Hanshi Ed McGrath’s Isshin-ryu Fighting Principles

        It is my contention that tournament fighting has deteriorated in technique and focus. Isshin-ryu students pride in the wearing of the Mizu-Gami was originally fostered by the fighting spirit of the Marines, such as Master Don Nagle and others, who were taught the manner of Isshin-ryu's relaxed stances, anticipation, defense and quick, focused and savage attacks. In Master Nagle’s first dojo, in 1958, at Camp Lejeune , N.C. , the fighting was fierce, fast and focused. Primarily, however, we were taught to defend ourselves, in order to avoid punishment in a match. This was all based upon the premise that we must understand how to defend ourselves in hand to hand combat. Over the last two decades, the mind set of Isshin-ryu fighters has changed, to the point where even the Isshin-ryu students, disdain defense and simply charge the opponent, both simultaneously punching and kicking. That is a street fight, not Isshin-ryu. We have forgotten the logic of Tatsuo Shimabuku Soke, which urges us to defend ourselves first, stop the opponent’s attack, move to the oblique position and strike with a focused blow to a critical target point. Basically, we are performing self defense, or hand-to-hand combat, (H2H), if you wish. Since, in H2H, you may be confronted with multiple opponents, I utilize the principles of Isshinryu to develop your true sense of self defense. Isshinryu, the way I sense it, is self-defense. All kicks or punches are to be snapped for focus and to keep the opponent from blocking or catching our strikes, thereby gaining control. If you chamber and snap your techniques back to the chambered position, your chi or focus will be stronger, no one will catch your strikes. If you are relaxed throughout the fight, your strikes will gain speed. The looser you are the faster you move. When you are attacked, or you attack, remember to move to an oblique position. It will unbalance your opponent and as we were taught by the Soke, imbalance is like a weight. In order to avoid that, always keep your feet under you, as you move, when you strike, make sure that your feet are firmly anchored at impact. This is Isshin-ryu and we punish opponents, they do not hit us. If you can’t be hit, you can’t be beaten. We seem to have forgotten what our teachers taught us and that is why we must return to our teachers from time to time, even when we are teachers. If you don’t remember basic principles, you become like everyone else and fighting becomes a matter of exchanging kicks and punches or, in tournament, one fighter suddenly rushes in and taps the other fighter. Often, in this era, that will be recognized as a point, by frustrated officials. Again, that is not Isshin-ryu. It is to be shunned as dishonorable.

         Defense First - One of the major reasons that anyone wins a fight is that they are able to avoid being hit. This sounds simple and logical, but this basic intelligence doesn’t seem to be in vogue, either in the dojos or at the tournaments. Fighting, in both of these areas, has deteriorated since the mid-seventies, until tournament fighting consists of diving toward the other and no more than tapping the opponent on the chest, shoulder or head, usually with the hand open. This could be referred to as “Touch and Go kumite, or T & G.” The present alternate to T & G is the “Bull Rush,” wherein, the opponents, upon the signal to begin rush at each other and clash violently together, with no discernable defensive effort, both combatants throwing and receiving punches and kicks. This is not karate and does not, at all, resemble the Isshin-ryu taught and practiced during the fifties and sixties. In Sensei Nagle’s dojos and within the dojos of his original fighters and many of their students, the fighting was hard, the kicks and punches focused, but defense always came first and was improved constantly. Picture in your mind, the dojos in Okinawa and North Carolina , filled with young, athletic Marines, enthusiastic to prove their ability. They had been taught both by the Corps and Sensei Nagle not to lose or give up, under any circumstance. With no rules, other than the dojo etiquette, they fought full contact with full vigor and without any type of padding. Defense was not a optional capability, it was an absolute necessity if you wished to remain healthy, as well as conscious. Grand Master McGrath’s training under Sensei Nagle stressed avoidance, blocking and maneuvering to take the most advantage of your contact space. You did not throw techniques that had no chance of reaching the opponent, since that gave your opponent the chance to gauge your speed, ability level and technique tendencies.

