Bushido Kai Timeline

Michael Pitaro Jr completes the Military Police course at Camp San Luis Obispo, California for the Alaska Army National Guard.

Michael Pitaro Jr transfers to the 297th MP company in the Alaska National Guard.

Timothy Harms enlists in the United States Air Force.

Michael Pitaro Jr and Matthew Pitaro continue to train at the Granite State Judo Institute in Manchester, New Hampshire. Michael Pitaro Jr completes the Fire Direction Controller course at the New Hampshire Regional Training Institute for the New Hampshire Army National Guard.

Michael Pitaro Jr transfers from Active Duty to the New Hampshire Army National Guard. He wins the state Modern Army Combatives tournament in the heavyweight division.

Michael Pitaro Jr deploys to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. In between his job of handling paperwork for the LOGCAP contract he took part in MMA training with Joshua Franklin.

Throughout the year, Michael Pitaro Jr completes the Modern Army Combatives level 2 course at Fort Richardson, Alaska, completes Airborne school at Fort Benning, Georgia, and wins 1st in the heavyweight division of the Alaska State Judo Championship and in the sankyu and under division of the 40th Budokan tournament in Washington.

While deployed to Iraq, Michael Pitaro Jr completes the Modern Army Combatives level 1 course.

January: Michael Pitaro Jr enlists in the US Army with the rank of Specialist. He graduated Basic Combat Training at Fort Jackson on March 31st and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Belvoir on August 25th, winning the company wide Modern Army Combatives tournament in each.

He deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom shortly after being stationed at Fort Richardson, Alaska.

April 10th: Matthew Pitaro wins the 4th Annual Bench Press competition at New Hampshire Community Technical College. He benched 185lbs. for the 150-179 weight class.

May 19th: Matthew Pitaro officiates at the New England Open Karate Championships hosted by Rich Baptista in Marlborogh, Massachusetts.

May 20th: Walt Harms and Matthew Pitaro officiate at the Lamy's Black Belt Academy 3rd Annual Spring Open.

May 27: Michael Pitaro Jr taught a Modern Army Combatives class to instructors of the Southegan Valley Karate club in Brookline, NH. He was assisted by Matthew Pitaro, Michael Pitaro Sr and Walt Harms.

May 29th: Michael Pitaro Jr and Matthew Pitaro are promoted to Shodan (1st degree Black Belt) in Karate Do under Granite State Bushidokai. Matthew Pitaro also earns his Instructor certificate.

Summer: Matthew Pitaro trains weekly with the former coach of the Ghana National Karate Team Ben Selormey. Mr. Selormey is a 5th dan in Shotokan karate.

August 19th: Michael Pitaro Jr. competes at the Shufu Judo tournament in Maryland. He wins 1st place in the sankyu and below division and 4th place in the nikyu and above division, both in the under 220 weight class.

September 32rd: Michael Pitaro Jr. competes at the San Machi monthly shiai and wins first place.

May: Michael Pitaro Jr. competes at the San Machi monthly shiai and wins first place.

Summer: Michael Pitaro Jr and Matthew Pitaro lead a ten week Judo course at Master Randall's Black Belt Academy

Fall: Michael Pitaro Jr and Matthew Pitaro give sparring lessons to the Southegan Valley Karate club in Brookline, NH.

November 16th: Matthew Pitaro coordinates a martial arts demonstration at New Hampshire Community Technical College-Manchester. Michael Pitaro Jr. and Michael Andrea assisted.

Michael Pitaro Jr and Matthew Pitaro return to active judo competition with 3 tournaments in five weeks. On January 25th Michael won 2/3 and Matthew won 1/2 matches at Pedro's Judo Club in Wakefield, MA. On Febuary 7th, 2004 Michael defeated Dan Trow and Ben Knight while Matthew defeated Doug Whitlock before being beaten by a brown belt in Keene, New Hampshire. On Febuary 29th, 2004 at the Massachusetts State Championships Matthew placed 2nd in the Senior Men White Belt Middleweight division and Michael placed 3rd for in the Senior Men White Belt Heaveyweight division. Their participation was published in the "Local Notes" section of the Eagle Tribune for Monday March 1st, 2004.

May 15th: Walt Harms, Michael Pitaro Jr and Matthew Pitaro help out at the First Annual Southern New Hampshire Spring Open. It was the first tournament run by Lamy's Black Belt Academy

August 28th: Michael Pitaro Jr and Matthew Pitaro compete at the Rotary International Goodwill Games, hosted by Master Robert Anctil and Shihan Eric Menard. Matthew ends up winning the Open Hand Kata grand championship. Matthew also wins 2nd place in sparring while Michael earns 3rd place.

Throughout the year Michael Pitaro Jr wins the New Hampshire State Judo Championship sankyu and under division, is promoted to sankyu in Judo, and wins USJA NH State competitor of the year,

March : Michael Pitaro Jr and Matthew Pitaro complete WTF referee course, the next week they participate as officials in the 27th Annual Massachusettes State Taekwondo Championships.

October 17th - October 18th: Michael Pitaro Jr and Matthew Pitaro attend the 9th annual Budo Fest in Brattleboro, VT. They perform an impressive forms and breaking demonstration.

October 25th: Michael Pitaro Jr and Matthew Pitaro attend a Judo clinic hosted by Mr. Cal Potter, and Olympian Jim Pedro Jr. in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Portsmouth Judo Club.

November 8th: Matthew Pitaro promoted to 2nd Dan in WTF Tae Kwon Do

Spring: Michael Pitaro Jr wins NH State TKD Championship, Blackbelt middleweight division.

Michael Pitaro Jr promoted to 2nd dan, WTF Tae Kwon Do

June 19th: Bushidokai promotion. Raymond Sosnowski promoted to 5th dan and Walt Harms promoted to 3rd dan.

October 11th - October 12th: Bushidokai participates in Budo Fest seminar in Brattleboro, Vermont.

November 3rd: Matthew Pitaro promoted to 1st Dan in WTF Tae Kwon Do

Michael Pitaro Sr came out of retirement to cap off his illustrious career with a victory at the 2000 New Hampshire State Judo Championships. He defeated Daren Friedman to win first place in the Senior Heavyweight division

February 26th: Matthew Pitaro wins 1st place in both breaking and sparring at the 24th Annual Massachusetts State Tae Kwon Do Association Championships

April 29th: Michael Pitaro Jr and Matthew Pitaro perform on the Bedford demonstration team for the 9th Annual Quest To Kick Cancer Martial Arts Charity Demonstration for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Michael Pitaro Jr promoted to 1st dan in WTF Tae Kwon Do Michael Pitaro Sr, Walt Harms, and Michael Pitaro Jr judge at the ISKA US Open at Disney World

June 19: Opening Ceremonies