AOKA HISTORY

The AOKA was started in Okinawa in 1960. It was originally known as the Okinawan American Karate Association. The the association founders were:

1. Master Tatsuo Shimabuku, Director
2. Harold Mitchum, President
3. Kinjo Chinsaku, Vice President
4. Ralph Bove, Staff Secretary
5. William Blond, Treasurer
6. Stephen Armstrong, U.S. Treasurer

The mission of the association was to unite Isshinryu Karate throughout the world and the United States. Several small associations existed without any real goals. All fees collected were sent to Okinawa so that the development of our style would always be directed by the founder, Tatsuo Shimabuku.

During the next several years, all high ranks were re-called by Tatsuo Shimabuku so that each person could be re-examined and validated to insure the purity of Isshinryu Karate. This caused a great deal of friction among several groups that wanted to remain independent.

Tatsuo Shimabuku travelled to the United States in 1964 and visited the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area. The sponsors of this trip did not welcome any other former students to visit Souke. This caused further dissension among the Isshinryu Family. Souke returned to Okinawa unhappy with his introduction in the United States. He was convinced to return to the United States by Masters Armstrong, Nagle and Long in 1966. Souke personally trained with students in each of their dojos. He also performed all of the Isshinryu Kata's for videotaping purposes so they would remain as his legacy. Included in these katas were the new weapon katas he had learned during the 1950s and early 1960s from Yakibu Moden and Taira Sinken. He now declared that with these katas Isshinryu Karate had become a complete karate style. His years of experimenting and perfecting had culminated into what he felt was the true and complete Isshinryu karate.

During this visit, Tatsuo promoted Masters Armstrong, Nagle and Long to 8th Dans. Joining this group, the only other American 8th Dan was Harold Mitchum who was teaching at the number two Dojo in Okinawa. The United States was divided into three regions for the promotion of Isshinryu karate. Master Nagle was the East Coast representative, Master Long was in charge of the Southern states and Master Armstrong had the West Coast. Master Armstrong would also serve as the head United States representative and direct contact with Tatsuo Shimabuku in Okinawa. All three Masters formed their respective Board of Directors to delegate their authority. Master Shimabuku also held a thirteen hour meeting with fifty to sixty black belts during this time, realizing that the future of Isshinryu Karate would now shift to the United States. He decreed the name of the association would be the American Okinawan Karate Association. He believed that the United States would soon be headquarters for Isshinryu Karate and the American Okinawan title would be fitting.

As time ensued, misunderstandings developed among the three U.S. masters. On May 29, 1969 an All Isshinryu Karate seminar sponsored by Master Armstrong was held in Cleveland, Ohio in an attempt to strengthen ties and establish policies for Isshinryu Karate in the United States and Canada. Unfortunately, Master Nagle, a police officer at the time could not attend due to a job conflict. Master Long indicated he was not interested in attending and was forming his own association for Isshinryu Karate. The meeting and seminar was a success, however, lack of participation by Masters Nagle and Long diminished the strength of the organization and it began to flounder. Master Nagle initiated his own organization as well and the AOKA became fragmented. In 1973 Masters Lewis Lizotte and Willie Adams convinced Master Armstrong to actively renew and promote the AOKA. This revitalization effort began with a symposium held in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania in October, 1974. There was a renewed spirit in the AOKA and a great many black belts attended to pledge their support to the re-newed AOKA. Master Armstrong the Director of the AOKA reorganized the association appointing Master Lewis Lizotte as President and Master Willie Adams as Vice-President with Master Toby Cooling as Board Member. A symposium was held in March, 1975 sponsored by Master Lizotte in preparation for the first AOKA Grand National Karate Tournament that was planned for July, 1975.

On May 30, 1975 the founder of Isshinryu karate, Master Tatsuo Shimabuku passed away in Okinawa. The entire Isshinryu family, from coast to coast, mourned the passing of its spiritual leader.

The First AOKA Grand National Karate Tournament was held in Orlando, Florida in July, 1975. Members of the AOKA from all parts of the country attended this event making it a tremendous success. There was a great camaraderie and fellowship established that weekend forming a foundation for many lasting friendships. There was a feeling that the AOKA should expand it's presence to different parts of the country in an effort to promote Isshinryu. The highlight of the tournament was the promotion of Master Steve Armstrong to 10th Degree Black Belt. Ten years earlier, Master Tatsuo Shimabuku had signed a certificate of promotion to 10th Degree for Master Armstrong with the instruction that he was not to acknowledge this promotion until 1975. It was ironic that Master Shimabuku has designated this particular year for Master Armstrong to accept the promotion not knowing that this was to be the year of his own passing. This further buoyed the spirit of those in attendance and strengthened the resolve to further develop the AOKA. New York City was selected as the site for the Second AOKA Grand National.

The 1976 Second AOKA Grand Nationals was held in New York City at a local YMCA. The attendance for this event was less than expected, smaller than the Orlando tournament and it was marred in part by road construction making it difficult to locate and access the YMCA building. However, several new black belts attended this event and subsequently joined the AOKA thus growing the organization. The attendance and participation of Master Nagle was a welcome gesture! It was decided that the Third AOKA Grand Nationals would be held in Florida in July, 1977.

Master Armstrong began receiving more and more correspondence and requests to join the AOKA as the organization became stronger. Members began traveling to regional tournaments sponsored by fellow AOKA members. One of the biggest participants in traveling to regional tournaments was Master Willie Adams and Master Sam Santilli. The 1977 AOKA Grand Nationals was a tremendous success; a feeling of fellowship permeated the event further expanding the organization. Other fragmented groups of Isshinryu criticized the AOKA but did not step up to make it a better organization. This attitude from peripheral groups galvanized the resolve of the AOKA organization and provided the impetus for even further growth. Over the next several years, the AOKA constructed a network of karateka dedicated to Isshinryu Karate in its truest form. Several members of other fragmented groups splintered and became members of the AOKA. Tournaments were held in all parts of the country including Florida, Michigan, Illinois, and Connecticut.

