American Combat Karate Legend Revisits Isshin-Ryu Origins
Traditional Combat Karate Legend Gary Alexander Revisits Isshin-Ryu OriginsBy Gary Alexander | Photos by Rick Hustead |
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To describe my traditional martial arts training, I must first note what the term “traditional” means to me. As I see it, it can mean different things to different people. Does tradition go back 20, 50 or 100 years? Is it simply a matter of an art’s date of origin, or does it hinge on when a certain practitioner made his mark on the martial arts world? I think it’s a combination of those elements. We owe a debt of thanks to the “ancients” who created the arts we practice today. They were the Wright brothers of our industry. On their first flight, Wilbur and Orville soared at 40 miles an hour with no more than a few horsepower, some sticks and a tarpaulin, but their pioneering efforts—along with those of scores of scientists, engineers and pilots—led to the technology that eventually gave us the B-1 Bomber and the Stealth Fighter. The martial arts have progressed in a similar manner because of the founders as well as the men and women who refined those original fighting skills. Military Roots Consequently, a discussion of my traditional roots must begin with my initial exposure to the arts and progress to the warriors who helped me sharpen my skills. It all started about 45 years ago when I was on active duty as part of the Fleet Marine Force stationed in Okinawa, Japan. We performed landings (training exercises) on beaches all over the Far East but rarely enjoyed the luxury of being able to venture into nearby towns to learn the martial arts. That led to my getting my first taste of karate from other Marines. Those who were stationed at our headquarters were privileged to stay in garrison throughout their tour of duty. Their nightly access to town afforded them the chance to become experts in isshin-ryu, shorin-ryu, Okinawan goju-ryu and so on. Whenever we would return to our home base, usually for a month or so before heading out again, we would get together with those who were learning karate and try to pick up what we could. Ranking wasn’t even a thought in those days. Proficiency was. While we were in the field, as soon as we got a break from our duties, we would exchange techniques with anyone who had trained in judo, karate or boxing. We devoured whatever skills we could find as long as they would help us become more effective fighting machines, which is what all Marines strive to be. I eventually chose to follow the path of Tatsuo Shimabuku’s isshin-ryu karate. The skills I developed proved satisfactory at that time, and I felt comfortable with my abilities in basic hand-to-hand combat, weapons use and disarming methods. But as soon as I was discharged, I was drawn to a regular gathering of Marines in my hometown of Jersey City, New Jersey. They practiced the fighting arts with a gentleman who was very proficient in the isshin-ryu system: (the late) Don Nagle. Marines traveled to Jersey City from all over the country to train with this well-known karate exponent, who had returned to America as a fourth-degree black belt. Among them were notables such as Don Bohan, Ed McGrath, Rick Niemira, James Chapman and Lou Lizotte. With our military-instilled esprit de corps, we strove to be the best of the best in the traditional combat-oriented martial arts. Hard Core Back then, karate training was unlike anything the average 21st-century martial artist can imagine. The injuries we incurred on an almost daily basis spanned the spectrum: broken noses, twisted toes and fractured arms, as well as various gashes, gouges and bruises. Occasionally, one of us was forced to pay a visit to the local hospital. The occasional visitor who dropped by to check out our activity was of course invited in; most left in worse shape than when they arrived and weren’t interested in obtaining additional “guest passes” for future visits. Obviously, fighting was our main motivation to persevere, but it was mandatory that we also learn the traditional side of isshin-ryu, including its kata, philosophy, strategy and tactics. We thus started to matriculate up through the ranking structure. Such training with my compatriots gave me everything I needed to do what I wanted to do. And that wasn’t to find the meaning of life. It was to hone efficient combat skills. Over the years, the comprehensive nature of our training took hold, and numerous reputations were established in the karate world. Names became known far and wide as the arts blossomed, and many Marines from our group took their leave to return to their hometowns across America with plans to open schools and build a new cadre of isshin-ryu warriors. I remained in the New Jersey-New York area to continue training and eventually open my own dojo. End of an Era The rest is history. I did some fighting and in 1962 won two of the earliest karate tournaments in the Western hemisphere—the first was the Mas Tsuruoka Championship in Toronto, Canada, and barely a week later was the Mas Oyama North American Championship in Madison Square Garden in New York. Although the matches were full contact, which was right up my alley, I soon lost my taste for competition because of newly instated rules and referees who had their own ideas about who they wanted to win. Previously, the loser of a match wound up in a heap on the floor, but those days were numbered. From that point on, my fighting took place mostly in karate schools. Sometimes I was viewed as a friend and sometimes as an enemy, but it was all fun. I’m fortunate to be able to truthfully say that I never lost a fight—whether in a tournament or in the field. Even though I grew to disdain fighting by the rules, I felt we traditionalists should try to do better. With that in mind, I started my own tournament in 1964. Now known as the International Association of Martial Arts Karate Championships, it’s the longest-running event in the United States. This year will mark its 40th anniversary. With more than four decades of full-time experience running martial arts events, operating karate academies, conducting seminars, competing, surviving and winning perhaps close to 1,000 fights—all with full contact, of course, for why else would you fight?—I still attribute my success to my traditional upbringing and to the message of my battle cry: Made in the USA by the U.S. Marine Corps. My system is now called “isshin-ryu plus” combat karate. The “plus” denotes the addition of skills from others arts, an act I deemed necessary to guarantee that the style would retain its edge over all others. No one classical martial art has all the answers; anyone who fights for real and wins consistently understands that and no doubt has made a few changes to round out his arsenal. Since the beginning, the Marine Corps boot-camp mentality has been responsible for my success. At age 17 when I joined the Reserves, it helped me cast off years of being bedridden with a heart condition and rheumatic fever. After graduating from high school and joining up full time, it deepened my sense of discipline and transported me to the homeland of the Asian martial arts. Since then, whether in my school, my fighting or my business dealings, it has continued to serve me and my students well. (Gary Alexander is an Edison, New Jersey-based martial artist with a 10th-degree black belt in “isshin-ryu plus” combat karate. To contact him, call (732) 287-5755 or send e-mail to garyalex@bellatlantic.net. You can find him online at www.internationalmartialarts.org.) |
