Traditional
Okinawan Isshin-ryu at
Grand
Master McGrath’s Dojo
As
previously stated, Isshin-ryu
karate, as taught at the Patchogue Dojo is traditional Okinawan Isshin-ryu,
created by Tatsuo Shimabuku, a Master in Goju Ryu and Shorin Ryu karate. It is
practiced by 
Grand Master Ed McGrath, the successor to his Sensei, Donald Hugh
Nagle, who was a legend in his own time and who has proven to be the most
awesome and instinctive fighter known to karate, in the United States.
Unlike
many so-called karate schools which advertise that they will make you a black
belt in a
specific amount of time, true traditional Isshin-ryu dojos, such as Grand Master
Ed McGrath’s, stress the unique training methods which instill confidence,
pride in achievement, excellence in technique and unparalleled capability to
defend yourself. Obviously, with improvement in
competence comes promotion and Master McGrath is certified to promote up to
Ku-Dan or ninth degree black belt. However, this should not be your goal in
applying to study Isshin-ryu karate at the
Patchogue Dojo. Instead, we expect more from our students when they set their
goals. Think about what the mastery of Isshin-ryu karate would do for your body,
health, outlook on life, pride in yourself and self assurance in facing the
world. We hope to help you succeed not just on the deck, but in the rest of your
life, in school, at home, your occupation. Strength of character gained through Isshin-ryu
gives you the physical, mental and inner fortitude to succeed. All facets of
your training are designed to strengthen your mind, body and spirit. We hope to
give you the platform to find your full potential in life. This is our hope and
our goal. Isshin-ryu students are winners in tournament and life.
The
physical benefits of Isshin-ryu karate are self evident. The training will
change your body, in that it can be both aerobic and physically demanding in the
basic exercises, katas and kumite, which will develop muscle and eliminate fat.
It will sharpen your balance, tone your body, increase respiration quality and
bring a sense of wholeness to your system. The basics and katas have done this
for centuries and Soke Tatsuo Shimabuku, Master Nagle and Master McGrath and
their followers have perfected these capabilities.
The improvement
of the individual’s mental skills are, of course up to the amount of diligence
placed upon learning the basics, katas, ippon kumite, ju-kumite. Reaching for
the perfection of these components will raise your awareness, test your
cognitive abilities and develop your problem solving skills. That heightening of
your mental activity will extend beyond your practice and knowledge of Isshin-ryu.
It will also give you a refreshed determination to succeed. Your spirit will
follow your improved confidence and awareness. Lifting your spirits, building on
your achievements, raising your goals and understanding your self worth, will
bring with it a new, bolstered personality.
Isshin-ryu
is unvarnished realism. Why are we bound by tradition? A history of
accomplishments is the reason, with Grand
Master Nagle, as the Icon, of this martial art. Already a Corporal in the Marine
Corps, becoming a black belt and teacher of Isshin-ryu karate may have changed
every facet
of his life from that moment forward. Upon leaving the Marine Corps in 1960, he
shortly became an
officer in the Jersey City Police Department and was finally made a detective in
the Narcotics Squad, due to the number of arrests he made during his time as a
patrolman. It was here that he really shone as a law enforcement officer. His
partners, over the years, tell stories of his bravery and leadership, in moments
of danger and incredible stress, especially when breaking into the headquarters
of a drug gang. It seems that Master Nagle was in the habit of going through the
door first and confronting and overcoming the people inside, without drawing his
weapon, using only his karate. They say that by the time the other members of
the team got into the room, Master Nagle would have all of the gang members
subdued and in varying degrees of distress. He was soon the number one narcotics
detective in
New Jersey
.
A t that time, a $100,000 contract on his life, was placed in the street by the
Black Panthers. On several occasions, they attempted to fulfill this contract.
In each incident, Master Nagle emerged unhurt, something that his assailants
could not claim, as some of them lost their lives. After each incident, Master
Nagle would go after the boss, within the Panthers, who had put out the
contract. He was relentless in his drive against them.
Finally, at an outdoor award ceremony that Master McGrath attended, the Mayor of
Jersey City
recognized Detective Nagle as the predominant force that drove the
Black Panthers out of
Jersey City
. He received the Medal of Honor, for his efforts.
His
years as a teacher and competitor in Isshin-ryu karate, were crowned with
success, for not only was he undefeated on the deck and an extraordinary
teacher, who turned out champions and
some of the countries top instructors in the
United
States
,
but he was given the homage of his peers.
At a meeting in Tennessee, following a Hall of Fame Dinner and HOF Tournament,
with over a hundred participating black belts, including approximately thirty
who were ranked over sixth degree black belt, Master Nagle was chosen as the
first Grand Master and Ju-Dan in the United States. Among these black belts,
were both Harold Long, 9th Dan of the southern district and his
senior black belts, as well as, Lou Lizzote, senior Dan in New England. Sensei
Nagle quickly moved to unite Isshin-ryu and he and Harold Long worked together
toward this purpose until their deaths.
Shortly
after his retirement from the Jersey City Police Department, he was asked to
lend his experience to the United States Marshall Service, a post in which he
was justly proud and served with great honor. Before burial, his
Marshall
’s badge was placed in the casket beside him, with his red obi and his
JCPD badge. The funeral cortège,
numbering sixty cars, was accompanied from the funeral parlor to the church and
then to the cemetery, by four police cars before the hearse and four police cars
behind, with motorcycle police on both sides of the funeral cars, all with
lights and sirens on. Every intersecting street on the route was blocked off
with police barricades and police cars. At the grave site, Master McGrath, who
Sensei Nagle had named as his successor before he died, broke a Bo and placed it
in the grave, as is a tradition in Karate when a Grand Master dies. He would
have loved it. It was exactly the reverence and honor due a warrior of his
magnitude.
In
the Patchogue dojo, the dojo designated as Grand Master McGrath’s Headquarters
school, while it is run by Steven DiLorenzo, Roku-Dan, Dan Vena, Roku-Dan and
Greg Melita, San Dan, with Master DiLorenzo the acting Sensei of the dojo. The
dojo is located on
S.
Ocean Avenue
,
in the heart of the colorful and historic location of Patchogue,
Long
Island
.
Here, Mr. McGrath, lends his
experience
and expertise in traditional Isshin-ryu,
in order to ensure that the training remains traditional in the manner of both
Tatsuo Shimabuku Soke and Don Nagle Hanshi. His respect for both of these late
and exalted Masters remains his incentive to seek excellence in the schools
students and the Instructors, as well. The dojo will also adhere to the original
values of Isshin-ryu, by inviting other brother schools to attend friendship
workouts, where these diverse students can gain greater knowledge and
understanding of other students and Masters insight into Isshin-ryu. This open
door policy was traditional in Isshin-ryu, until the last fifteen years and
Master McGrath, as his Sensei, Don Nagle did in his last years, is attempting to
revive this fellowship.
Hanshi
McGrath also teaches Hand-to-Hand Combat to active duty Marines at the First
Marine Recruiting District, in Garden City, Long Island,
New York
. His background in assisting the Marine Recruiting challenge, goes back
to 1964, when for decades, he put on demos at the New York Coliseum, Madison
Square Garden and seven appearances at the New York World’s Fair, in Flushing
Meadow Park, Queens, NY. To this day, Mr. McGrath has worn a large
United States
Marine Corps
emblem on the back of his gi (uniform).
Questions or Comments? Please e-mail: thedojo@aokaincmcgrath.com