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Kyoshi Tim Cunningham, Hachidan
(8th-Degree Black Belt)
Head Instructor
Kyoshi Tim Cunningham, Hachidan
(8th-Degree Black Belt)
Head Instructor
Sensei Cunningham has been a practitioner of Isshinryu karate for more five decades. Sensei's training began in 1975 at Cleveland State Community College in Cleveland, TN. A college friend asked him if he wanted to go check out a karate class that was being offered to college students, and thinking it was an interesting idea, Sensei took his friend up on the offer.
The rest, as they say, is history.
Sensei remained under the tutelage of Master J.C. Burris for one year, earning the rank of yellow belt. Sensei Cunningham returned to his home in Mississippi in 1976 where he continued his training under Master Chuck Chau. Sensei Cunningham earned the rank of Shodan (1st-degree black belt) in 1981 before relocating to North Carolina.
In 1982, Sensei Cunningham began formally teaching Isshinryu Karate in Tarboro, NC. He was a founding member of the Tarboro Martial Arts Association.
In 1987, Sensei Cunningham began training under Master Danny Glover in Jacksonville, NC. Sensei Cunningham traveled many miles every week to continue his studies in Isshinryu Karate, and he continues as Master Glover's student to this day.
In August 2008, Sensei Cunningham achieved the rank of Nanadan (7th Black) and was awarded the title of Kyoshi by Master Glover upon that promotion. Sensei Cunningham was again promoted on November 11, 2018, to Hachidan - 8th degree black belt.
Sensei Cunningham has been awarded the title "Sensei of Sensei" by the International Isshinryu Karate Association. He was recognized as Isshinryu Master Instructor of the Year by the Universal Martial Arts Association and has earned numerous awards of distinction for his commitment to the practice and perpetuation of Isshinryu Karate.
On July 28, 2012, Sensei Cunningham was inducted into the Isshinryu Hall of Fame. See Sensei's Hall of Fame acceptance speech here.
After many years of competition and multiple Grand Championships, Sensei Cunningham retired from active competition in July 2014. He still enjoys participating in workshops and seminars both as a student and instructor. He currently lives in Tarboro with his wife, Robin.
Senior Students & Assistant Instructors
Keith Webb, Godan (5th-Degree Black Belt)
Mr. Webb's interest in the martial arts began in the early 1980's as a bullied middle school student. Wanting to gain an edge on those who tormented him at school, he read every book on martial arts he could find at his local library and practiced the techniques he saw in them in his back yard. Without formal instruction, he became proficient in a variety of techniques including self-defense, kicking and footwork, and various weapons - specifically cane, staff, and nunchaku. He practiced regularly in his backyard 'dojo' until leaving for college in 1987.
Mr. Webb began formally training in martial arts in 1989 when he was a student at East Carolina University. He attained the rank of yellow belt in Goju-Shorin karate under Sensei Bill McDonald. He pursued other martial arts interests, including Bujinkan Dojo Ninpo Ninjustu, before graduation from college in 1991 and professional life pulled him away from training.
In November 2008, Mr. Webb enrolled his younger son at Cunningham's Isshinryu Dojo. Because his desire to fulfill his long-time goal of earning his black belt never faded over the years, watching from the sidelines as his son trained proved to be too much for him to bear. He enrolled in Cunningham Isshinryu dojo as a student himself in May 2009.
After 3 years of consistent training, during which time he attended classes 3-4 times a week and rarely missed a training session, Mr. Webb earned the rank of Shodan on June 30, 2012. After an additional 2 years of training, Mr. Webb successfully tested for Nidan on June 28th, 2014, Sandan on February 4, 2017, and was promoted to Yondan on August 22, 2020. Most recently, Sensei Webb was formally tested for and awarded the rank of Godan on March 1, 2025. His testing board consisted of Masters T.D. Gribble, Doug Harvey, Dean Scott, and Tim Cunningham, assisted by Mr. Chris Duke (Godan).
Mr. Webb currently assists with instructing the adult class, and helps with youth classes when the need arises. He also periodically teaches Women's Self-Defense and Active Shooter Response courses in the community.
In 2015, Mr. Webb began studying the worldwide surge in mass casualty events. The Umpqua Community College massacre in October 2015 piqued his interest in threat preparedness and active shooter response. He has attended numerous seminars and training events specifically for active shooter response and has viewed hundreds of hours of video training on threat assessment and mitigation. He holds FEMA and UN certifications for Active Shooter Response. In the time since the UCC shootings, Mr. Webb has conducted school safety training for his employer and continues to help prepare Cunningham Isshinryu students for the possibility of facing an active threat situation.
Mr. Webb lives in Tarboro with his wife, Alice. Their 4 children are all Isshinryu Yudansha, making them a true dojo family.
Sensei Alice Jones Webb, Yondan (4th-degree black belt)
Alice began her training with Sensei Cunningham in May 2009. She successfully tested for Shodan on June 29, 2013. Despite incurring a severe knee injury during the sparring portion of her test, Alice's fierce determination and martial spirit were demonstrated throughout the testing experience. Two years later on July 19, 2015, she successfully tested for Nidan.
On November 12, 2018, Alice successfully tested for her Sandan grade and was privileged to be promoted by Master Terry Thompson, Kyoshi Tim Cunningham, and Grandmaster Danny Glover. Upon her promotion, she was conferred the title of Sensei. She successfully tested for Yondan in April 2022. Her board consisted of Masters TD Gribble, Doug Harvey, and Tim Cunningham assisted by Chris Duke (Godan).
Alice is a mother of 4 children and maintains a busy professional writing schedule. Despite the demands of everyday life, Alice still makes time to train 4-5 times per week and can often be found in the dojo on weekends working weapons and kata. She is proof that there is always time to train.
Alice currently teaches the Monday/Wednesday Youth Foundations classes (4-6 year olds) and assists Kyoshi Cunningham with the Tuesday/Thursday youth classes. She also co-teaches the Women's Self-Defense course.
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