What a Dojo Accomplishes

Dojo Etiquette – is a topic that should appeal to everyone, especially parents. In these troublesome times, teen-agers and youngsters need, indeed, require discipline and the understanding that there are moral and ethical lines, drawn in the sand, that cannot be violated. A traditional Okinawan Isshin-ryu school, with Instructors with decades of experience will supply those guidelines. The comportment that runs through everything taking place on the deck, ingrains in students, the self respect that engenders respect for others. This will change people’s lives. 

Good Order on the Deck – The Instructors have been teaching hundreds, indeed, thousands of students over many years and therefore, they naturally, expect respect, since they have earned it. A large part of that respect entails a Far Eastern form of polite activity, waiting to speak until the proper time, no horse-play on or off the deck, bowing before addressing a senior student, not talking while an Instructor is addressing the student body, strict rules on touching or removing any other student or persons’ property, not being allowed to walk off the deck without permission and bowing on and off the deck. Performing these signs of dojo etiquette, becomes a polite manner of handling situations. This makes us better, productive citizens. 

Etiquette Between Teachers & Students – We have explained that the Instructors will not tolerate insolence, lack of work or shirking responsibility. They will also expect disciplined behavior. What manner of custom will the Instructors utilize, when interfacing with the students? The Instructors will treat all students with respect and enthusiasm, in attempting to have the students absorb as much learning, as possible. The Instructors will not allow the students to anything injurious to them or the other students. The deck is a No-Bully Zone. No one in the dojo will make fun or disparage the students. We especially realize that young peoples self esteem is, at best, fragile. Their will be no lewd remarks or double entendre among or with the students. All students will be treated equally, as long as the student is working equally as hard as the average student.

        Pride in Dojo – a well run dojo, will make a student feel pride in belonging to the group. The dojo is not unlike an extended family. As the student improves and becomes accustomed to the basically, strange movements of Isshin-ryu, their pride in belonging becomes ever stronger. Grand Master McGrath studied under the first Teacher of Isshin-ryu, in the first Isshin-ryu dojo in America . Forty seven years later, when he does a seminar for another dojo, often out of State, they always ask to hear stories about that first school and first Instructor. It gives Hanshi McGrath great pride to realize what his karate background means to others. This same pride will make the dojo or “a place to learn the way,” a place they wish to attend.

Respect for All Ranks – Respect is not only for the Instructors and other Black Belts, but is reciprocal for all ranks. The individual is looked upon as a member of the Isshin-ryu family. Even if traveling, we expect that other Isshin-ryu students and senior ranks will show respect for all of our students. It has already been demonstrated that Grand Master McGrath and his entourage of Black Belts, who travel with him, will always be shown respect for their experience, ability and rank. That respect has a cascade effect upon our students.

Moral Behavior – this essence of humanities inherent integrity, will be taken for granted and new students will expressly be told that any violations of moral or ethical standards will be treated severely, including law enforcement investigation and dismissal from the dojo. Theft, destruction of property, intentional attempts to injure any member or visitor to the dojo, lewd or immoral actions or the use of improper language will not be tolerated. The dojo should have an essence of serenity and anything an individual does to destroy that element of the school and student body, will be punished, appropriately. Males and Females on the deck are considered as students, within the Isshin-ryu family and inappropriate behavior will be dealt with immediately. Parents of youngsters will be notified of any action considered to be threatening to the good welfare of that student or other students will be a part of the solution. If the behavior is illegal, it will be reported to the authorities. We will take any measure required to guarantee the safety and welfare of the students. The Instructors are attuned to this. Intimacy between Instructors and female students or youngsters within our  dojo is forbidden and will be severely handled by the Masters. Everything that is possible, will be done to safeguard the students.

