Original Oil Painting courtesy of Hanshi Phil
Little,
Please do not duplicate without permission.
Grandmaster Tatsuo Shimabuku
A
BRIEF LOOK AT THE HISTORY OF ISSHIN-RYU KARATE
IN AMERICA
Master Tatsuo Shimabuku was born in Chun
Village, Okinawa in the early 1900’s. He studied
karate under many notable instructors of the
time, including Master Chotoku Kyan, the founder
of Shobayashi Shorin-Ryu; Master Chojun Myagi,
the founder of Goju-Ryu; and Choki Motobu, who
was known as one of the most powerful fighters
on Okinawa; and Shinken Taira, the developer of
many Kobudo Kata. By 1940 he had become the
first person to master both of the Shorin-Ryu
and Goju-Ryu systems of karate. During World War
II Japanese officers in exchange for karate
lessons kept him from military conscription. As
his reputation grew United States servicemen
sought him out as well. By the 1950’s he had
become one of the most respected practitioners
of Martial Arts on Okinawa.
Isshin-Ryu Comes To America
In 1955 a group of American Marines began
studying Isshin-Ryu under Master Shimabuku.
Harold Long, Don Nagle, Steve Armstrong, and
Harold Mitchum brought Isshin-Ryu to America
upon returning. The most notable of these men,
Harold Long and Don Nagle were chosen as the
representatives of Master Shimabuku and were
largely responsible for the growth of Isshin-Ryu
in the United States. In 1966 Master Shimabuku
made his second of two trips to the United
States. During this trip he spent several weeks
with his top students, awarding eighth degree
black belts to Long, Nagle, and Armstrong. This
essentially put them in charge of Isshin-Ryu in
the United States. Armstrong would later become
ill and unable to continue. In 1974 Harold Long
returned to Okinawa and received permission to
form what later became the International
Isshin-Ryu Karate Association. On May 30, 1975
Master Shimabuku passed away. Master Harold Long
would become the patriarch of the Shimabuku/Long
lineage of Isshin-Ryu Karate in the United
States until his death in 1998.
Isshin-Ryu
Leadership In America Today
Over the years several people have been asked to
help promote the future of Isshin-Ryu in
America. In 1993 Master’s Long and Nagle
promoted JC Burris and Toby Cooling to ninth
degree black belts. In the years 1997 & 1998
Master Long appointed Phil Little and Jerry
Aiello to the designation of Hanshi. Hanshi is
the highest certified instructor level in the
Martial Arts, reserved exclusively for ninth and
tenth degree black belts. Hanshi’s Little and
Aiello were also appointed by Master Long to
represent Isshin-Ryu on the World Head of Family
Sokeship Council. On 28 September 1998, just
prior to his death, Hanshi Phil Little and
Hanshi Jerry Aiello were promoted to Ju-Dan 10Th
degree black belt by Grandmaster Long and given
the charge of continuing the Shimabuku - Long ™
legacy of Isshin-Ryu Karate. However, Hanshi
Little will keep and preserve this great honor
bestowed him until an appropiate time and will
hold the present rank of Ku-Dan 9th degree black
belt out of respect to Grandmaster Don Nagle 10
th Dan.
Today's Isshin-Ryu
Associations in America
The (USIKA) United States Isshin-Ryu
Karate Association,
(IIKA),
International Isshin-Ryu Karate Association,
(OI) Order of Isshin-Ryu, (AOKA)
American Okinawan Karate Association, (OIKKA)
Okinawa Isshin-Ryu Karate and Kobudo
Association, (UIKA) United Isshinryu
Karate Association, (UIKF) United
Isshin-Ryu Karate Federation, (TKS)
Tatsuo Kan Society and the (UIC) United
Isshin-Ryu Council.
* More detailed information about Grandmaster
Tatsuo Shimabuku’s early years, the pioneers of
Karate, a description of the Mizu-Gami, and
other history, as well as techniques, weapons
and information on Isshin-Ryu Karate can be
found in the books
Isshin-Ryu
Karate – The Ultimate Fighting Art
By Grandmaster
Harold Long and Tim McGhee, and HEIHO-
Martial Arts Concepts & Strategy by
Dr Jerry Aeillo and
Okinawan Weapons
by Grandmaster Harold Long and Hanshi Phil
Little.
