Grand Master Quandary
Are we allowed to have Grand Masters in America? There has been a great controversy in the United States, as to the ascendancy to the rank of Ju-Dan, for citizens of the United States. Many students, in the various styles of karate and other martial arts, feel that only Asians, dignified by being ranking members of particular Associations can aspire to high rank.
Let us, for a moment, look back to the history of karate and, simultaneously, the American Persona. Advertisements on TV, show a pretty tough looking individual stating proudly, “I refuse to work for the Man.” This goes all the way back to the American Revolution, when our forefathers refused to pay higher taxes on imports of English goods, thereby making the money available to allow King George III, to keep an occupying Force of Naval and Army personnel, to put us in our place. Since that time, we have always had an innate feeling of revulsion to being told what we must do, by someone else. Presently, and for good reason, Americans have a high level of ire for the Chief Executive Officers of major Corporations in our country. They simply are suspicious of their ability and the liberties they took that led to dismissal of their workers. All of these things have an insidious effect on our inner alarm bell.
However, it is foolish to think that corporations should be banned or if they exist, they should have the company run by the employees. That would leave our nation bereft of proper direction for commerce and, as a result, we require someone with a background in sound management skills to run these operations. The Securities Exchange Commission will now put into place regulations for public corporations that will be stringent enough to oversee these companies. But we must have a leader at the top of these firms. Throughout history, there have been certain people with innate leadership qualities, who have led nations correctly and with an empathetic understanding of the people’s feelings and destiny. Also, there is always a time that will arrive, when the student knows as much as the teacher and, in some cases, surpasses the teacher an makes enhancements to the teachers principles, benefiting everyone.
Karate history tells us that a man named Daruma, left India and arrived at the Shaolin Monastery, where he installed a regimen of difficult exercises to rebuild the bodies of these ascetic monks. The exercises may have been in the form of Tai Chi, at the outset, strengthening their bodies and elevating their balance and ability for quicker movement. However, somewhere along the line, these exercises were turned toward the civil defense tradition. Daruma turned out Masters who went forth to spread Buddhism and the Shaolin self defense. Eventually these basic exercises developed into many of the Chinese derivations, which were formulated strictly for self- defense, such as Gung-Fu, Wing Chun and White Crane. These innovators were then looked upon as Grand Masters of their discipline. From a single leader came many. When Okinawa entered into an interchange of cultures, for the creation of commerce. Okinawa became a commercial center and riches followed for the people of the Ryu-kyus. In that exchange, many of the Okinawans who were studying Okinawa’s various Tes, traveled to China and stayed there for decades, returning as highly ranked Masters and eventually, the Masters who excelled in certain particular styles became recognized as Grand Masters.
Further down the road, the Okinawans were put under the auspices of the Japanese, who were then taught the mysteries of the Okinawa martial arts. Immediately, the Japanese told the Okinawan Masters that their arts lacked discipline and regulation and they moved to correct this fault. They had established directorates or associations to rule over the martial arts that were indigenous to Japan. They would now do the same with an art they had not created. To this day, many Americans think that the Japanese invented Karate, when, in fact, that honor falls to the Okinawan Masters. But still, could we say that once the Japanese had studied for decades this new art, evolving it to suit their temperament, that they could not designate some practitioners or that someone like Gogen Yamaguchi “The cat man,” of Japanese Goju could not become a Master or Grand Master?
In the United States, Servicemen returned in the 50’s with knowledge in Korean, Japanese and Okinawan karate. As for Isshin-ryu, Don Nagle was amongst the first American students Of Tatsuo Shimabuku, Soke of Isshin-ryu, with a background in Shorin-ryu, Goju-ryu and Te. As a white belt, Don Nagle was a quick learner and took to visiting other dojos, in different styles, to challenge and beat their black belts. Shimabuku Soke had to chastise him for these outings; although he was probably secretly satisfied that Mr. Nagle was proving that Isshin-ryu would not go away, since because Soke had created a new paradigm, he was being shunned by the other Masters. Don Nagle, as a white belt, was allowed by the Soke to enter the Okinawan Karate Championships, which must have been like a slap in the face to the leading Dans of the Island. He not only entered, but, beat the black belts and was the first American to win the Okinawan Championship and he did it as a white belt. Shortly after I began to study with him, he received his papers from Shimabuku Soke for Go-Dan, undoubtedly as a reward for establishing the creditability of Isshin-ryu, as a legitimate form of martial art. I believe it to be unique, to the point, where it is a martial art unto itself. The fact that even his brother turned his back on Tatsuo Shimabuku Soke, proves that it was distinct from what came before it. In the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s, Isshin-ryu was unbeatable and Master Nagle was turning out Champions, who went on to breed new Champions of their own. I had a fighting team during the 60’s and 70’s that was unbeatable in inter-dojo and inter-style combat, to the point where we were no longer invited to any dojos. As Nick Adler once mentioned, even when we went to Sensei Nagle’s dojo we didn’t lose a match. I have a trophy sitting on a shelf, stating that we won a tournament between my students and Gary Alexander’s dojo. I still have a sense of pride in that accomplishment, because Gary always had tough fighters in his dojo.