        Awareness – Instruction in the Martial Art of Traditional Isshin-ryu, “The Way of the One Heart,” will, by it’s natural state, greatly enhance the Awareness of the student body. That will be 50% of their ability in self-defense. The dojo benefits by the years of Hand-to-Hand Combat that Master McGrath has spent teaching Active Duty Marines and Reserve Units, as do several of his other Instructors. In combat, the Marines level of awareness is enhanced by the surrounding situation and the inherent survival instinct. However, prior to combat, there are steps that can be made to keep them, as well as, civilian students more aware of dangerous surroundings, suspect individuals, or situations. This enhancement and mind set will aid anyone, to steer clear of these situations and if that is not possible, we will see that they are capable of eliminating the threat through their self-defense capability. That capability is useless if it is not a reflex action. That is the manner that all of my Instructors have been taught to defend themselves and to teach the students. Our curriculum and the inherent adaptability of Isshin-ryu to all individuals, no matter their age, size, or strength. Isshin-ryu  is also gender neutral, not requiring great strength, but, instead, stealth, speed, balance, focus and the self defense moves that are indigenous to our art and capability.

Work Hard – In order to learn Isshin-ryu, “The Art,” the student is counted upon to come to this venture with the proper mind set, to succeed and indeed, excel. There are no magic spells that we can utilize to turn our students into self-defense robots, in a few sessions. It requires them to set their mind and will, for hard work and perseverance. The first few weeks, will probably be reasonably boring, to acclimate them to our way of defending ourselves and what they need to accomplish that goal. However, after several weeks, they will begin to feel a difference and more confidence, realizing that it is very strange, but will be doable, with proper dedication. Several years back, an article on Master McGrath, in Official Karate Magazine, relayed the information that he had been promoted to Black belt faster than anyone Master Nagle had ever promoted before. The reason; as a student in his first year, Mr. McGrath was at the dojo every night of the week for three hours of brutal classes, plus Saturday’s morning session and Mr. McGrath spent two hours on his own, practicing what he had learned. Five hours, every day for one full year. Mr. McGrath also sought out reports of top fighters in dojos in surrounding areas and States, in order to set up a match with them. Some fighters also arrived at his dojo to challenge him. He won these matches, an important factor for his Sensei, Master Nagle, in promoting him to Sho-Dan. 

         Promotion must be Earned to be Valued – Whether or not people outside the sphere of the martial arts can understand or believe that there are schools or dojos that promote students, who do not warrant promotion, simply because these students are being charged exorbitant fees for lessons, up to $150.00 for a test for promotion and resigning a new contract can get the student an automatic promotion. This is what happened to the late Ricky Nelson of TV and Records, who died in a plane explosion. He was given a black Belt and stopped, while traveling, at another dojo and one of their green belts beat Nelson badly. Nelson upon his return home, went to the dojo with his black obi (belt) and threw it in his teachers face and never came back. Grand Master McGrath has students who came to him as teen-agers and 40 years later are still loyal to him and working out. It takes hard work, tenacity and perseverance to attain rank, step by step, as the student attains knowledge and capability. That is what our school is based upon, honesty and pride in attainment of progress.

Higher Rank Black Belts Have Earned Respect Beyond the Norm – Those Instructors who have attained the rank of sixth degree Black Belt or, Roku-Dan have literally spent a lifetime to gain that accreditation and are referred to as Kyoshi, rather than Sensei. These are special people who have passed all the tests and overcome the barriers, to become extraordinary teachers, with experience in fighting and all other disciplines of Isshin-ryu. Grand Master McGrath was appointed as the successor of his Master, Grand Master Donald H. Nagle, shortly prior to Sensei Nagles death. On the deck, Mr. McGrath is referred to as Hanshi.

They Know Much and They can Teach You Much – When the Instructors ask for quiet and attention, the students are not to speak or hold conversations, since they undoubtedly want to make a point, based on watching the workout, that will improve your individual practices and, inevitably, your competence at Isshin-ryu. These Instructors started just as you did, tenuous, some frightened, awkward and unbalanced in terms of Isshin-ryu. They persevered, made mistakes and often suffered for those mistakes, since, in their time, we practiced a certain degree of full contact, without protective equipment. They learned from their mistakes and their Sensei, Mr. McGrath showed them to the path of enlightenment. They will do the same for you, they have sworn to do their very best to make you a good student and hopefully, a teacher in the future. Listen to them, if something is not clear or you do not understand a move, ask one of the teachers to demonstrate the technique and help you, until you have understood the move. We also expect that you will practice at home, on your own time. Otherwise, we will have to refresh your memory, on a detail that you have already learned. If you don’t practice at home, it will become evident to the Instructors, who find this to be an annoyance, since it wastes the Teac hers time, but, more importantly holds back the progress of the other students in the class. Eventually, such a student will drop out, because the students who practice at home will pass the recalcitrant students in accomplishment and skill.