        Tournament karate, while of extraordinary benefit to the dojos, in so far as publicity and the strengthening of skills against other styles of karate was concerned and it was, as well, a source of additional income to the dojo. There was an “Era of the Tournament,” during the sixties and seventies, when we traveled every week end to a tournament to fight for a championship. The fighters were aggressive and well trained, hungry to win. Scores were normally crisp and focused, easily discerned and called by the officials. Every tournament drew a packed house, of both competitors and spectators. Eventually, many of the Sensei's began to teach kumite specifically for tournaments and that finally triggered the deterioration of competitive fighting, since competition was no longer a martial art and no longer a matter of blocking and scoring strong, focused points. It became a matter of touching the opponent before he touched you. In fact, many of the Sensei's taught two styles of fighting; street fighting and competition fighting, strictly for tournament trophies. The problem with this approach, is that kime or focus was no longer a factor. If you were able to touch your opponent, anywhere on their body, the officials would call a point. This was a result of the referees, over a period of time, becoming tired of waiting to see the delivery of a sharp, focused blow, to a vital area on the opponent’s body. Often the time would run out without any score called. In over time, the referees called any type of reasonable contact, as a point. We had, at that point, degenerated kumite to “Touch & Go.” At the dojos, this became the manner in which the students fought. The students inherently chose the style that won trophies and recognition. There was no longer a pretense at true fighting ability.

          Some styles deserve a good deal of the blame for this, for after the original Masters opened dojos, the others pouring into the United States and elsewhere simply looked to produce money making dojos and often franchised their schools under inexperienced instructors of lower rank. The idea was to simply continue to promote students, whether they deserved it or not, charge additional money for testing and promotions, when the cost of admittance was already too high. You are now faced with fighters who can’t defend themselves, referees and judges who don’t know how to judge a fight, control a ring and control the fighters, at the same time. At Korean tournaments, Isshin-ryu fighters were told that back-fists were barred from competition, because they lacked control. The back fist was a main fighting technique in Isshin-ryu and most of us were able to control it to the point that, the blow would touch the skin, but be pulled without damage. Simultaneously, we were told that spinning back kicks were allowed to the head. In performing this kick, the aggressor inevitably had to lose sight of the target for a period of time, during the spin, often causing injurious contact. The Korean judges would call a point for the kick, but disqualify a well controlled back fist. This caused the Isshin-ryu contestants to purposely make contact to defend themselves and to make a point to the officials. The tournaments had to decline, under these conditions. It also, unfortunately, caused the deterioration of kumite and the comradeship, which was the strength of the karate movement in the United States . 

        There is also a loss of respect for rank, since the tournaments are full of very high ranking black belts, who brag of the number of Sensei's they have studied under and the number of styles that they have grown proficient in, under those Sensei's. Normally you realize that the person before you is simply too young or unknowledgeable to realistically have had very much time training under so many Sensei's, in so many styles. The alternative is simply that they either didn’t study under them or spent little time and where their to pile on extra rank with as little knowledge as possible. If you go to the right schools, you will eventually meet a Sensei who for a short period of training and enough money, will give you additional rank. This desire only for rank, position and power is adding to the deterioration of karate capabilities around the world.

        Mr. McGrath promotes only those who work hard, improve their skills and succeed. Rank is a significant sign of progress, which cannot be allowed to lose it’s significance and authority. Just as in the Marine Corps, rank is meant to signify time in grade, experience and excellence in their specialty, as well as high marks in any duty they are faced with during their tour. Thus it was meant for karate-ka. Inexperience can be overcome with hard work, intelligence, application to your goals and those of your Sensei and a willingness to go the extra mile to become not just another student, but the best that you can be, when giving your studies everything that you can give. This is Mr. McGrath’s expectation for every student, application to the task, success and recognition.

        That is the reasoning behind Master McGrath’s strict adherence to teaching his fighters to place an excellent defensive posture before anything else that they absorb. Without defensive skills, you will never become a successful fighter or karate student. Remember, karate’s basic reason for being a martial art, is to train you to defend yourself with skill, ingenuity and fervor. That can only be accomplished if you have the capability to keep your opponent from striking you with any blow that could create a disabling condition. Once you have developed a competent defense and your opponents can no longer  strike you with ease, you can beat them at will.