Eventually, there were tens of thousands of Isshin-ryu karate-ka in the United States and globally, as well. After the death of the creator of the most innovative method of unarmed combat passed on, Master Nagle, only felt obliged to the students in America, forming an alliance with Master Harold Long, to keep the reverence for Soke Shimabuku alive. At a mass meeting of high ranking black belts, many over the rank of Sixth-Dan, a discussion was initiated by Lou Lizotte of New England, to the effect that we should choose a Grand Master for the Americans, since we were loath to follow Kichiro Shimabuku, who was a tot when Sensei Nagle was in Okinawa. Harold Long of Tennessee was hosting this 1996 Hall of Fame Dinner and rose to speak. He stated that since Tatsuo Shimabuku made Master Nagle the highest rank any American held, Master Long said, that “Master Nagle should be the choice for Grand Master, since he was the best fighter in America and has turned out top Masters since his return from Okinawa.” After many people appealed to him to accept for the good of Isshin-ryu, he became Americas first actual, legitimate Grand Master, by popular demand and was looked upon as the top leader in Isshin-ryu in America. His sons and grandsons in Isshin-ryu were all over the Americas. At that time, although I was one of his original students, in the first dojo near Camp Lejeune, I was a Roku-Dan at that time. It was not in my temperament to ask for favors or promotions and, I was a Senior Executive in Wall Street, in Sales and Marketing, in charge of offices throughout the United States and London and Tokyo. I had a family, had given up smoking and drinking on the same day thirty years ago, in an effort to take on the dual tasks of my position at work and running a dojo, simultaneously. In fact, at his annual tournament he offered me Seventh Dan, but I had a stomach virus and said I needed to go home and could not wait. At the same time, as Master Passero and I knew, he had sycophants swarming around his ears and doing him favors to gain rank. Months before he died, we had a large meeting of top Dans and the topic of succession was brought up. Several people spoke up about their background and I finally got up and said that I didn’t want the position and asked if we could stop talking about this. Sensei said, “If I had my druthers, I would choose Ed McGrath, but I will leave it to you people.” However, while on his deathbed, with family there, as well as, Master J. H. Kim and Master Ralph Passero at bedside, he told them that he wanted Ed McGrath to be his successor. Shortly afterward, I received a call from Mr. Passero stating that my Sensei of 43 years and my best friend had passed away and that he made me his successor. I told Ralph that I couldn’t talk about that right now because I was overwhelmed that he had died. The doctors had said he was doing well, previously. I looked forward to seeing him back on the deck.
I had never disobeyed my Sensei in over four decades, but I felt that I owed the Masters in Isshin-ryu a chance to disallow this move and at the first annual Memorial Tournament for Sensei Don Nagle, that September of 1999, I showed them a Proclamation and said that if they did not wish to sign it I would step down and they could choose someone else. To my surprise they all stood up and cheered and applauded and then signed the proclamation, all of the highest Dans from around the country signed. I have done my best to ensure that Isshin-ryu gets back to the basics, promoting unity among Isshin-ryu Karate-kas. I have installed a new Board of Directors who are looking at tournament rules, certification of officials, how to fight in Isshin-ryu Principles as I learned from Grand Master Don Nagle. I do not proclaim regulations; the board will discuss every idea that I have. I am also busy with my HQ dojo on Ocean Avenue in Patchogue, Long Island, NY, as well as teaching unarmed combat to the Marines stationed at the First Marine District, in Garden City, Long Island, NY, twice a week. I also have some involvement in the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program in Quantico, Va. I hope that I am bringing some value to our members of Don Nagle’s AOKA, Inc. I think that if I was not, these people would tell me quickly.
I do however, have disdain for the twenty five year old Masters and Grand Masters, or, those who are Masters in eight different martial arts, cross training is one thing, becoming a Master in all the arts is nonsense and you become a jack-of-all trades but Master of none. My Mom told me that when I was a young kid.
I also don’t believe that ten people in a group can make someone else a tenth Dan. I don’t believe that an eighth Dan or two of them can make someone a tenth Dan. Sensei Nagle was made a Ju-Dan by a convocation of top ranking Dans from several Associations. That and Sensei’s prowess made his elevation legitimate.