The Sensei's and Masters of Bygone Days - gave their life to Kata, many, such as Miyagi, Matsumura and others believed that not only could you spend your life in the understanding of that katas “Essence,” and even utilize the perfection of a single katas technique to fight for their lives, against multiple opponents. That is true faith in the practice of kata and a lifetime of introspection into that kata. For instance, Tatsuo Shimabuku , Soke assigned Sei-San as the initial kata that his students and future students of Isshin-ryu, would learn first. In other disciplines (styles), Sei-San is a Black Belt kata, because of it’s difficulty and the diverse role of Bunkai, within this kata. That is why Master McGrath does not care for students who believe that they must acquire knowledge of other disciplines if they are to be good karate-kas. His feeling is, that they become a “Jack of all trades, but, Master of none.” He also disparages those who have little of Loyalty to a Sensei, even if that Sensei is excellent. They are the searchers of unlimited knowledge, or so they adjudge themselves. Mr. McGrath’s teacher of forty-one years, Master Nagle, was an acutely innate competitor, who won his matches, because he became the “Essence of Isshin-ryu,” and Shimabuku realized this, that he was one of a kind. It was not a grounding in the mechanics of Isshin-ryu techniques, but, instead became Isshin-ryu and every move or thought, was the apex of Shimabuku’s dream of Isshin-ryu. Sensei Nagle was a natural, who knew what you were going to do, before you knew. It was instinct, the instinct of a jungle cat, that responds automatically to another animals moves. After decades of practice, you could watch him practice his kata and see the light go on, for after decades, he had found another fighting technique within that kata. That is the ultimate and what every student should strive for. At 69 Shimabuku, Soke got up in the morning, went out in the yard and stretched, then he did his basics according to Chart one and Chart two, followed by all eight of the empty hand katas, upon which Isshin-ryu was originally based. There are also pictures available of the Soke climbing a telephone pole, which are somewhat thinner than ours, with his arms, body straight out horizontal to the ground. He would climb all the way up and all the way down. He did this every day. These were the old Masters brought up in the mysteries of kata and the discipline of “the dance of death,” as karate was once referred to years ago.

Basics Were Done Over and Over – When I was a student, a white belt, under Master Nagle my teacher and friend, we were to eventually to be able to do all of the basics twenty five times from each side, perfectly. If you were up to the last basic and someone blew on move. He would stop the class, correct the student and we would begin at the first basic again. There were nights where this happened more than once. He required that each move was where it was supposed to go, in order to be effective, and at the apex of each movement, block or strike had to be focused upon impact for a nano second. It was internal damage that Sensei was searching for, from his students. We learned to pull our punches and snap them back, by punching with full speed, till the skin on our knuckles contacted the coat of paint over the concrete, before snapping away. I would go home to my quarters and watch TV, while beating my index and ring finger knuckles on a two inch thick board, for hours. That was on the chance someone ducked a backfist and I hit the apex of the crown of the head, the hardest part of the head. It would not bother my knuckles and still knock out the opponent. I could pull a backfist close enough to make the front hair of the opponent flip up, without touching the foe. It became natural. There was also a myth that if you got used to pulling and then got into a real fight, you would pull. It wasn’t true. When you have that kind of control, you pull an inch to half inch in and the opponent is unconscious.

Kata was Done as a Moral Lesson – When you become a teacher, you do kata for many other reasons than fighting technique. Health, balance and quickness are but three of them. Often, doing kata, when something has gone badly, or you simply feel uptight, for whatever reason, you do your kata for your mind and soul. It brings and fosters compatibility with the nature of your mind and essence. A feeling of quiet will come over you, especially if the kata is done well.

