Gary Alexander’s Traditional Karate,
Made in the U.S.A. by U.S.M.C.
To describe my “Traditional” Martial Arts Training I must first define
what the term “Traditional” translates as to me. As I see it the term Tradition/Traditional is a very personal
sight picture to each and every one of us.
Does Tradition/Traditional go back to the Generation of twenty, fifty, a hundred,
or three hundred years hence? Is Tradition/Traditional an item of time, or is it as recent as a Martial Arts personality that
has distinguished himself last week, last month, or last generation?
I think it is a combination of all of the above. Thank you to the Martial Art
“Ancients” that did the first Research and Development as akin to the Wright Brothers First Flight that cruised
at 40 Miles per hour
with no more than “40hp Motors, Sticks, and Tarpaulin” which have
now been perfected, expanded, and re-developed to have given us in modern times such Flight phenomena’s that range up
to speeds of Mach 5 plus (Aurora), the Sonic B-1 Bombers, near space Concordes, Stealth Commanches, plus, plus.
The Martial Arts have every right to have progressed (which they have) in the
same manner as Flight has taken shape
So, with this in mind I will continue to describe my “Traditional”
roots which for me go back as far as 45 years ago as I trained Isshinryu Karate primarily in the Marine Corps by and with
fellow Marines (many now deceased) that had followed the path of Tatsuoa Shimabuku’s Isshinryu Karate Do.
You see, when I was on active duty in the Marine Corp as part of the Fleet Marine
Force stationed in Japan, Okinawa and performing landings (in training) all over the beaches of the Far East, we never had
the time and luxury of going into the towns we were stationed at to train in the Martial Arts to any great extent.
But!….. There were those Headquarters Marines that stayed in “Garrison”
throughout their tours of duty to take care of the Administration of the FMF. They had access to the towns nightly. Those
are the men that got the chance to train up and become expert in particularly the Okinawan Karate systems of the time such
as Isshinryu, Shorinryu, Okinawa Goju, plus.
When we came back into the home bases for usually a month or so and then out again
on another campaign, we would try to get together with the Marines that were learning and pick up what we could in a short
period of time. So, training on the Bases Recreation Gym was all we had for the limited time we were “home”. Karate
Ranking wasn’t even a thought in those days. Proficiency was!
Beyond this, while we were in the field (on floats, making landings) whenever
we got a reasonable break in our Training duties, we would further exchange techniques with anyone we could find that had
some Judo, Karate, Boxing, whatever there was that we could find in our quest to become a more perfect fighting machine which
is what U.S. Marines strive for.
While still active in the Marine Corps, the skills I was able to develop were
satisfactory for me (at that time) and I felt comfortable with my abilities in Basic Hand to Hand Combat, Weapons use, and
methods of dis-arming aggressors.
Fortunately for me, when I was discharged from the Active Marine Corp, I became
aware of a gathering of Marines in Jersey City, NJ (my home town) that were there to practice the Martial Arts/Isshinryu Karate
with a gentlemen that became very proficient in the Isshinryu Karate System. This Expert Karate Marine was Don Nagle.
The Marines came to Jersey City from all over the country to train up with this
now well known (at least in Marine Corp circles) Karate exponent that arrived back in the U.S. as a 4th Degree
Black Belt.
Now this was in the days when most people thought Karate was something you ate(?).
There were Marines with names like Don Bohan, Ed McGrath, Rick Niemira, James
Chapman, Lou Lizotte, to name only a few, and of course yours truly Gary Alexander.
This outstanding cadre of Marines with our Corps “Esprit de Corp”,
and Discipline very much intact we were going to be the best of the best in the Traditional-Combatant Martial Arts and Fighting
World.
The scenario was unlike anything that might be imagined insofar as the level of
training, and fighting that we exhibited towards each other, and against any occasional visitors that may have come in to
“check out” our activity. All were invited to come in. Most left in worst shape than they arrived and weren’t
interested in any further “Guest Passes” for future visits.
I felt that training with my fellow Marine Compatriots gave me everything I needed
to know to do what I wanted to do. And that wasn’t to try to find the
- True Meaning of Life as I was engulfed in a combat situation with a bunch a bad guys all around me!
The daily injuries running between, broken noses, toes, arms, fingers and accessory
organs, gashes, gourges, cuts, purple body parts, visits to the local hospitals, putting meatball sandwiches (of course with
“gravy sauce”) on our wounds, and drinking beer to refresh us.
As we trained up, fighting was the main motivation for attendance. However, it
was made mandatory (rightfully so) that we also train up in the Traditional side of the Isshinryu System learning Kata/Fighting
Forms, Philosophies, Strategies, Tactics, and thus started to matriculate up through the Ranking Systems as qualified.
Throughout a period of years for some, the training took hold, the reputations
established, names became known wide spread as the Arts influx started to grow and many of the Marines started to take their
leave to go back to their cities throughout America and begin their own dojo’s and train up their own cadre of Isshinryu
Warriors.
Consequently, with yours truly Gary Alexander, I remained in the New Jersey, New
York area continuing to train and eventually opening my own Dojo’s (School/Training Hall) in Central, NJ.
