Presentation on Grand Master Donald H. Nagle by Ed McGrath, a student and friend of Sensei Nagle for over four decades
On August 23, 1999, the death of Donald H. Nagle, a native of Jersey City, New Jersey, brought an end to an era of excellence in the global world of the martial Arts. After four decades of teaching Isshinryu karate, both in the United States Marine Corps and as a civilian, Don Nagle, acknowledged by his peers and other masters as the Grand Master of Isshinryu, had become a legend. Indeed, such were his skills that a myriad of his students also became well known competitors and Senseis. His students number in the thousands and his stature and presence will remain as long as there is an Isshinryu school, where stories of his awesome skills and matches will be told. There was never anyone quite like "our teacher" and it will be many decades before we see his like again.
In late 1955, Sensei Nagle began his study of Isshinryu karate, under it's founder, Tatsuo Shimabuku, on the island of Okinawa. The founder or Soke was undoubtedly quick to realize that Sensei Nagle was a heaven sent student, since it was always evident that Sensei Nagle was a natural to Isshinryu, as much as Ted Williams, was to baseball. At that time, the other teachers on Okinawa would not accept Isshinryu as a legitimate style, for Soke Shimabuku had created a unique martial art, which incorporated many innovative techniques that eventually became the very core of it's success. In fact, the relationship between Soke Shimabuku and his brother became strained by this situation .
Isshinryu set a new standard. For this reason, Don Nagle, a young Marine, at 5'8" and 123 lbs., was sent to the other dojos to fight the best of the Okinawans, as Soke had done in the past. As a white belt or beginner, Cpl. Nagle's skills embarrassed the other Senseis in their own schools. The ultimate embarrassment came when Soke Shimabuku entered Mr. Nagle in the annual Okinawan Grand Championship. A white belt or beginner against Okinawa's top black belts, Sensei Nagle won the championship. Events such as these gave Isshinryu stature and it was now an undeniable presence on Okinawa. Prior to leaving Okinawa, Soke Shimabuku presented Mr. Nagle with his personal obi and ranked him as a fifth degree black belt.
Upon returning to the United States, Sensei Nagle became a partner in the dojo that Sgt. Ernie Cates had previously established on New Bridge Street, Jacksonville, North Carolina. This was just outside Camp Lejeune, the home of the Second Marine Division. Sensei Cates, was the eight time winner of the All-Marine Judo Championship. Ernie was also the first foreigner to be awarded the rank of Sixth Degree Black Belt from the prestigious Kodokan Center in Tokyo, Japan. He was later commissioned and promoted to Captain, in VietNam, prior to retiring from the Corps. The dojo was inhabited by Marines of all ranks, who were there to learn, no matter how hard the training and it was tough even by Marine Corps standards. In the 50's and 60's, there was no protective equipment and the punches and kicks were not pulled. However, the feeling was that if we were hurt badly enough, the Corps would put us on no duty status. In actuality, that meant we had the time to go to training sessions during the day and at night. On any deck where Sensei Nagle walked, there would be tough, sometimes brutal fighting, it was expected and those of us who became his favorite fighters, took it with pride and without whining. To be his student was an element of wonder, pride in your survival and joy in the slightest nod of approval. There was never a night when at the end of the drills he did not take on every student in the school, without a break and often fought several of his best students several times. If you were among the students that he fought several times, or for longer periods, you felt privileged and were seen to be special by the other students. What it took to be "special" was a student who worked harder than expected, learned quickly from watching others, sought advise from other students and fought without being told to fight. Aggressive fighting, ability to fight with injury or pain and with skill, rather than strength, were the qualities that impressed Sensei Nagle.
Upon his discharge, he opened his first civilian dojo on Mercer Street in Jersey City, New Jersey, followed by his next dojo at Broadway, Bayonne, which remained his dojo until his death. All of his schools turned out extraordinary students, fighters and future teachers, who have gained renown in their own right. This is another indication of his ability to teach and inspire his students.
He joined the Jersey City Police Department, in 1967, becoming one of it's most respected and highly decorated narcotics detectives in the history of the department. Speaking to his former partners about his exploits in the field, is like reading a dime novel about Wyatt Earp. They relate the numerous times that he faced entire groups of armed drug dealers and subdued them without resorting to the use of weapons, other than his super human ability at Isshinryu karate. Even his partners held him in awe and the ones that I met were a tough bunch of police officers in their own right.
In 1966, during a two week visit by Soke Tatsuo Shimabuku, Master Nagle was promoted to eighth degree black belt and twenty years later, with the ultimate honor bestowed upon him by his peers. In 1986, at the Hall of Fame Tournament of Master Harold Long, Master Don Nagle, in the presence of over thirty of the highest ranking black belts in Isshinryu, from all over the United States, Canada, Mexico and Europe, was acclaimed for the title of Grand Master of Isshinryu karate and proudly accepted this great honor. Master Harold Long stated at the event, "Master Nagle deserves this honor because he is the finest example of an Isshinryu fighter and teacher that we have ever had in the United States". For Grand Master Nagle, their was no better compliment you could pay him, than simply to call him a fighter.
This was followed in his heart by his pride in being a member of the Jersey City Police Force, where he eventually proved to be the finest narcotics detective, in the history of the force and a highly recognized hero police officer. The stories of his courage and ability, told by his fellow officers, were astounding and his admirers in the force legion. One of his partners told me that Sensei Nagle would often charge in before anyone else, on a raid, and subdue six to seven people, before anyone reached the room. He stated that he often did this, without use of his weapon, to save bloodshed. After his retirement, his career in law enforcement culminated in an appointment as a Federal Marshal. I thought that he would finally settle down after his retirement and was astounded by his sheer joy at being assigned a Marshal. It was as though he had begun again.
Despite all of the excitement and honors in his life, I knew him as a humble, gentle and caring man, who didn't see himself as a legend, but as a teacher who loved to be with the young people who wanted to learn his art. They loved him in return and will remember him forever. |
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