In 1987, Master Steve Armstrong retired and handed the reins of the AOKA to Lewis A. Lizotte who had been president since 1974. A new Board of Directors for the AOKA was formed and the following officers were installed:

• Lewis Lizotte, Director
• Willie Adams, President
• Ronald Boucher, Vice-President
• Sam Santilli, Board Member
• Steve Young, Board Member

The three new members of the Board had worked tirelessly for many years in the promotion of the AOKA and their appointment was well deserved. This second renewal of the AOKA brought about the formal registration of the AOKA as a non profit organization dedicated to the promotion and preservation of Isshinryu Karate.

This spirit of renewal prompted Master Willie Adams to convince Master Lizotte to join him in Tennessee at Master Long's IWKA Hall of Fame Tournament in an effort to once again bring the Isshinryu factions together. A good meeting was held at this event between Masters Long, Nagle and Lizotte. They agreed that Master Nagle would become a 10th Degree Black Belt and would be seen as the final authority in Isshinryu Karate in the United States, but that each individual association would govern themselves independently and maintain their own Board of Directors. Master Nagle would be the figurehead. All participants left Tennessee with a jubilant feeling that much had been accomplished and the United States Isshinryu Family was once again united. As time passed, however, Master Nagle wavered in his assumption of the figurehead role for Isshinryu nationwide. The other associations did not receive confirmation from him and subsequently continued on without his assumption of this role.

Master Don Bohan approached Masters Lizotte and Adams at the Hall of Fame event and asked to join the AOKA bringing with him several members of his group. Master Bohan asked for no favors and was promised none!! He felt that the AOKA was an organization that had accomplished many things that he believed should have been done. His request was well received as Master Bohan was well known as a dedicated Isshinryu karateka and had been asked by many organizations to sit on their Boards. Master Bohan became and still is one of the strongest supporters of the AOKA and one of its most loved Masters.

In 1988, an independent Promotion Board was formed by the AOKA to be responsible for the testing and qualification of all 4th, 5th and 6th Degree Black Belts sanctioned by the Executive Board of the AOKA. This has proven to be very successful and has given the AOKA Board of Directors more time to devote to the business of managing the AOKA in its quest for the betterment of Isshinryu Karate. Other organizational changes included the expansion of the AOKA Board of Directors since the membership of the organization was rapidly expanding. The following individuals were nominated for a position on the Board of Directors of the AOKA:

• Mr. Chester Holubecki
• Mr. Mitchell Kobylanski
• Mr. Bill Salinardi
• Mr. Don Bohan

In 1990, Master Don Bohan was selected from the group on nominees to joing the Board of Directors.

The 1991 AOKA Grand Nationals were held in Jacksonville, North Carolina and hosted by Master Bohan. Master Bohan and his students worked tirelessly to plan and execute one of the best events the AOKA has sponsored. It was a tremendous success. The AOKA was continuing its expansion.

In 1992, The AOKA Grand National Tournament and Hall of Fame Banquet was held in Enfield, Connecticut. Master Steve Armstrong was the guest of honor. Master Armstrong recognized the efforts of the Board of Directors as his successors and promoted the following members:

• Lewis Lizotte, 10th Degree
• Willie Adams, 9th Dan
• Don Bohan, 9th Dan
• Ron Boucher, 8th Dan
• Sam Santilli, 7th Dan
• Steve Young, 7th Dan

The promotions given to these individuals by Master Armstrong brought criticism from some groups. However, a few months later these same groups also promoted some of their members to 9th Dans.

In 1993, Master Steve Young and his group hosted the 1993 AOKA Grand Nationals in Willowbrook, Illinois. This was the biggest and best Grand National since the inception of this annual event. The 2nd Hall of Fame Banquet was attended by more than 550 guests.

In 1994, Masters Willie Adams and Sam Santilli hosted the AOKA Grand Nationals in Detroit, Michigan. This tournament was also one of the biggest and best tournaments sponsored by the AOKA due to the hard work of all of Mr. Adams students, especially Master Sam Santilli who co-hosted this event.

In 1995, The AOKA Grand Nationals were held in Daytona Beach, Florida. The distinction of this event was the participation of a group of AOKA members from Puerto Rico! The AOKA once again demonstrated its ability to expand and flourish. Plans were made to include members from not only Puerto Rico, but other countries outside of the United States. The next AOKA Grand National Tournament would be titled the World Isshinryu Karate Championship in recognition of our membership from throughout the world.

The 1996, The World Isshinryu Karate Championship was held in Springfield, Massachusetts and was hosted by Master Lizotte and his group. Several months after the tournament pretenders to the AOKA claimed title to this organization. The history of AOKA presented here is taken from numerous notebooks and documents handed down from Master Armstrong to the current members of the AOKA. The one, only and official membership of the AOKA is directed by the individuals identified in this document.

The 1997 23rd World Isshinryu Karate Championship was once again held in Springfield, Massachusetts. This championship welcomed several old friends who attended the tournament including: Master Ed McGrath and his lovely wife Jean and Master Gary Alexander. The tournament and banquet went well and plans were made to hold the 1998 24th World Isshinryu Karate Championship in Charlotte, North Carolina. The hosts of the 1998 championship are Master Mitch Kobylanski and his group.

The AOKA would like to thank all of its loyal membership for their time, effort and dedication to the principles of Tatsuo Shimabuku's Isshinryu Karate. We look forward to continued growth and fellowship in the years to come.

Lewis A. Lizotte