Do We Understand and Utilize our Isshin-ryu System?

        What is the state of Isshin-ryu at this present moment? Do we understand the concept and principles of Isshin-ryu, as created by Soke Tatsuo Shimabuku and practiced and taught by Grand Master Donald Nagle? At the beginning it was understood and practiced in the manner that Soke Shimabuku had envisioned it.

However, it also required interpretation by those Marines, who normally would not understand Japanese. Necessarily therefore, it would take time for them to assimilate the doctrine of Isshin-ryu and become comfortable with the vast difference from any combative discipline they had previously known, including street fighting. For them this was a different and strange new world. The months of training on Okinawa would have allowed them to gain many new skills and afford them the opportunity to watch both the Soke and his Okinawan students demonstrate these principles in action. They may not, immediately have realized that Isshin-ryu was significantly different from the other available martial arts, or the myriad of karate styles practiced on the island. It would require time for the true essence of Isshin-ryu, to put their position in the martial arts in proper perspective. Perhaps some of them never really understood or embraced this opportunity, to understand the individualism of Isshin-ryu and a feel for how to use it in combat.  We cannot expect to know what everyone took from this training, but we do have a feeling for what the future teachers among these Marines brought back with them. It was a fighting system like no other, in it’s approach to the elements and spirit of self defense. It depended on a fluid maneuverability, defensive determination to stop or avoid attacks, and an instant focused response. The interpretation of all of this knowledge would be fostered by those of them who made the decision to teach and spread this martial art, upon their return.

            Because Isshin-ryu is extraordinarily adaptable to the individual practicing it, the Sensei would probably bring to the training their own physical and psychological makeup. That would depend greatly, upon their size, strength and athleticism, as well as, what their mind had grasped and interpreted. If the approach was based upon physical strength and a mind set that they could therefore break through an opponent’s defense and retaliate massively, they may have taken the wrong road. Strength was not the essence of Isshin-ryu, or the methodology that Soke Shimabuku would have anticipated. He seemed to reflexively anticipate,  stop the attack and derail the attacker with quick, focused blows. He always struck when the opportunity presented itself, not by forcing the issue. Not strength, but conditioning, reflexes, balance and speed, were his innate weapons. It is our opinion, that Sensei Don Nagle embodied those same principles and over a period of time, embraced the very essence of Isshin-ryu.

His fighting stances were totally relaxed, avoiding attacks, he struck with such speed and focus that the match was usually over, just when the opponent thought he had found an opening and had won the match. He was superlative and over the decades prior to his passing, he came to exemplify what Isshin-ryu could be, the ultimate fighting art. The truly great have always had their detractors, but few ever questioned Sensei Nagle’s supremacy to his face and those who speak ill of him now that he cannot answer, are the same people who seek self aggrandizement, by comparing themselves with a legend, that burned it’s presence into the history of Isshin-ryu for all time. He was truly unique and those who fought or observed him knew that he had brought our art to greatness.

            They say that everything must change with time, that evolution is required to survive and reach perfection, but is such change always good and is it always evolutionary or just the change made by individuals from whim or for a personal agenda. Can change be made to something, such as Isshin-ryu, which lessens it’s value? We have only to travel through the tournament circuit and watch many of the Isshin-ryu participants and their opponents.

What you will see is the practitioners of other styles fighting in an imitation of Isshin-ryu, no longer using the deep, strength inspired stances of the past, or throwing the corkscrew punches that were the standard for these styles, prior to Isshin-ryu. They now fight in a more relaxed stance and often throw vertical fist punches or back fists to score. This was a subtle change that took place over a long period of time. It was also an unconscious attempt to fight on equal terms, against Isshin-ryu fighters.  However, they never understood the essence of Isshin-ryu and it’s revolutionary principles.