        Movement & Directional Blocking - Master McGrath, at six foot tall and 153 pounds, although becoming as proficient at Isshin-ryu's blocking system as anyone in the original dojo, soon realized that without perfect focus on the blocks, some of the larger and stronger students would simply swing right through his blocks and injure him. As a result, he customized an auxiliary blocking system, that allowed him to avoid the power of his opponents blows and it became his “Directional Blocking” system.

        The idea was to develop speed, awareness and intuition and realize that Isshin-ryu blocks were always available if necessary. However, by using directional blocking after anticipating an opponent’s attack scheme, you simply use your hands and forearms to redirect the focus of the blow away from you, simultaneously turning your opponent’s body, thereby unbalancing the opponent and making them vulnerable to attack. The idea came to Mr. McGrath while out on the rifle range. A Sgt. Riley mentioned that if you are firing at a target at 500 yards and you aim is off by an eighth of an inch at the sight, traveling over 500 yards, the bullet would miss the target by five to ten feet. Mr. McGrath felt that applying this principle to a block would have the same result. If the opponent throws a straight punch toward your face and you can place the palm of your hand on the outside of the opponents punching hand, while twisting your body from full view to side view, as in Sei-Uchin or Chinto katas, you will direct the blow further from it’s target and simultaneously, imbalance the opponent. As the Soke told us, “Imbalance is as a weight.”

        As Master McGrath learned more over the years from Sensei Nagle, he advanced this new fighting system of his and began to use Chinto Kata as a means of avoiding the opponent while using directional blocking, to further unbalance the opponent, making them vulnerable to a finishing attack. This capability will be taught to you as you progress in your Isshin-ryu training. The system helps you to avoid the involvement of contact with your opponent, such as wrestling, judo or jiu-jitsu. Every attack is avoided, redirected and creates vulnerable imbalance for your opponent, allowing your counter attack to succeed. The discipline behind this ability is pure and true, hour after hour of  Ippon-kumite. There is no better method of practice than Ippon kumite, especially when you get to the point where the opponents work reactively and quickly, blocking and striking the opponent with several well focused blows. I always demonstrate the principal of directional blocking at all of my seminars.

        The Chinto Oblique Position - When you finally arrive at the point where you have studied and have some mastery of Chinto kata, you will be able to use this kata to perform the spins and oblique patterns, that are used to perform Mr. McGrath’s Non-Involvement techniques. It is the same principle that governs the martial art of Aikido, wherein you use the opponent’s power and momentum to funnel his attack focus into another channel, thereby disrupting his balance. Once the balance is disrupted, you again change the opponent’s direction and thrust them to the ground and incapacitate them in one way or another. Within the area of Master McGrath’s Non-Involvement Principle , however, there is no need to go past the initial misdirection of the opponent’s focus. In using the principle of Directional Blocking, all that the Isshin-ryu practitioner needs to do is change the direction of the blow, simultaneously stepping into a position oblique to the body of the aggressor and strike. The idea that is basic to this principle, is that you never remain directly in the path of your opponent. You will not succeed in either tournament fighting or actual hand to hand combat with an aggressor, if you move backward and forward, within the same line. Lateral movement, spinning from an opponent’s path, must be practiced religiously, until it is a natural reaction to an attack. When you utilize Directional Blocking, Master McGrath always try to continue control of the aggressor’s striking hand or foot. Grabbing their clothing with your blocking hand allows you to unbalance them, using their momentum. It is at that point that you strike, with multiple strikes.

        All of these techniques require that your Isshin-ryu is firmly based in the basics, kata, Ippon-kumite and Ju-kumite. Grand Master Nagle always stressed that either in tournament or a real street attack, that we rely on basic techniques. He told us that we would only get in trouble with fancy techniques. This admonition was based upon the time he spent on the streets, as a plain clothes officer in the Jersey City Police Force, apprehending criminals, often dangerous drug dealers. With a mob contract on him, he had a bad experience, when accosted by several armed men outside his home. The street was icy, and yet he tried to throw a round house kick. He slipped and fell to the ground, losing his holstered weapon, which was grabbed by one of the assailants. At that moment, Nagles’ wife, having grabbed his off duty weapon in the house, fired one round which struck and dropped one of the criminals. Nagle, now on his feet, quickly took care of the others. From that point onward, on and off the deck, the Master stuck to speed, balance and focus, the basic tenets of Isshin-ryu. Keep it simple, stupid, became a motto on the Isshin-ryu decks.

