Sensei Hal Gwyn holds a 4th degree Black Belt in Okinawan Shorin Ryu Karate under Kyoshi Montez Dennis. Mr. Gwyn began his learning of martial arts in 1980 studying Shorin Ryu Karate under Sensei Barrett Amos. Sensei Amos moved to New York and Hal moved on to several other Shorin Ryu instructors at Langley Air Force Base who eventually moved out of state as well. Finally Hal met Kyoshi Montez Dennis in 1989 and soon began studying under his instruction along with Kyoshi Barfield.
During Sensei Gwyn's martial arts career, Kyoshi Dennis And Kyoshi Barfield coached him through a competitive career in weapons, forms and sparring. In 9 years he has won over 50 trophies culminating with a win of the Nahanchi Cup Grand Champion in 1998 in Virginia Beach, VA.

Sensei Gwyn has studied weapons forms extensively (Sai, Bo, Nunchaku and Tonfa) under world renowned weapons master Tadashi Yamashita with additional instruction from Kyoshi Montez Dennis and Kyoshi Rudolph Barfield. For the past 3 years, Sensei Gwyn has focused his weapons training in Iaido under Sensei Ric Flores.  Sensei Flores teaches Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu Iaijutsu.
Sensei Gwyn regularly helps with most everything at the Dojo from instructing students to Dojo maintenance as well as assisting with events put on by Golden Sun Dojo. Because the atmosphere at the Dojo is so family like, no job is too big or too small.

Sensei Gwyn has also enjoyed surfing for the past 38 years and had a competitive surfing career for 8 years culminating with a 6th place finish (long board division) in the Billabong Pro-Am series in 1988. Hal retired from competitive surfing in 1988 but continues to surf focusing mainly on the East Coast and Central America.
Sensei Gwyn is married with 2 children and 4 grand children. He has been employed at the Virginia Living Museum for the past 24 years and is the Director of Operations.


 










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