Judge Your Kata for Yourself – At tournaments, judges will sit in judgment of your performance in kata. Afterward, you may feel that you were not appreciated or the judges were prejudiced. Other times students will get a good mark, when they felt they hadn’t performed exceptionally. When that happens, their ego may tell them that they were, indeed, perfect and it was about time for the judges to be fair, in judging you. If so, you have competed for all the wrong reasons. You don’t compete to affirm what your ego needs to hear. A trophy is simply something that gets dusty and takes time to clean, time which would be used better, for practicing kata. Make sure that everything you do, you do to learn and perfect technique, which is not really plausible. You must stay in touch with reality and judge your own kata for your own edification, your body, mind and soul will let you know when you are doing well or doing poorly. Strive for perfection and be joyful if you perform to the best of Your ability.

Kata Builds Mind & Spirit – Kata will force you to think. At first you must think just to learn the moves. Then you must concentrate on the moves and the tone of your body, in order to perform the kata as it should be used for fighting. If you reach excellence or, at least, competence and usable techniques. It is in the search for the many techniques that are in everyone of the techniques or moves of each kata, that you become defined and feel the kata in your heart and soul. Give yourself to the kata and you will find your best performance. Perform your kata, picturing the opponents in front of you as you move into another direction. React quickly to that opponent. Keep in mind that kata is performed to fit you for fighting multiple antagonists. You cannot do it as it is shown in the movies, throwing a kick or punch and leaving it out, at full length, waiting for applause. You must strike like a cobra, hit and be gone so that your punch or kick cannot be caught and trap you. That brings up the next topic.

Perfect Kata & You Need to Fight – There are many schools across America and, I’m sure, around the world, who teach kata constantly, but do not allow fighting. Karate was created as a means of self-defense for the people who were least able to defend themselves. On Okinawa, the populace was subjugated, first by their own leaders, the titular heads of clans, who ruled the various sections of the island (see History of Karate on the web site) and later by invaders or interlopers, more powerful nations than the Okinawans. Even under these conditions, the average Okinawan prospered, the island being centrally located in the Sea of Japan and therefore an obvious commercial trading area. They labored in this way, as a Protectorate of Japan and then China (which was more beneficent) but still, they were not free to do as they pleased and tribute sapped much of the profit from their enterprises. Both of these cultures, Japan returning for a second time, contributed to their understanding of various martial arts. Their own arts were bolstered and found more direction from the Chinese forms of fighting and with the exchange of emissaries, some of the Okinawans stayed in China , studying the warriors arts for decades before returning to Okinawa . Blending these arts with their base of various forms of Okinawa Te, the Okinawans in evolving several various styles were promulgated and Okinawa is credited with the creation of Karate. Various katas are used within many of the styles adapted in various fashions, hard and soft are primary concerns. However, as it was in the Shaolin Monastery in China , kata was not enough to keep bandits from looting the monastery and killing the sheltered and ascetic monks. Until they utilized the kata as a basis for a true fighting system. Since their lives were in danger, there fighting arts accepted that they must fight to cause the death of these bandits. Therefore, even prayerful monks understood that they must defend themselves or see the monastery become a myth in the mists of time. Indeed, karate was created to annihilate an opponent, who would have caused their demise. When I began to study, they had a saying, “Judo is for fun, karate is for maiming and killing the opponent.” Although I have seen some horrendous accidents in Judo, whether by accident or on purpose.

       This is why, when I was called many years before, by a group of Sensei's, who were writing a so-called Encyclopedia of Who’s Who In Karate. The caller mentioned during the conversation that they did not do kumite, only kata, to keep their art pure. That was a juxtaposition of fact. Kumite or Fighting is the very essence, breath and life of karate. Our forbears used it to protect villages and killed the marauders who violated their settlement. Those Masters were kept well by the populace, for their abilities. It made sense to kill marauders rather than have them return in larger numbers. Without Kumite and Ippon-Kumite (the basis for Hand-to-Hand Combat) kata is an empty bottle, unless the contents of the bottle can sustain you, it is worthless.