        Spacing - is the development of an intuitive or instinctual sense, that allows you to feel the required distance needed to remain clear of your opponent’s ability to strike you, in any manner. Now, the object of possessing this information is to use it to your benefit during an attack. Simply avoiding the attack, by understanding Spacing, will not deter the attacker from continuing to attack. Using the spacing to your advantage will require that you note the manner, speed and timing (which will be discussed in the next section) and once you have a feel for the attackers movement patterns, you can now adjust the spacing when you view their placement. When a target begins to uncover, you strike with the appropriate technique, as you suddenly close the spacing and eliminate the opponent. Another principle, which is subjective to Spacing is Break Away. As you and the opponent square off, facing each other, you both look for a zone of comfort and begin to probe the opponents spacing. The opponent is looking for the right moment to strike. Watch them carefully and allow them to come a step into your Space. You will be able, if you are astute (and that comes with experience and a lot of ju-kumite), to pick the instant when your foe has decided to attack. When you have gotten to that level you can use this to make a defensive maneuver, or at times, you may wish to throw off their balance. This is vital to stripping your opponent of their confidence. Just as they are about to attack, break off and actually walk out of the circle defined as your spacing. As you do it, you might want to drop your hands to your side and look with amusement at the foe. This saps their confidence. You are telling them that you will set the rules and the attack will happen, when you wish to have it happen. You can do this several times and create anxiety on their part. The third time they get ready, you move oblique to their attack and strike from the side. Always move to the side of an attack, if possible, for if you simply move straight back, eventually, the opponent will roll over you or get you to turn your back and duck from their onslaught. Turning your back to an opponent is the end of the fight for you will have made a fatal mistake. You are defenseless in this position. Again, with a frontal attack, use a directional block and simultaneously move to the oblique, spinning out of their way and setting up your attack.

        The Metronome & Timing - Another principle of Master McGrath’s fighting technique, which dovetails with spacing (the prior section) and together they allow you to attack the opponent successfully. The theory is based upon the fact that every individual has a body rhythm within their system that governs the speed (or lack thereof) at which their body is most comfortable in movement. If you are attacked, or are in a match, you can use the Metronome Principal to govern the pace of the match, up to and including when you strike to finish the match. While working the spacing principle, you must note whether the opponent is hyper (moving in an agitated manner) or steady (moving at a slow or careless pace) and this will determine your attitude. The basic idea is to begin to move from Seisan to Seiuchin or Chinto continuously, with your arms moving in opposite defensive arcs. As this proceeds, your movement must slow imperceptibly so that your opponent will subconsciously slow to your pace. If this occurs, the opponent will be disrupted when you suddenly close the gap and throw either a kick or a punch. Master McGrath’s favored move was an Isshin-ryu backfist.

        As the match starts, move slowly in opposing arcs, that is, move in an arc to your opponents right side and as they begin to adjust, you change the direction of the arc, causing them to adjust again. Move slowly and slower as the match goes on. They will slow, unconsciously to your pace. When you have them moving in dreamy pace, that is the moment for a speedy attack accompanied by a kiai. This is unsettling for your opponent and you must throw several techniques in a quick sequence, at different target areas. If at the beginning of the arc movement, you simultaneously move your hands in opposite directions, one high and one low, one away from your body and one closer to the body, you will be overloading your foe’s computer, causing confusion. Often a confused opponent will attack out of frustration. Stay loose, so that you can respond quickly. Direct his blow away from you and slide to their side, then strike from the oblique position.

        Doubling Up - This Isshin-ryu principle is evident in all of the Isshin-ryu katas, as well as many of the basic exercises and is meant to finish off your opponent, once you have defended against an attack and strike when that opportunity presents itself. The principle is also used to ensure that if you have struck at the opponent and they have blocked that strike, another strike and another strike or kick is right behind the

first. This will help to overload the opponent’s mind computer, giving too many

sensory perceptions, to evaluate and act upon. Never attack an opponent with a single kick or punch, since even an opponent who is moderately aware of what is taking place, will usually block a single blow. In your Isshin-ryu classes, you will continuously hear the instructors shout “Double up, double up” because this is an absolute necessity if you are not going to lose, either in the dojo or in the street.

