Hilton J. Siegfried
Master, GoDan, 5th Degree Black Belt

Sensei Hilton Siegfried began training in January of 1977 at the Red Dragon Karate School in Easton, PA, under Alick Smith III, 8th Dan, who was under his father, Grand Master Al Smith, 10th Dan (retired).

Grand Master Al Smith (Shihan) had trained under many instructors that helped him to develop his own unique application of karate. His first instructor was Grand Master Louis Casamassas where he studied Chinese Kenpo. Grand Master Casamassas is the owner and head instructor of the Red Dragon Schools in and around Los Angeles, California. Shihan also studied with Sifu Guy Savelli where he learned Kung-fu and Aikido. Sensei Robert Peters instructed Shihan in Okinawan Shorin-Ryu. His unique combination of study had helped him create the Red Dragon School in Easton, PA.

Sensei began working out with Sensei Alick Smith III on Wednesday nights in 1977. After 2 years, he began training with Grand Master Smith four nights per week. As a Green Belt, he began assisting Sensei Alick Smith with the newly formed Kids Class. The Kids’ Classes ran on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:30 to 7:45. It was here that Sensei learned to become a teacher and developed his love of working with kids. In November of 1982, Sensei received his 1st Degree Black Belt from Grand Master Al Smith directly from the hands of Grand Master Louis Casamassas when he was visiting Shihan Al Smith.

Sensei began his own school in Riegelsville in 1988 in his home with 3 students then known as Upper Bucks Martial Arts Center. It was three close friends that had suggested he teach their children the martial arts. With the encouragement of his wife, this began his teaching career. The main idea of the school was to teach on Saturdays to give students an alternative to watching cartoons on Saturday mornings. To this day, during the school year, classes are still held only on Saturdays. According to Sensei, it is important that kids have time to do their school work, attend other activities, train in the martial arts, and still have some time for their families.

When Sensei moved to Coopersburg, within a year, he opened the Coopersburg Karate Academy in 1993. Since then, the school has continued to grow and now has over 85 active students attending classes.

In April of 2010, Sensei had the opportunity to travel to Okinawa with Sensei Tim Spiess, 5th Dan, Sen Lin Chuan and Matt Faragasso, 2nd Dan at Coopersburg Karate.  The trip included training with 9th Degree Black Belt, Shihan Ron Nix., whose instructor is Grand Master Toma.  They had the opportunity to see much of the island with Master Nix’s and his lovely wife Akemi, 5th Dan. The trip also included a visit to Hanshi Fusei Kise, Head of Okinawan Matsumura Orthodox Shorin-Ryu style. Sensei and Tim Spiess were invited to dine with Grand Master Kise and celebrate his 75th birthday. The trip was a wonderful experience and they all had the privilege of meeting many wonderful martial artists and true Okinawans.
On August 7, 2010, Hanshi Larry Isaac of Okinawan Kenpo Karate Kobudu promoted Sensei to 5th Degree Black Belt, GoDan, according to the standards set by the Okinawan Matsumura Shorin-Ryu Karate and Kobujutsu.  This promotion came as quite a surprise.    His last promotion to YonDan had occurred in 1996 from Grand Master Al Smith of Red Dragon.