Rank Isn’t Used for Self Aggrandizement – as you progress in your competence you will gain rank. This is only a manner to recognize the effort that a student has made to progress to another level. When the ranks are within the scope of the Black Belts, this can get to be heady stuff. You have to be well grounded and keep your ego in control, in order not to become a pompous ass. At my particular rank, of Ju-Dan and successor of Grand Master Nagle, it is a surety that many karate-ka will not believe that in 47 years, forty one with my Sensei alive and in control of his AOKA, Inc., I never asked for, coaxed my Sensei, or like many that I watched, fall all over him. Master Nagle was in Jersey City and at first, I was in North Carolina and then New York . Eventually, I had three dojos, worked in business during the day, taught karate five nights a week and during the day on Saturdays. I had a wife and family and many tournaments we entered. On weekends I would bring my troops over to Sensei’s dojo to fight. We always did well, but I was not around him all of the time. I had my own life and a busy schedule, my guys fought all over the country. As a result, I watched people who were below me in rank, pass me by, but that was not why I was in karate or Isshin-ryu. I was doing it for the same reason that my Sensei taught, it was my life, fighting was a joy to me, I loved kumite and I loved fighters and had some extraordinary ones in my dojos. When after 16  years as a fifth Dan, which I was proud of since it had been Sensei’s rank before he left the Corps, I was promoted to sixth Dan and received Sensei’s obi at my promotion. My ego was short lived, because the following week I was in Gi at the Hilton hotel for a Henry Cho tournament, which Mike Stone won with a broken ankle. I was walking down the hallway toward the arena setup, with my wife Gene, when a little youngster and his mother passed by. He was a white belt. His mother said, “What is that man’s rank?” The child answered, “No big deal, he’s old, but like me some kind of white belt.” From the mouths of Babe’s. However, as the decades passed and some of our original students passed as well, Sensei realized I was still there and out there teaching and fighting. I did not stop fighting kumite with my Black Belts until I was 64 and had sustained a heart attack. Two months later at George Iberl’s Hall of Fame tournament, my wife came into the tournament area and found a big crowd in a circle, with me in the middle fighting my highest rank student, John Pinghero, full blast. It was then I noticed my wife and both John and I were looking for a hole in the floor to get into. Year by year Sensei and I got closer, until he was my best friend. When he saw me walking into a tournament his face would light up, in a smile and I would feel great joy in his friendship and comradery. Often at these events, he and I would grab a coffee and sit in a room, talking about the first dojo and the friends who were gone. I never sucked up to him, never lied to him and offered him advise that I felt would be good for him. I respected him and loved him, as a brother. He was and still is my hero. So, after all those years he was suddenly gone. I saw him in the hospital and kidded him about the gown and he threatened to kick me all over the hospital. I dropped the gown stuff. Shortly afterward, Ralph Passero called one morning to tell me he was dead and that before he died, in front of his visitors he said it was his wish that I succeed him. I had lost my mentor and gotten his guardian, Master Ralph Passero, who tries valiantly to fill that hole. He was a one of a kind. He never cared what his rank was, and they pressed the weight of Ju-Dan, that he never wanted on him. He just wanted to teach and fight.

The More Rank, the More Humble – Rank comes with deeds and time. It doesn’t make you richer, younger or happier. It means that you have more responsibility to act mature and use good judgment, as well as, set an example for the young people coming into Isshin-ryu, for they are the future of Isshin-ryu and this country. If we teach them “To do unto others, as we would have others do unto us,” they will serve our country well and make the right judgments to keep it free and independent.

Be Aware of the Attitudes of Others – Don’t go out on the deck with an attitude, it is not the place for individual arrogance or egocentric behavior. It is a place to learn the way and that way is the right way, with no deviations. The other students and Instructors are their to share their adventure into Isshin-ryu, “The Art,” not to justify the will or needs of one individual. As I have previously mentioned, we are a family in the dojo. We share a limited space and need to be attuned to the feelings of those around you. It is incorrect to shame someone or to victimize them, in any way. They are members of your family and will be with you for a long time. Consider others feelings before you say anything on the deck, the locker room or out in the street. There are friends in the making in the dojo and all you have to do is extend your hand and be pleasant. Keep the Golden Rule that I keep repeating. The dojo is a place for physical and mental good health. It has no place for anything disruptive. 

