News update from the IIKA

IIKA

News Up-Date

Chairman: JC Burris President: Tommy True

Board Members:
Phil McElroy, Jim McDonald, Willie Wilson, Melbert Lee, Bruce Guillaume,
David Gabbard, Kelly Markham , Jerry Smith, Don Bordinger,
Carol Burris, Mike Lewis, Sandra Strong

Release: All IIKA Personnel
Subject: IIKA Promotions
Release Date: Sunday, December 10, 2006

On behalf of the IIKA Board of Directors, we would like to express our deepest congratulations to David Gabbard, Kelly Markham , and Don Bordinger on their well deserved promotions.

These men have a long tradition of loyalty to Isshin-Ryu Karate and the IIKA . They all exemplify the true spirit of Isshin-Ryu and are a shining representation of what dedication and focus on one’s art form can do. From all of us, congratulations on your accomplishment.

Sincerely,
Tommy True
President

On July 19 2006, Sensei Dave Gabbard was promoted to the rank of Hachi Dan 8^th Degree in a special promotion ceremony at Martial Arts for the Heart Dojo in Winchester , Tennessee . Phil McElroy, Jim McDonald, Butch Hill, Dennis Martin, and Tony Williams attended this very special occasion. Sensei Gabbard started his training at the Nashville Dojo under Master Denny Shaffer, Phil McElroy, and Jim McDonald and has studied Isshinryu Karate for over 31 years. He has received many awards over the years and was inducted in the Isshinryu Hall of Fame in 1998. He also serves as a board member of the IIKA , and has traveled throughout the country for many years supporting Isshinryu events. David has always displayed the true Isshinryu spirit as a competitor and instructor.

Submitted by Phil McElroy

On Saturday, November the 4^th, 2006 in Rogersville , TN , Kelly Markham was promoted to the rank of Hachi-Dan by Tommy True and the IIKA Board of Directors. Representatives from various schools throughout East Tennessee were on hand to share the event, fellowship, and workout.

The morning began with a 2-hour seminar on basic Isshin-Ryu techniques hosted by Mr. True. The focus of the morning was on setup, power and speed. Following the workout, Mr. True spoke to the group, recognized Mr. Markham’s 34 years of devotion to Isshin-Ryu and promoted Mr. Markham to Hachi-Dan. After the promotion ceremony all those who could adjourned for lunch

As always, everyone in attendance came away from the event with something new to work on and think about. It was a wonderful opportunity to see old friends, make new ones and share experiences.

Submitted by Tommy True

On November 9, 2006 at a ceremony at the Roane School of Isshin-Ryu in Harriman , TN , Don Bordinger was promoted to the rank of Shichi-Dan.

Don Bordinger began his Isshin-Ryu study with Grand Master Harold Long in 1966, and later partnered with Mr. Long in a Dojo in Knoxville , TN. After long days in the dojo and numerous trips with Mr. Long to events around the country, and eighteen years later, Mr. Bordinger was promoted by Mr. Long to the rank of Roku-Dan.

During those years, Mr. Bordinger was a member of the IIKA Board of Directors, where he served as Secretary. Don Bordinger wrote the Isshin-Ryu Hall of Fame Constitution and By Laws, and was later appointed as the Chairman of the Board and President of one of the most prestigious Isshin-Ryu organizations in the world…the Isshin-Ryu Hall of Fame. During his tenure with the IHOF, Mr. Bordinger assisted in the induction of Grand Master Tatsuo Shimabuku, Harold Long, Harold Mitchum, Don Nagle, Steve Armstrong, J.C. Burris, and Denny Shaffer.

Over the years, Mr. Bordinger continued to teach Isshin-Ryu Karate at the Paragon Health Club in Oak Ridge , TN , Webb School in Knoxville , TN and the Oak Ridge High School in Oak Ridge , TN.

