Title: Co-owner and Karate Instructor
Company: Virginia Dojo
Location: Alexandria, Virginia, United States
Robert Roberto Curtis, co-owner and karate instructor at Virginia Dojo, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Business Owners for dedication, achievements, and leadership in martial arts.
Mr. Curtis, having excelled in martial arts since he began taking classes over five and a half decades ago, is currently the owner and head instructor at Virginia Dojo, Alexandria Karate Dojo, a role he has held since 2010. Concurrently, he has served as the head of operations at Agriculture Trade and Resource Development Consulting since 2012 and as a Hanshi, 9th Degree Black Belt, and head instructor at Virginia Okinawan Karate Dojo since 1979. He has had an impressive tenure with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), serving as director of development resources and the disaster assistance division as a foreign service officer from 1982 to 2012. He also served as Europe division director from 2006 to 2008 and director of import policies and programs from 2004 to 2006. His international assignments include agricultural counselor in Vienna, Austria, from 2000 to 2004, agricultural trade officer in Milan, Italy, from 1997 to 2000, deputy director for Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe from 1992 to 1997, agricultural counselor in Santiago, Chile, from 1988 to 1992, and agricultural attaché in Buenos Aires, Argentina, from 1986 to 1988. Earlier in his career, he was a project manager and team leader for the Youth Conservation Corps from 1980 to 1981 and an agricultural extension agent with the Peace Corps in Paraguay from 1975 to 1978.
Prior to embarking on his professional path, he pursued his education at Michigan State University, earning a Bachelor of Science in resource development in 1974 and a bachelor’s degree in public affairs management in 1979, culminating in a Master of Science in 1981. In addition to his academic achievements, he has earned a Ninth Degree Black Belt, Hanshi, from the Beikoku Shidokan Karate Association in 2022, an Eighth Degree Black Belt, Kyoshi, in 2016 under Grand Master Seikichi Iha, a Seventh Degree Black Belt, Kyoshi, in 2008 under Grand Master Katsuya Miyahira, and a master in self-defense martial arts karate from the Original Okinawan Karate, Beikoku Shidokan in 1979. He is also an active member of the Beikoku Shidokan Karate Association.
Mr. Curtis attributes his success to his unwavering determination and perseverance. Despite having frequent overseas postings, he continued to open new dojos and recruit students. His journey into martial arts began in 1969, while he was in college. He embarked on this path to learn self-defense, transitioning from judo to karate and kung fu. He takes great pride in being able to empower individuals and witnessing them gain self-assurance and take charge of their lives. Looking ahead, he is dedicated to teaching martial arts, hoping to increase the number of black belts in his school and expand the student body. He also hopes to introduce the practice to more women so they can use martial arts to defend themselves.
For more information, please visit:
Contact Mr. Curtis:
