ISSHINRYU

 
 
Ed McGrath's School of Isshinryu Karatedo & Kobudo
Youngsville, North Carolina
Isshinryu Karatedo celebrates January 15, 1956 as the name Isshinryu identified the practice.
 
Daniel J. Vena
Inheritor of Ed McGrath's School of Isshinryu Karatedo & Kobudo
Founder of the IIAOKA & KOBUDO
Isshando International American Okinawan Karate Association & Kobudo

My wishes For The Future
Of Isshin-ryu, “The Art”
Of Shimabuku Tatsuo Sensei
And Don Nagle Sensei, “The Legend”

I have given great thought to the future of Isshin-ryu, the creation of Tatsuo Shimabuku, Soke and brought to this country by the man who most exemplified it’s fighting principles, Don Nagle, “The Living Legend,” who was the first American to be honored with the title of Grand Master, by a convocation of many associations, sitting in judgment.
The bad news is that I am not invincible and at 70 years of age, I feel that our lineage of those who love Isshin-ryu should be upheld. Of course my first thought was of my close friend and all time Isshin-ryu Champion fighter, Master Ralph Passero. However, in a conversation with him, he told me his thoughts, clearly and honestly, as he has always spoken to both Sensei Nagle and myself. He stated that his business enterprises were growing rapidly, as well as his maintaining his dojo and carrying on the memory of Sensei Don Nagle, with the annual tournament and dinner. Having mulled over a list of possible candidates, I immediately mentioned the name of Ernie Temple and Master Passero met that idea with great enthusiasm.
What am I looking for, in the next American Grand Master, what qualities must that person have? Well, he must be known to his peers and approved by them. He must have a long period of teaching, on a high level and this should be evident in his body of students. He must have been a fighter of note, as were both Don Nagle and myself, both of whom actually loved fighting and wanted to win, at any cost. His students must look up to him and I have had the pleasure to meet many of his followers at my seminars and tournaments. This person must be teaching in the doctrine and purity of Grand Master Nagle, since it is his memory that we cherish, as no other association does of their Master. He was unique, extraordinary and cannot be duplicated. The best that I can hope for is that all who come after me admire and love his memory, as I do.
I truly believe that Master Ernie Temple has these characteristics, as well as, good old American common sense, a keen intellect, an instinct to excel and an excellent mind and background in business.
In the coming months, I will be striving to draw into our Association, American Isshinryu, additional top notch dojo's and Sensei's, so that I can rest in peace, knowing I did my best to keep Isshin-ryu true to it’s heritage.
At our Annual Memorial Tournament in September, I will promote Mr. Temple to Ku-Dan, ninth degree black belt, so that he will be set for his elevation upon my demise. I know he will make my Sensei and me proud of him. I want all of the Isshin-ryu dojo's and their Sensei's to pledge to him their best effort and aid. My dojo Ed McGrath's School of Isshinryu Karatedo & Kobudo established in September 1959 will be headed up by my Dai Ichi Dan Vena, upon my demise the rank that my Sensei Don Nagle passed to me, will pass to him and he will carry on my legacy as Soke Dai, Dai Ichi. I want all of the Isshin-ryu dojo's and their Sensei's to pledge to him their best effort and aid. All of my Black Belts will help in the effort to continue my work in unity & harmony. Display to the community the camaraderie that existed in that original dojo in Jacksonville, North Carolina. 

Edward F. McGrath, Ju-Dan
Grand Master, Isshin-ryu “The Art”
By the will of my Sensei, Don Nagle
On This Date, July 22, 2005


Grand Master Ed McGrath’s
Ideals for Our Art!
 
Today’s use of the art of Isshinryu has gone astray. I see fighters bow to the Sensei and then to each other. The diplomatic portion of the introduction of Ju-Kumites prefaced with a bow to the Sinban (Official/referee) and then the opponents face each other and bow. That is the strict beginning of an official match, between two combatants. There are also judges, either two or four sitting around the square ring, to spot a good blow with either hands or feet, to a vital and valid target, with Focus (or Kime), in order to get a point. It often varies around the country, but it is more basic, than varied. Unfortunately, the respect for proper fighting in Isshinryu has lost its way and when the opponents move into their fighting stance, rather than the beautiful and classic movement of hands and foot movement, they now go into a boxers stance, often forgetting to vary their stance from Sei-san and Seiuchin, or Chinto; variations of these stances into an oblique method of the stances, in order to give the foe the smallest target possible, depending on the movement of your opponent.
 
When I finally understood what to watch for in my opponent, it turned out that I was born with “Quick Twitch” muscles, often with people who are wiry, such as Grand Master Don Nagle and, as it turned out, myself. Once either of us got inside we were able to rain blows upon our foe with such speed that we would overcome the other fighter. No one could stop that many blows in moments. The difference for Nagle and myself was that we not only fired our kicks and strikes fast, but every strike was focused, referred to as Chi or Kime and snapping the strike away faster than it was thrown. The blow is driven into the target just an inch to two inches, leaving all the power and velocity of the blow to cause internal organs or the head to become incapacitated. I held my hands at the side of my thighs with my hands open. If I got close enough (but still far enough away to have the foe believe that you could not reach the foe) to flick my hand at the face, chin or temple and at impact I simultaneously snap my hand into a fist. This was at a time that we used a makiwara board to get your index and middle knuckle calcified and enlarged, as though they were a ball-peen hammer. Such a shot to the head would drop your opponent immediately. Moving by encircling our opponent you would suddenly move in, by sliding quickly and strike the opponent.
 
We would never face an opponent in a boxer’s stance, for several reasons. A boxer stance is open to attacks with kicks to the legs, as well as sweeps which takes their feet out from under them and bringing the opponent to the deck. I usually will not attack while they are on their back, because they can attack your legs from the deck. It is best to allow them to start getting up, because at some point in getting up they are in an unbalanced and awkward position. That is the moment to attack. Master Bohan, one of my buddies, would often go to the deck, since he had techniques with speed from the deck that could injure your legs and stomach. When he went to the deck, I would back away from him and allow him to get up fully. I saw him often, with people who didn’t know him at large tournaments, blast them from the deck and put them out of the match, often seriously injured. Your knees are too vulnerable.
 
I changed my stance constantly during a match and simultaneously spinning in arcs back and forth, to unbalance the opponent and that is when I slipped in for an attack. In the 50’s that attack would be vicious, often injuring the foe, breaking their nose or side of the head and also attacking the body and legs with kicks. I normally used a Sei-Uchin stance, giving the opponent the least targets possible upon me. Often I would hold the arm closest to my opponent at shoulder height, with the arm bent, opening a easy target for my opponent. As soon as he closed to throw a punch or kick to my rib cage, I brought my arm down and brushed their attack away by diversion and immediately attack with a back fist or side-kick of my own, as well as a round house kick to the back or stomach. Either strike would injure the opponent. You cannot go into a match with a battle plan, because you don’t know what his forms are and what he is looking for. I usually used movement to get the opponent unbalanced or at least in an awkward position and I would take advantage of his imbalance, as Shimabukuryu Soke advised. Having a pre-planned format is foolish since we don’t know what his reaction will be, so we must clear our mind of any thoughts and allow your reflexes to make the correct movement. In order to do that you must keep movement in and out back and forward in arcs putting the opponent off his balance, that is when you strike. Usually I would slide in with a back fist to the head or side thrust kick to the stomach or ribs. If either of those get in, I would finish it then and there. Remember; Balance, Speed and Focus!
 
                                                       Ed McGrath, Ju-Dan
                                                       Grand Master, Isshinryu
 
My wishes for the future of my dojo & students.
 
Ed McGrath's School of Isshinryu Karate-do & Kobu-do
 
To all Black Belts and Kyu's of Ed McGrath's School of Isshinryu Karatedo & Kobudo, The dojo is made up of many different Black Belts that have trained with me over the years, some of them are no longer with us. Mel Sutphen Sensei was my first Sho-Dan, Black Belt. His name is recorded in our record books as such. 
 
The dojo will remain in full operation under the supervision of Dan Vena, Dr. Barry Steinberg, Stevie DiLorenzo & Greg Melita.