Help the Lower Ranks to Learn – A part of your responsibility, once you have attained some knowledge of Isshin-ryu, is to be open with the newer students and volunteer to share your knowledge, but only if you have that knowledge. It is not something without merit. It spreads good will, but I have always found that when I needed to clearly understand something I had been taught, was to help someone else to learn this information. Teaching, teaches the teacher.

A Dojo is Like a Loving Family – I will not belabor this tenet, since I have discussed it throughout the topics above, but it bears reemphasis. A dojo can be fun, and need not be under crucial condition on the deck. You will find that both Master DiLorenzo and myself have a good sense of humor and used at the right moment can relieve the tension that sometimes sets in, from a hard workout. We will endeavor to keep you excited about what you are being taught. Although dojos are not normally a place where praise is given lavishly, the Instructors will praise hard work and progress, when appropriate. We will also invite other schools to visit and exchange techniques, knowledge and skill sets with them. This broadens your base and gives the students an opportunity to grow. If you are having any problems, which you wish to share, you may approach one of the senior Dans, for a conversation.

Be Faithful to Your Teacher – Loyalty to the dojo and to the Instructors is a cherished and exemplary trait in Isshin-ryu. Again, the family values of the dojo prevail, expecting that if we instruct you in a proper fashion, that you the student will sustain your studies for the time it would take to develop you into a Black Belt. At that point, you would be an experienced practitioner and therefore, of some value to the dojo. There is no contract written or oral for decent comportment and loyalty, it would simply be a disappointment for the Instructors and McGrath, Hanshi.

Ippon Kumite - Why Ippon Kumite. Ippon kumite is the soul and foundation of Hand to Hand Combat. It can save your life, by making you quick with your hands and cutting your reaction time, to a split second and your response will be instantaneous, to the point that your block and your strike will seem to be simultaneous. Practice of this discipline will make your awareness of any body movement, as little as a movement in the crease in a person’s shirt, a the twitch of a finger at their side, despite the fact, that your eyes will be riveted to the center of the aggressor’s chest. Ippon kumite can be done is several modes. “Promise Ippon” means that the Sensei will choose the good group and the bad group, since the class will be paired off, in two ranks, facing each other. The Sensei will tell the bad guys what type of strike they will throw to a specified target. He will then show the good group the block they should use and the following strike to a specified critical area. He will then begin to count off, with one complete cycle, per command or count.  After one side has completed ten to fifteen of the sequence, the groups switch persona and the good and bad side go at it again. After both sides have done the move successfully, the Sensei will spell out and demonstrate another attack and defense. The Sensei will have you do about ten sequences from each side. Once the class, after a few weeks have gotten some skill at “Promise” Ippons, the Sensei will introduce you to “Free” Ippon, wherein the bad guys will throw any type of strike that comes to them, with either arm and the good guys must anticipate and block and strike back, successfully.

Ju-Kumite - Why Ju-kumite? It is the “Essence” of Isshin-ryu and the heart of all karate. Without kumite, there is little or no reason to study karate. With a wealth of Ippon-Kumite experience, free style fighting will be an easy transition, because you will know how to defend. If you can’t be hit, you must eventually win. If you have learned, through Ippon practice, to relax your body and have your hands and arms totally relaxed, all you need is some maneuverability and you can eventually fight multiple opponents, simultaneously. If you are good, you will find that Ju-kumite, or free style fighting is actually fun. You should look forward to these contests. When it becomes fun, it means that you will win, because you will find, as I did, that there is a zone you get into, where you feel that you can fly and your opponent will seem to be moving in slow motion. There is nothing that you can’t do when you get in the zone.

  Kata - Kata is said to be the essence of karate. Thru the practice of kata the student learns rhythm, speed, balance and coordination. Also thru kata a student gains a better understanding of the basics and how they relate to a self defense situation. As a student progresses in knowledge thru the practice of kata he gains not only a better understanding of basics but how to blend various techniques together into a continuous flowing defense-attack. In more advanced applications the student finds that the same moves contain with in them a wide variety of joint locks, take downs, throws and pressure point applications. Each lineage and to some extent different schools within the same lineage will teach different bunkai or applications to the moves in the kata. No one application is right or wrong, for application is open to inturpitation and are limited only to ones imagination.

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