        While the admonition of “Double up, double up,” may ring in your ears, you must remember that we do not throw punches or kicks simply to be doing something. Isshin-ryu teaches you to “strike only when the opportunity presents itself.” That means that we only strike at a target when the opponent has made a mistake and given you a target, or you have created a target with a fake or a good block. Don’t  waste time and energy on a strike which will fall short of the target, or which will miss the target. Again, when the target presents itself, throw a combination of at least two techniques, one high, one low. 

        Score Once/ Score Twice - This was a strict principle of Sensei Nagle. His belief was that, while in contest you score on your opponent, , you should never back off and play a waiting game for time to run out in the match. It is not the traditional Isshin-ryu mode of behavior, which calls for strength of character and mind. Grand Master Nagle’s code of fighting conduct was that you fought aggressively throughout a match and if you scored once, your skill in Isshin-ryu will enable you to score continuously. If you are in a position where you are defending yourself in a real do or die situation, you cannot afford to throw just one technique, since the first blow may not disable your opponent.

        Also remember, that if you are fighting against multiple opponents, you must not go to the ground to take out one opponent, since those left standing will attack you simultaneously and you will be overcome. In this situation, move so that you get your opponents get lined up behind each other and can’t get at you simultaneously. Move to cut one of the group away from the others. Isolate that person, with his friends behind him, then attack that person. Remember Mr. McGrath’s principle of non-involvement, just kick and punch the isolated person. Use your peripheral vision so that, as you attack the isolated person, and another becomes uncovered around that individual, you will spot them and stun them with a back kick or back fist. In that event, step toward that second person and strike a second blow to a vital area.

        Fight Till It’s Over - Whether in tournament fighting or with an assailant on the street, you must never allow your mind to wander or think that because you have scored that your opponent has quit. You must stay vigilant and at the first sign that your opponent has decided to continue, strike again. You must never turn your back on an opponent, since this leaves you totally vulnerable to a fast technique. Often, when inexperienced fighters are under attack, They feel that turning their back to the opponent and placing their hands and arms around their head, is a defensive posture. This is incorrect and could be a deadly mistake, since you are unable to stop an attack if you are not able to see the aggressor. You must always keep your opponent in sight, with the possible exception of your use of a spinning technique. When you decide the opportunity has presented itself for either a spinning kick, or a spinning backfist, you must keep your target in sight until the last possible moment, since your opponent may suddenly decide to make a simultaneous move or technique. Being unaware that they were suddenly changing stance or position, will either cause you to miss your strike or to be struck with an unexpected blow.

        From the moment that an opponent in the street, begins to talk aggressively or in a threatening manner, you should take it for granted that they truly mean to harm you and be vigilant. You should never simply think that the aggressor is just bluffing, in many cases they are deadly serious. You have probably heard the legal term, Assault and Battery. What most people don’t realize is that as soon as someone threatens to hit or otherwise assault you, without once touching you they have committed assault. When they actually hit you or attempt to do so, they commit battery. Therefore, when they threaten harm, they should be viewed as an assailant and you must be on guard.  

Mr. McGrath believes that there are individuals out there, sometimes in very ordinary scenarios, who are predators and actually look to prod innocent civilians into a life threatening situation. These people will not back off and therefore, pose a deadly threat. However, even an ordinary person, can be totally out of control, due to excessive tension, disappointment, depression or outside stimuli, such as drugs or alcohol. In any place you must always be prepared to defend yourself and be ready and able to defend yourself, at all times.

        Now, although we expect you to work hard to learn self defense and be ready to fend off an attacker or multiple attackers, as well as knowing how to finish or incapacitate an opponent, We also expect common sense. The dojo, the law and your conscience must guide you. We, the instructors, at the dojo expect that as you become more and more astute at Isshin-ryu and approach expert levels, you must show restraint, good sense, mercy and humility, to those around you. You must never be the aggressor, never use your capability to impress someone or intimidate someone and always walk away from a confrontation if it is in any way possible. We are not asking you to do this, we are ordering you to do this. Civility is always the premise upon which to base your life, not your self defense skills. If you look for a fight, you will probably get one and may not care for the outcome. According to the law, you may only use sufficient force to effectively defend yourself from bodily harm. The courts interpretation of what constitutes “sufficient force’, will always be more strict than our individual interpretation.

