Master Your Skills in Karate

ISSHINRYU

Tatsuo Shimabuku, the founder of Isshinryu Karate, was born in Okinawa in 1908. He started his karate studies the hard way. He had to walk twelve miles to his uncle's school in Shuri, a small village twelve miles from home. At first, his uncle did not want to accept him as a student and sent him away several times before finally accepting him. Shimabuku, who was only eight years old at this time, had to do many little chores around the dojo before he was permitted to study. He studied Shuri-te for four years.

Chotoku Kiyan who was already very famous throughout Okinawa was Shimabuku's next instructor. Here he trained in Kobayashi-ryu. He also studied Goju-ryu under Chojun Miyagi. Shimabuku was to become his most outstanding student. He then went back to his study of Kobayashi-ryu, this time under the teachings of the legendary Choki Motobu. Desiring to increase his knowledge Shimabuku also studied the traditional weapons. >From the two great masters Yabiku and Taira Shinken he learned about the Sai, the short sword with the pronged handle, the Bo, a long wooden staff, and the Tonfa, a short wooden weapon with an offset handle.

Shimabuku studied both Goju-ryu and Shorin-ryu for thirty-two years. He excelled in both styles and found many parts of each very useful. He linked the power of Goju-ryu and the speed and grace of Shorin-ryu, but he was never completely satisfied with the total concept of each style. His dissatisfaction led to the obvious. This was to make a combination of the best parts of each into one system. Of course the traditionalists were, as always, furious. They would not accept this new system. They did everything in their power to thwart his attempts to perfect his new style. He was ridiculed and bothered in every possible manner. After many years, he noted that even the finest fighters did not rotate their fist punching. A technique they so diligently practice. To do so was actually awkward. It looked good in Kata but was not actually used when sparring. He believed the vertical punch was much faster and stronger. It could be focused at any point up to and including the fully extended arm that the other styles were so proud of.

In order to help propagate his new system, which he officially organized soon after World War Two, he gave free lessons to U.S. Servicemen at Camp Hansen and Kadena Air Base. Master Shimabuku gave the birth date of Isshinryu as January 15, 1956.

Overcoming every possible obstacle Mater Tatsuo Shimabuku lived to see his one time "maverick" style accepted in many branches throughout the world. He remained the active head of the Isshinryu system until his death on May 30, 1975.

There is now a bust of the Master in the Isshinryu World Headquarters in Guishikawa-City. This statue was a gift from the Isshinryu Karateka of Indianapolis, Indiana in the United States.

 Eamonn Knights, a multi-talented and award winning 5th degree Black Belt, has been practicing Karate and Martial Arts for about 30 years and taught Karate in Japan and the US in the last 10.  He currently teaches Isshinryu style Karate with a focus on self-defense in Washington DC. 
Born in London, Eamonn began studying Karate as a teenager in Guyana, South America, and received his Shodan (1st black belt) in 1994.  While an undergraduate at the University of Maryland he was first exposed to Isshinryu Karate. Under Sensei’s Dr. Wells and Ron Klingner, he began studying Isshinryu Karate.  He competed frequently in local tournaments and won many  awards. In 1997, Eamonn went for a trip to Okinawa with a Shorinryu Karate School.  There he met Shorinryu masters and trained with the Okinawan sparing team, before they competed in the Okinawan Karate Kobudo World Tournament. He also met Sensei Hovey who connected him to other Isshinryu Karatekas during that trip.  He received a letter of appreciation from the Mayor of Urasoe City for his contributions to the promotion of international exchange activities.  From 1997 to 2001, Eamonn went back to Japan where he further developed his Karate skills and began teaching Karate.  He trained with Master Uezo to perfect his sparing techniques and worked out different styles with some of the best Karate fighters.  He was also exposed to Chinese Martial Arts including Tai Chi. In 2003, Eamonn received a 5th  degree Black Belt from Master Kichiro Shimabuku 10th Dan (IWKA) and was promoted to Godan (5th  degree).
When Sensei Klingner who taught Isshinryu Karate in Washington DC retired, Eamonn took over as the Lead Instructor. Throughout the years, Eamonn developed his own fighting and teaching styles.  He emphasizes discipline, code of conduct and self-cultivation. He encourages his women students to fight back with simple yet powerful self-defense techniques.  Eamonn speaks several languages including Chinese, Indonesian, and Japanese, and enjoys playing violin and ballroom dancing as part of his efforts as a balanced human being.   

Literally: If a person has ambition, things will be accomplished

"Sometimes when you search for the spotlight only your dark side is illuminated"

Karate Creed

I come to you with only Karate - Empty Hands. I have no weapons, but should I be forced to defend myself, my principles or my honor, should it be a matter of life or death, right or wrong, then here are my weapons, Karate - my empty hands.

Code of Isshinryu

1.A person's heart is the same as heaven and earth.
2.The Blood Circulating is similar to the moon and the sun.
3.A manner of drinking and spitting is either hard or soft.
4.A person's unbalance is the same as a weight.
5.The body should be able to change direction at any time.
6.The time to strike is when the opportunity presents itself.
7.The eye must see all sides.
8.The ear must listen in all directions.