Hanshi McGrath Presents

Shihan BRIAN FITZGERALD

November's

Devil Dog

e othe

        Master Fitzgerald was formerly a student of Sensei Donald H. Nagle and was taught Isshinryu, in the traditional manner. He teaches traditional Isshinryu and spends much of his time in delving into the aspect Of Isshinryu Bunkai. He recently put me on to the Bible of Karate; The Bubushi translation into English, by Peter McCarthy, which is on our web site, in the book review area. Master Brian Fitzgerald, is an astoundingly strong fighter, purely by resource to his Chi, which has been built over decades of practice. I felt that his intelligence and expert knowledge, should be available to Donald H. Nagle's American Okinawan Karate Association, Inc. and , as a result I have placed him upon our new Board of Directors. He will have an excellent impression on bringing the tradition of Shimabuku Soke's dream and Grand Master Nagle's legacy to fruition.

        Brian Fitzgerald began his Isshinryu training in 1970, at the age of 18, at the Summit Judo and Karate School under Sensei Frank Brita. Brita studied under Sensei Robert Murphy who was a student of Grand Master Don Nagle. Fitzgerald reached Ni Dan under Brita and his certificate is signed by Grand Master Angi Uezu who visited their Morristown Dojo earlier that year.
        In 1975, Fitzgerald had the opportunity to begin training under Nagle at the Central Ave Dojo. After working with the "Living Legend" for a few weeks, he began to change all of his kata and basic exercises in order to perform them exactly the way Nagle learned them in Okinawa. Fitzgerald is one of Nagle's few remaining students who still performs his basics and kata the "Nagle Way" to this day.
        Fitzgerald soon developed into one of Nagle's top students. In 1977, representing Nagle at Steve Armstrong's 2nd Annual Isshinryu Grand National Tournament in New York, he became Grand Champion.
        Fitzgerald remained loyal and steadfast to Nagle and continued his instruction both in traditional dojo classes and with many hours of one-on-one training. He is proud to have Nagle's signature on every one of his certificates from San Dan to Hachi Dan (1/1/1993).
        Dedicated to preserving the "Nagle Way": Fitzgerald has affiliated schools in California, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. He is currently Chief of Police in Branchburg Township, New Jersey. He has taught at numerous police academies in New Jersey and has instructed police officers in self-defense and arrest tactics in many municipal police agencies as well. He has presented self-protection seminars to thousands of women in central New Jersey and is regularly called upon to lecture to civic groups and major industry forums on the topic of rape and self-protection. His main dojo is in Branchburg, New Jersey.

[return]