Unfortunately, you will also see Isshin-ryu students and black belts fighting in imitation of their opponents, who are imitating Isshin-ryu. Somehow they seem to have forgotten and forsaken the basic tenets that make Isshin-ryu a unique fighting style. Some Isshin-ryu students now come directly at their opponents, their hands held in a boxers position and trade blows with their opponents, until someone scores. Even the scores are no longer distinct strikes to vital areas, delivered with speed, snap and focus. We have become “them” and lost the advantage of our style and the unique fighting principles that brought Isshin-ryu success, through four decades. Where did this evolution begin and why?

            Over the last twenty five years, we have witnessed high profile Isshin-ryu Sensei's, adopt the principles of other styles, which existed prior to Isshin-ryu and mix these styles into Isshin-ryu. That is not evolution. It is retrogression, a step backward, a mechanical insertion of techniques and principles, without regard to symbiosis. Isshin-ryu was a leap forward and set a new standard for self defense, a new paradigm which places Isshin-ryu in a special position, as a separate martial art.  Therefore, most changes made to Isshin-ryu cannot be viewed as evolution. Sensei's who have done this, have distanced themselves from Soke Shimabuku and Master Nagle and damaged the movement toward the principles of Isshin-ryu. In the past ten years, we have watched original Sensei's speak to teachers of other styles, sometimes in seminars, and tell them that the Isshin-ryu vertical punch should be delivered with strength and aimed four to six inches beyond the target. This is totally unnecessary, when one considers the basic philosophy of Isshin-ryu. It deviates from the most basic principles of Isshin-ryu. This movement embodies a fascination with strength over the principles that were engendered in Isshin-ryu by it’s founder. How many Isshin-ryu tournaments have you attended in recent years, where the championships are won by other styles. The reason is simple, we lost the edge.

            We must go back to the basics, to the teachings of our past. This is one of the reasons that Mr. McGrath so admires Sensei's like Dennis Hoare and Ralph Passero. Over all the years, of fighting and teaching, they have never deviated from the manner in which they were originally taught, by their Sensei's. They truly believe in the basic advantages of our style; speed, balance and focus. The use of immediate rechambering as the blow is struck and immediately withdrawn. The extraordinary emphasis on defense, blocking and trapping the opponents strikes. We were never meant to trade blows, the thought is illogical and Soke Shimabuku based Isshin-ryu on pure logic and that is the beauty of Isshin-ryu. Clashing is diametrically opposed to our principles, we were taught to utilize oblique movement to avoid the attack, misdirect the assault and take swift advantage of the opponent’s imbalance. Masters Hoare and Passsero believe in these principles, as do many other Sensei's presently teaching Isshin-ryu. All of Isshin-ryu should go “back to the future” of Isshin-ryu.

            Sensei's who see other groups demonstrate their skills, usually within a controlled environment and become enamored with their methods, are suddenly obsessed with these standards that have brought these particular fighters success. These methods and attacks may very well work, under the strict adherence to rules that restrict the manner of attack and spell success for those who train solely for this type of tournament. Isshin-ryu was inspired by principles which spell success in an open environment, such as a street fight, or a fight against multiple opponents. Our basic premise is not to get hit or trade strikes with our opponents. We are taught to avoid clashes, a principle which Master McGrath calls “non-involvement” a basic part of his “Principles of Fighting.” Our oblique moves would avoid an attack that is based upon straight forward dashes toward the opponent. We ask you to mentally step back from tournament scoring and what it has become, in the last fifteen years. Visualize what it might take to win, in a fight with multiple opponents, who are intent on doing you great harm. True Isshin-ryu would rule in this situation. But Isshin-ryu is not what the younger students believe fighting is; based upon their tournament experience. Unfortunately, the tournament fighting style is brought back to the dojo and thoughtlessly nurtured and persists in deteriorating the Isshin-ryu fighting system and perpetuating instead, a defective and ineffective method of self defense. If we simply fight, utilizing the Isshin-ryu system, we will win in the street and in the ring. So fire up your snap or focus, speed and balance and feel the boost in your confidence. Learn to relax during kumite and it will become enjoyable. Stay relaxed and win.

            We must remember that we are Isshin-ryu and practice it as it was meant to be used, with all of the basic premises inherently utilized, in an instinctive manner.  Good luck and good Isshin-ryu.

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