Today, Mr. Bordinger still actively teaches advanced Isshin-Ryu Karate techniques (many of the same techniques he and Mr. Long used to teach to law enforcement) and principles involved with exercise physiology to ranking students at the Roane School of Isshin-Ryu in Harriman , TN , under the supervision of Master Tommy True.

Submitted by Tommy True

Winter Sign Up Special

Bayonne Isshinryu

Announces Winter Sign Up Special
Enroll now for 3 months at a discount
and get Gi for Free
(new members only)

www.Bayonne.AOKAInc.com

DON NAGLE'S SENIOR DAN'S
HALL OF FAME INDUCTION

The Don Nagle AOKAINC, 805 Broadway Bayonne, was honored by one of the martial arts icons our time.
Grandmaster Gary Alexander founder of the IAMA, International Association of Martial Arts, held their annual HALL OF FAME AWARDS dinner at the Forge, in Woodbridge New Jersey.
The following martial arts masters were inducted
Hanshi Ernie Temple, 9th Dan ISSHINRYU, Hanshi Ralph D. Passero, 9th Dan, President of the AOKAINC, were awarded the 2006 IAMA American Martial Artists Patriots Award, Larry Thunderfoot Cureton, 7th Dan, a profession Kickboxing/Fullcontact Karate Champion, was awarded the 2006 Full Contact Karate Champion Award, Grandmaster Vincent Marchetti, 10th Dan, a Master of Judo, Jujitsu, and Grappling, Trainer of the Military Special Ops, and FBI, and SWAT teams was awarded the
Police Tactical Defense Instructor Award. Grandmaster Ralph Chirico, 10th Dan, an original student of Grandmaster Don Nagle was awarded Grandmaster of the Year Award.


Pictured in photo, left to right Hanshi Ralph D. Passero 9thDan
Hanshi Ernie Temple 9th Dan
Grandmaster Ralph Chirico, 10th Dan
Grandmaster Vincent Marchetti, 10th Dan
Master Larry Thunderfoot Cureton, 7th Dan

IN MEMORIAM - Steven Harry Armstrong

IN MEMORIAM
Steven Harry Armstrong
1931-2006

Steve Armstrong was born in Guymon, Oklahoma, September 22, 1931. He began studying Karate at 16 years of age. Armstrong grew up in Texas where he says he was, "A fair to middlin boxer."

Armstrong began his career in karate at a dojo near a train station in Kobe, Japan, in 1948. In 1949 he had to take time to travel to China. After training for about a year in Japan he earned a black belt in karate. Armstrong had spent about a year and a half
in the Orient.

After a 30 day leave, he found himself once again back in Japan. This time he was stationed at the Marine Barracks in Yokohama, Japan. Again he started his studies in Karate, but this time, he was required to begin anew as a white belt as this was different from his original style of Karate. He continued to study Karate in the area and achieved Black Belt status in this new discipline. Then one day in July, 1950, his outfit left for the Korean War.

After having served in Korea, Sensei Armstrong returned to the USA to be stationed at the world famous Marine Barracks in Washington, D.C., where he found himself on the Presidential Honor Guard for President Truman. During these years he continued his studies in Karate on his own. Finally, he decided to leave the Service to go to college at the University of Texas.

After leaving college, Armstrong re-enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1959. This time he was stationed on the Japanese island of Okinawa where he met a man that would change his life: Master Tatsuo Shimabukuro, Founder of Isshinryu Karate. Although already a Black Belt in two different styles of Karate, Goju Ryu and Shorin Ryu, Armstrong was again required to start as a white belt.

Sensei Armstrong has stated that while under the tutelage of Master Shimabukuro: "This is where I started learning Karate and what it is all about. My other instructors were good, but I wasn't a good student. Karate was only a method of fighting for me, until I met Shimabuku."

In 1960, Master Shimabuku, Harold Mitchum, Steve Armstrong, and several others formed the American-Okinawan Karate Association (AOKA). Harold Mitchum was the first AOKA president and Steve Armstrong and Ralph Bove were association officers.