The rest is history, did a bunch of fighting and would travel to do so winning
the very “First Karate Events” in the Western Hemisphere in 1962.
They were the 1st Canadian Mas Tsuruoka Championships in Toronto (Yes!
The “First” Canadian Event Champion was this American!), then a week later winning the Mas Oyama North American
Championships in Madison Square Garden.
Beyond this, although the matches were full contact, I had lost my taste to fight
by Rules with Referee’s (?) that had their own ideas about who they wanted to win. I made my points in those events
by laying the losers down in front of them taking away any slants they wanted to embellish. Winner was evident!
From that point in time my fighting that went on for many years, was mostly in
Dojo’s as a visitor. Some friendly schools, some very unfriendly schools. But, it was all outstanding fun and action
and I was very fortunate as to have “never lost” anywhere, either in Karate matches, or to this day in scenario’s
“as I would phrase it” - in the field!
But even though I mentioned previously in this article I had a disdain for the
Fighting by Rules, and Referee’s I also felt that I/We should try to do better.
With this in mind I personally started to run the now “First Annual, and
Longest running Karate Championships in the U.S.A. The year 1964! Now in the 45th Year Anniversary.
In essence, with 48 years full time background running Martial Arts Events, Karate/Martial
Arts Academies, Seminars Worldwide, Fighting, Surviving, and Winning perhaps close to a thousands fights (all contact of course,
why else would you fight?) I lay claim to my Traditional up bringing and on-going
Battle Cry as “Made in the U.S.A. by the U.S. Marine Corps”, and my
(Gary Alexander) system is now called “Isshinryu Plus Combat Karate“**.
**Plus because of the use of combined Martial Arts I found it necessary to use
to stay ahead of my adversaries throughout the many years of fighting. The chant goes Punching, Grabbing, Blocking, Kicking,
Throwing, Tripping, Strategy, Psychology. Hit Fast!, Hit Hard!, Hit First!
As mentioned in the opening paragraph’s growth is the mark of the experienced,
courageous, the driven to perfection, and those not satisfied with the status quo (Marine types).
Ranging back to the early 1950’s, there is/was no one Classical Martial
Art system/style that has all the answers status quo. As of this date anyone that fights (not powder puff derby’s) with
these styles understands this and “if Winning”!, has made the right changes to round out his arsenal of weaponry.
I have been out of the Marine Corps for many years. But! The Marine Corps has
“never” been out of me!
For the last 45 years, I have used Boot Camp (Drill Instructor) mentality in my
schools, in my fighting, and in my dealings. The name of my Fighting Team is “Devil Dogs”. The Marine Corp was
the finest education I could have ever received, and it has sparked, contributed to, and enhanced my chosen Way of Life!
Until today, many of my closest Martial Arts Friends and Associates are Active
and Former Marines around the world. Obviously, they like what I do, and of course I think they are the greatest Warriors
in any environment on the mat, or in the field.
And, I am a Lucky Guy! I have received presents from Marines individually and
collectively ranging from Flight Leathers Jacket, Cammies, Gold Plated Weapons, Recon Pins, Jewelry, Shirts, Jackets, Caps,
Flight Teddy Bears to sit in my right seat when I fly my planes, Base Flags, Plaques, Cups, Watches, Sweat Suits, to the point
whereas everything I own has a Ball and Anchor (Marine Emblem for the un-initiated)
on it. No! No skivvies! Yet!!!
A Special Note: (Perhaps some lessons)
As a Youngster through Adolescence I was “Bedridden” sometimes for
a years at a time, with a Heart Condition and Rheumatic Fever, not being able to participate in School Gym, Sports, or other
Physical Activities.
As I advanced in age, tired of being sidelined, and following a lead set by my
brother, at age 17, I also decided to go down to my friendly Marine Recruiter and in my Junior year, talk my way in to the
“U.S. Marine Reserves” until I was graduated from High School.
After Graduating High School, I went Regular USMC, 6 years between Active/Reserve.
And that move made a profound impact on my adult personae and that impact became reinforced and utilized as I became aware
of the Martial Arts in years following.
These factors of Sickness, No Sports activity, and then acceptance by the worlds
No.1 fighting force were probably causal towards the life long impact and respect I have carried through life and implanted
(USMC) into my Martial Arts Systems and Delivery of those Systems to this day.
The two psychologies of U.S. Marine and Martial Artists were perfectly complimentary
to each other. And I have built my Systems/Operations through these years on the Heritage/Precepts/and Disciplines embraced
by both of these Ways of the Warrior.
In closing, I want to congratulate the U.S. Marines for adopting their USMC Black
Belt Programs that started under the auspices of General James Jones, then Commandant U.S.M.C. and these Programs are continuing
strongly as of this date.
Again! Gary Alexander - “Made in the U.S.A. by the U.S. Marine Corps”
God Bless our Fighting Forces in all branches of the Military, and Law Enforcement!
Semper Fi!
Gary Alexander, 10th Dan
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Combat Isshnryu Karate
