of the High Dan Board of the United Martial Arts Association International 1997-1999.Senior Advisor for the International Matsumura Bushi Jutsu and Director for the State of Alabama. 1997-2002 Inducted into the World Sokeship Grandmaster Council's International Martial Arts Hall Of Fame in 1998. Received the World Sokeship Grandmaster Council's "Silver Lifetime Achievement Award" in 1998. Supreme Advisor for the Kokuba Matsumura Karate Union. Installed into the World Grandmaster Council's International Hall Of Fame as "Grandmaster Of The Year" and named "Soke" of Shorin Ryu Matsumura Soken Do by the International Matsumura Seito Society in June 1999. Served as president of the High Dan Board of the United Martial Arts Association International 1999.
Featured in "The World's Martial Arts Elite", a reference book, released Fall 2000, and in three other upcoming books.Inducted into The United States Martial Artist Association Millennium 2000 Hall Of fame as Supreme Grandmaster Of The Year of Shorin Ryu Matsumura Soken Do in July 2000. Inducted into The United States Martial Arts Association Millennium 2000 Hall Of Fame as "Grandmaster Of The Year" of Shorin Ryu Matsumura Soken Do in August 2000. Inducted into The World Sokeship Grandmaster Council's International Hall Of Fame as "Millennium Grandmaster Of The Year" in September 2000.Inducted into The U.S.A. International Black Belt Hall Of Fame as "Grandmaster Instructor Of The Year" in November 2000. Appointed Southeastern United States Regional Association Director and Board Member for the United States Martial Artist Association.Appointed, Senior Advisor for the "Ozark Mountain Karate Association" January 2001-2002.
Appointed, "Executive Director, President", and "Soke" of the International Matsumura Seito Society in January 2001. Appointed, by Don Siegelman, the "Governor" of Alabama, as an "Honorary Colonel" in the Alabama State Militia. January 2001. Appointed, Member of World Head Of Family Sokeship Grandmasters Council in December 2000. Inducted into The World Karate Union's Hall Of Fame as "Grandmaster Of The Year". June 2001. Listed in the Lineage of O'Sensei Soken "Bushi" Matsumura, O'Sensei Hohan Soken and "Shorin Ryu Matsumura Seito Karate", in the book "Unante" by John Sells 2001. Inducted into the United States Martial Artist Association's International Hall of Fame with the "Golden Lifetime Achievement Award". August 2001.Certified as "Soke", "Head of Family", of Shorin Ryu Matsumura Soken Do, by the "World Head of Family Sokeship Grandmasters Council". September 2001Certified as "Soke", "Head of Family", of The International Matsumura Seito Society, by the "World Head of Family Sokeship Grandmasters Council". September 2001.Inducted into World Head Of Family Sokeship Council Grandmaster International Hall Of Fame, "Founders Award" for "Shorin Ryu Matsumura Soken Do". September 2001.Associate Director for the Mississippi Karate Association.Received an "Honorary PhD" "Doctor of Philosophy of Martial Arts" from the "University of Indiana / American College of Martial Science"
Inducted into the "Hawaii Martial Arts Society's" "International Hall of Fame" May 2002. Appointed "Alabama State Representative" of the "Hawaii Martial Arts Society".To be Inducted into the "Worldwide Martial Arts Hall of Fame" as "Grandmaster of the Year" June 2002 To be Inducted into the "United States Martial Artist Association" International Hall of Fame as "Most Dedicated Martial Artist" July 2002 "Instructor of the Month" March - May 2002, for the "University of Indiana / American College of Martial Science" for Lifetime Hard Work and Dedication to the Martial Arts. To be Inducted into the "World Head of Family Sokeship Grandmaster Council's "International Hall of Fame" as "Distinguished Grandmaster of the Year" September 2002 Co-Founder - "Pioneers & Legends International Martial ArtS Society Hall of Fame" Inducted into the "Pioneers & Legends International Martial ArtS Society Hall of Fame"