Upon returning to the United States in 1961 Armstrong established a dojo in Tacoma Washington. He eventually expanded into several locations, including a few of the Colleges and Universities in Washington state.

Sensei Armstrong became one of the leading instructors in Isshinryu karate in the USA.

In 1966 Tatsuo Shimabukuro made his 2nd and last trip to the United States, spending time with Steve Armstrong in Tacoma, Washington; Harold Long in Knoxville, Tennessee; and Don Nagle in Jersey City, New Jersey. At this time, all three were promoted to 8th Dan by Master Shimabuku. At Armstrong's dojo the famous 1966 film was made with Sensei Shimabukuro demonstrating all Isshinryu kata.

He was inducted in the Isshinryu Hall of Fame in 1985.

In 1986 Dutch sensei Fred van de Vijver studied under Steve Armstrong and together they founded the NIKA (Netherlands Isshinryu Karate Association).

In 1988 Sensei Armstrong visited the Netherlands and the EIKA (European Isshinryu Karate Association) was founded. That way creating a strong foothold for Isshinryu in Europe.

The last years of his life he was treated in Washington Veterans Hospital.

Sensei Steve Armstrong passed away on November 15th, 2006.

Master Steve Armstrong-Isshinryu Legend

America's Sensei, My Sensei,
Isshin Ryu Sensei Steven Harry Armstrong
Passes Away—November 15, 2006.

(taken from Michael E. Odell's web site)

"The Lord preserve thy going out,
The Lord preserve thy coming in.
God send His angels round about
To keep thy soul from every sin;
And when thy going out is done,
And when thy coming in is o'er
When in death's darkness all alone,
Thy feet can come and go no more,
The Lord preserve thy going out
From this dark world of grief and sin,
While angels standing round about,
Sing, ‘God preserve thy coming in.'"
________ St. Augustine

Many teachers I may have, yes, but only one Sensei,
my Sensei, Steven Harry Armstrong.
Michael E. Odell - Senior Student

For Steve Armstrong's bio please visit: http://www.journaled.com/MA/Isshinryu/SArmstrong/main.htm
or
http://veritas.swiftsite.com/sensei.html#honor

Promotion of Sensei Jeff Sterling, to the rank of San Dan

Promotion of Sensei Jeff Sterling, to the rank of San Dan, 78 years old, training in ISSHINRYU for 17 years, he is one of the DON NAGLE AOKAINC Instructors, who has earned the rank of Sensei.

It is an honor to know him, to have him as a student, and instructor and now a Sensei, I was honored to promote him and be the one to give him this rank.

He is a very special person, and he was presented his Black Gi top from the 1983 IIKA WORLD CHAMPION JOE MAZZA, 8th Degree Black Belt, one of the DON NAGLE'S AOKA Champion fighters.

He is an instructor and Sensei of the Children's class for the last four years, his patience is second to none, and he is a one of kind, and respected by all students and instructors.

-posted by Master Ralph Passero

Update on Steve Armstrong from the IIKA

IIKA

News Up-Date
Chairman: JC Burris President: Tommy True

Board Members:
Phil McElroy, Jim McDonald, Willie Wilson, Melbert Lee, Bruce Guillaume,Kelly Markham, Jerry Smith, David Gabbard, Sandra Strong,
Carol Burris, Mike Lewis, Don Bordinger

Release: All IIKA Personnel
Subject: Grandmaster Steve Armstrong
Release Date: Sunday, November 12, 2006

Recently, Grandmaster Steve Armstrong suffered a major stroke. Early on his health was in question, however, we are pleased to report that he continues to improve. He has a strong appetite, and although he has not yet been able to regain his speech he does have limited mobility.

As you know, Mr. Armstrong was one of the four original American servicemen who studied Isshin-Ryu directly under Grandmaster Shimabuku and returned to teach in the United States .

Our thoughts and prayers are with him during this most difficult time. Please keep him in your prayers, and pray that God will strengthen him spiritually, physically and emotionally.

We will update you as additional information becomes available.