Isshin-ryū Hall of Fame

The Isshin-ryū Hall of Fame (IHOF) is both an annual event of recognized Isshin-ryū practitioners and the associated list of past inductees. The annual event includes a karate tournament of Isshin-ryu practitioners.

History

The IHOF was originally called the IIKA Hall of Fame. It was created in 1979 by the International Isshin-ryū Karate Association, a group of Isshin-ryū karateka headed by milestone American servicemembers who trained with Master Shimabuku in Okinawa and brought Isshin-ryū to the United States. However, the Hall of Fame was later dissociated from the IIKA to keep it neutral from the many Isshin-ryū organizations and allow them all to have recognized members. As such, in 1981, Harold Long formed the Isshin-ryū Hall of Fame. Master Tatsuo Shimabuku, the creator of Isshin-ryū, was the first inductee.

Currently

Where some hall of fame lists allow persons to nominate themselves for induction, the Isshin-ryū Hall of Fame requires nomination by someone else and the nominations are voted on for induction by a Board made up of 12 members of the Isshin-ryū community.

Each year, Isshin-ryū practitioners take part in the IHOF tournament and awards ceremony. The tournament includes kumite, hand kata, and weapon kata competitions subdivided by age group and rank. After the tournament is an awards ceremony for the tournament winners. There are also awards for Sensei of the Year and Isshin-ryū Service Award, among others.

List of Inductees by Year

Inductees of the Isshin-ryū Hall of Fame

Year

Name

1980

Tatsuo Shimabuku

1981

Harold Long

1982

Mike Hammonds

Harold Mitchum

1983

Don Nagle

Allen Wheeler

1984

J.C. Burris

Cas Cox

Denny Shaffer

1985

Steve Armstrong

1986

none

1987

Willie Adams

Joel Buchholtz

Philip McElroy

1988

Nick Adler

Toby Cooling

Rick Niemira

Tommy True

1989

James Chapman

Lewis Lizotte

1990

George Chilton

Dale Jenkins

Doug Noxon

Sam Santilli

1991

Jim McDonald

1992

Phil Little

Year

Name

1993

none

1994

Harry Acklin

Ed McGrath

Ralph Passero

Arnold R. Sandubrae

1995

Joel Chandler

James Maples

Maurice G. Msarsa

1996

Barry Smith

1997

Angi Uezu

Butch Hill

1998

Don Bohan

Carol Burris

Norbert Donnelly

Aubrey "Bud" Ewing

Marilyn Fierro

David Gabbard

Clyde Stanley

1999

John Lennox

Glen Webb

2000

William Duessel

Lonnie Workman

2001

Sherman J. Harrill

Robert L. White

2002

Danny Glover

Melbert Lee, Sr.

Year

Name

2002

Pete Mills

2003

Diane E. Ortenzio-Cooling

Mitch Kobylanski

Isham Latimer

Kelly Markham

Carl Martin

Sandra Strong

Willie G. Wilson

2004

Terry Creamer

James Ogle

2005

Chester Holubecki

Robert Kristensen

Reese Rigby

Scott Shamblin

Jerry Smith

Dennis Wright

Steve Young

2006

Karen Bronson

Tom Lewis

Albert Mady

2007

Don Bordinger

John Ingram

George Shin Sr

Eugene Woods

References