At the July 2004 PCMA (Professional Combined Martial Arts) Clinic held in Jacksonville, Alabama, Donnie Chappell was presented a Shi Doshi Sho Belt. This belt, along with the honorific title Sensei, recognizes Donnie Chappell as someone who knows his art very well and can not only demonstrate it but can also teach it. It is meant to show the respect that the rank has earned and is more traditional than Mr., therefore Donnie will no longer be referred to as Mr. Chappell. Now all of his students need to refer to or call him Chappell Sensei.
WHAT DOES SHI DOSHI SHO MEAN?
It means the same in all arts. Donnie has been recognized as someone who knows his art VERY WELL and can not only demonstrate it but can also teach it (2 very different skills).
I have a friend who trained at the Kodokan. He asked a world champion to teach him to do uchimata. The world champion grabbed and threw him. He asked to see it again, so the champ threw him again, just harder. Huge difference between a 4th dan and an instructor. We recognize Donnie as both. Pat, Ernie and I were honored to get him the black and red belt. Donnie is only the FOURTH person I have ever picked up one for (Pat and Ernie were the first 2, Kathy Brooks was number 3). I like and respect Donnie as a person, a martial artist AND a person.
By the way, I can NOT tell you how impressed the BOD (Board of Directors) was with Donnie's overall skills in general and his teaching skills in specific. He was a hot topic of conversation.
Jack Allbritten, (the President of PCMA), told me to go ahead and give Donnie the belt and let him wear it at the clinic. Jack went on and on about the quality of Donnie's instruction.
Dr. Larry Beard
Judo Advisor
PCMA
DEAR DONNIE,
I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BEING SO INVOLVED IN THIS YEARS SEMINAR. THE PARTICIPATION FROM ALL OF YOUR PEOPLE WAS VERY GRATIFYING. ONE OF THE OUTSTANDING MOMENTS OF MY DAY SATURDAY WAS SEEING HOW WELL YOU ARE DEVELOPING INTO A DYNAMIC AUTHORATATIVE INSTRUCTOR.
YOUR PRESENTATION WAS GREAT AND LIKE I SAID, YOU SOUNDED LIKE A MARINE DRILL INSTRUCTOR. YOU KEPT YOUR SESSIONS WELL MOTIVATED AND BUSY AND DOING THE THINGS YOU WERE TEACHING. THANKS, DONNIE, I WAS VERY PROUD OF YOU AND YOUR STUDENTS.
DONNIE, THANKS AGAIN FOR ALL YOUR EFFORT AND MY APPRECIATION FOR HELPING MAKE THE SECOND PCMA SEMINAR SUCH A SUCCESS.
SINCERELY,
JACK E. ALLBRITTEN
SHIHAN
PCMA
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