A Day With the Masters
A benefit Seminar featuring
Hanshi McGrath's fighting principals
These photos were taken during a recent seminar at a High School, near his
dojo. The Seminars were set up, in order to collect money to help a young
woman, who is ill and without the right type of insurance. It was actually two
simultaneously seminars. In one gym Master Bob McKittrick showed the efficacy
of "Tuite," a martial art science hidden in the kata, whereby tapping into
vulnerable nerve centers, in the proper manner can immobilize an opponent, as
well as, render them unconscious or even kill the opponent. As a Doctor,
working in the Trauma Unit of a highly respected Hospital, in New England, Dr.
McKittrick, previously served with the Special Ops helicopters, as their
flight Surgeon, with the rank of Major. He flew out of Germany, for operations
in the Bosnia war zone. His enthusiasm and willingness to take whatever chance
was required, to aid his people garnered him the
dubious distinction of being chosen time and again to be picked for these
operations, since the men trusted him. He has been doing these demos for
several years and was the first person to demo Tuite to Master Nagle.
Master McGrath, with the aid of his 9th Dan, his highest ranked student,
demonstrated why he calls Ippon-Kumite, the soul of street fighting and
self-defense. Having taught Hand-to-Hand Combat, based on the adaptability of
Isshin ryu's relaxed fighting stances and oblique approaches to the opponent,
to avoid punishment, while moving into a superior position to block and strike
the opponent. Grand Master McGrath, the successor to Grand Master Don Nagle,
with nearly five decades of experience, demonstrated excellent ability to
avoid attack and disable an opponent. He asked the students to relax, allowing
them to move faster and be calm and aware of the least movement of the
attacker, so that you react naturally. He and Master Pinghero would
demonstrate an attack and the self-defense for the attack, with some unique
techniques that took years to develop. They would then move among the students
and black belts to ensure that everyone understood the feel of the move and
it's usage. Grand Master McGrath was among the first students in the first
Isshinryu dojo
established in America, under his Sensei, Grand Master Don Nagle, "The Living
Legend and Best Fighter in America," according to Al Weiss' Karate Illustrated
Magazine, when Mr. Nagle was only 32 years of age.