HISTORY & RESEARCH
Isshinryu Karate-do
Tony Herald (b. April 16, 1958)
I began training in karate at the age of 11 at the Nashville Isshin-ryu Karate Center on Donelson Pike, Nashville Tennessee for a short period of time. The senior instructor and owner of the Dojo was Denny Shaffer. Later at the age of about 13 or 14 I returned to training at the Nashville Dojo and received my yellow belt and soon after stopped training when we moved to South Nashville.
At the age of 16 I began training at the Tozai Karate Center on Nolensville Road and continued to train there for about 4 years, receiving Shodan rank in January 1977.
I trained at the dojo up until I joined the USMC in April 1978.
In September 1989 I was assigned to Okinawa, Japan. One day I was at the Foster Gym and saw Master Uezu, Sensei Uechi and some students training. I asked some questions and found out that Master Uezu was the son-in-law of Grand Master Shimabuku. I began training as a white belt in 1991 at the Camp Foster Dojo with both Master Uezu and Sensei Uechi. Later, I went to Master Uezu's dojo at his house to train after the grand opening of the dojo.
My wife was the Secretary of the OIKKA, but she trained under Uechi Sensei at the Foster Dojo so I ended up answering letters for Master Uezu and translating or trying to help Master Uezu at his Dojo with paperwork. She helped also, but since I was his direct student he always asked me to answer the mail, or help him.
I was promoted to San-Dan in 1995 prior to leaving Okinawa in August. After returning to the States I opened a dojo in Beaufort South Carolina teaching some Marines and kids in my garage. In 1997 I was promoted by Master Uezu, to my current rank of Yon-Dan. I was very lucky to be stationed in Okinawa for 6 years with my family, and able to train with all of the people in the states and around the world who came to train with Master Uezu.