        That said, when in contest or in the street under attack, remember that you are never to turn your back on an opponent, you are never to drop your guard or your hands, you must never start to walk away, until the fight is over, absolutely over. Never leave yourself vulnerable. Fight until the fight is over. However, if you use your Isshin-ryu to harm someone and you were the aggressor, you will be dismissed from the dojo and never allowed back into class.

        Good Order on the Deck - is the mark of a traditional dojo and signifies the pride that we feel in being Isshin-ryu karate-kas. In many dojos, there is am uncomfortable familiarity between the instructors and the students. In these schools, discipline is not enforced and just as in the family, this leads to problems with regard to respect for others and yourself. This will eventually lead to disorder and dysfunction, where learning, progress and pride are no longer existing standards and you will doubt your own self worth. This dojo will always be run as the American family should, with unity of purpose, respect, allegiance to moral behavior and a sense of pride in what we are, we will also demand everything that you can give us, through attention to the instructors, a good work ethic regarding your improvement in Isshin-ryu on and off the deck, and proper behavior in respecting your instructors and the knowledge that they will impart to the students. If you cause trouble in the dojo, you will be a distraction to the other students and have an effect on every ones progress. Grand Master McGrath will not allow that and after a warning, will order you off the deck. He teaches only students who truly wish to become proficient at Isshin-ryu karate.

        All Black Belts on the deck will be treated with the respect that they have earned through the effort, hard work and time they have put into their art. When you meet an instructor, you will bow and refer to them as Sensei, in an appropriate manner, such as, “Good morning, Sensei.” Black belts are called Mr. And their last name. When they have reached third degree black belt Sensei, while fourth, fifth and sixth degree black belts are referred to as Renshi. Seventh and eighth are called Kyoshi and ninth and tenth are called Hanshi. Tenth degree black belts are also Grand Master of the style of karate that they teach and as with Grand Master McGrath, they will have many black belts who call them Master and swear allegiance to them, even black belts who were not taught by Mr. McGrath. The Grand Master will go to their schools for ceremonies, promotions and seminars on Isshin-ryu karate. They are leaders whose loyalty to their Master has never been questioned and for whom they have fought many matches. Such men deserve your respect. However, there are people who declare themselves to be black belts, often of high rank, who because of too little time in the arts or little degree of skill. In many cases they have never studied under the teachers they claim to have studied with, or have spent a day or two with them, or even several weeks. This is only a workout and should be thought of as such, with gratitude. However, they cannot claim that they studied with the Master. Other people are what we refer to as political, running from one teacher to the next and swearing fealty to all of them or paying unscrupulous teachers, just to get additional rank, or having them certify illegitimate rank which they have not earned. Do not ally yourself with people like this, or the teachers who take money or fealty for rank, because they will ruin your reputation and destroy your karate. Karate, especially Isshin-ryu is like any other sport or, in fact, it is exactly like life. If you play square, without cheating or taking unfair means simply to win, while doing the best that you possibly can, you will gain everyone’s respect and often become the accepted leader in everything you strive to undertake. Also, never quit, even if the going gets rough. Keep trying and only stop if common sense tells you that your goal is not attainable. In that instance, you will have done the best that you could possibly do and no more should be expected of you. That will be another lesson in life, learn your limits and don’t set your goals too high, because you will never succeed and that breeds misery, simply do your very best and you will know when you have succeeded.

        Building Blocks –Grand Master McGrath believes that the foundation for the “Fighting Principles” that he has evolved and/or derived from the essence of Isshin-ryu, are the basics, kata, ippon-kumite and ju-kumite. The practice of these Isshin-ryu elements is basic to advancement in knowledge and future proficiency. They are a must, every day, to the best of your ability. They must become a part of your mind, body and soul. These are the “Essence” of Isshin-ryu.

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