Q. Could you please give us a little back ground things like were you are from what inspired you to start marital arts, how old was you when you began training.

A. Growing up, my father’s job required that we move around a lot. I went to six different grammar schools in five states and two high schools, also in different states. I learned early from always being the new kid that you can’t permit yourself to be bullied around. That wasn’t my nature anyway but I saw others who did permit themselves to be intimidated and it got them nowhere. The intimidation just increased and they were constantly harassed. I loved sports and was always a little aggressive and found it easier to meet aggression head-on. More often than not the very ones that I got into fights with turned out to be my good friends later on. This was an important lesson to me. I wrestled in high school but didn’t start formally training in martial arts until my early twenties when I met Grand Master Long. It was an interest in the martial arts itself that motivated me to start training versus thinking I needed to learn how to defend myself. 

Q. What do you think makes Isshin ryu an effective systems? What are its strengths?

A. I believe that Isshin-Ryu as a system does a great job of equipping students for practical street self-defense. It encompasses both striking and grappling. Our kata is full of grabs and joint manipulations. The strikes include knees, elbows, and forearms. Most of the kicks are low. I’m a big fan of taking out the legs. The other Isshin-Ryu schools we associate with are also very physical in their training. I believe the toughening and hardening aspect of becoming a fighter are vital to having what it takes in real life situations.

Q. A lot of the Isshin ryu stylist remain very tight nit what do you attribute this to.

A. This is probably due to the fact we are relatively few in numbers as compared to some of the other styles. Most everyone who has been around a while in Isshin-Ryu knows or has at least met other senior people and their students. In the beginning Isshin-Ryu was brought to the United States by just four individuals. They were Grand Masters Long, Nagle, Mitchum, and Armstrong. There’ve been other outstanding first generation Isshin-ryu students to return home later and start their own lineages but most trace their roots back to one of those four.

Q. Grand Master Long was your instructor could you please give us a little information on him and your relationship

I first met Grand Master Long while working as an undercover narcotics officer with a local Sheriff’s Department. I was also training for running a marathon and was lifting weights three times a week. He didn’t particularly like my beard at the time but said he would tolerate it considering my job. I made the mistake of telling him I just interested in training martial arts and didn’t need any more exercise. Mr. Long (as many of his students called him) leaned over his desk and told me “if I allow you to join my dojo, you’ll do the same as everybody else in here.” I went home and thought about it and decided that’s where I needed to be.

The dojo was open five days a week and most weeks I was there every day. My wife and son also got their black belts from Mr. Long. In the early 1990’s I opened my own school in a neighboring county and it was open three days a week. The other two days I took some of my selected students with me to Grand Master Long’s dojo to train. Several of them were also honored to receive black belts directly from him. Over the years he and my family became very close. Two of his sons, Rick and Gary were students of mine. Mr. Long’s granddaughter, Lindsey, has been training with me for two and a half years and is currently a green belt.  It’s tough, but she works hard, her grandfather would be proud.

Q How do you feel about the Marital Arts today compared to years ago when you started? What is your opinion on mma, martial arts business magazines and all the recent changes in the marital arts? Well, judging from my check book balance I should probably read more of those martial arts business magazines. In my opinion, the hardcore martial artists today are much better than when I started. The ones that have continued to learn and evolve their art are constantly raising the bar, at least in fighting ability. I also believe that having a traditional foundation is a tremendous asset. Along with an open mind, to try new things, it’s a catalyst for adaptation. Staying in the same place, for too long, will get you beat. I think MMA is great. It’s funny to see all the hype about it because that’s how we’ve trained in the dojo for years. It’s a good thing because it stirs interest in the general public, which is good for us all. You just have to keep in mind that although it is very physical, and these guys are very tough, it is in the end, a sport. The definition of sport is that there are rules. There are none on the street.    Q What do you feel is lacking in Marital Arts today and how do you see to fix it. Respect. It’s on the endangered species list these days. The fix is up to the leaders and instructors. When Mr. Long spoke of his Sensei, Grand Master Tatsuo Shimakuku, it was with the upmost respect and reverence. That’s the way it should be. That was the purpose of the formation of the Harold Long Foundation. It was an idea brought together by some senior black belts and the Long family. The Foundation preserves and displays historical artifacts of Mr. Long’s at supporting martial arts events. It’s a way if connecting the younger students of today with their roots. The Isshin-Ryu Cross Training Alliance (ICA), supports the Foundation with its membership dues. The ICA holds regular cross-training seminars which are free of charge to its members. It’s exciting to see a hardcore training organization whose purpose is to improve skill while supporting the effort to honor our Sensei. If it weren’t for Harold Long, many of us would never have put on a gi. The leaders today must lead by example and that means showing respect themselves. Q. What inspires you to keep training today? Age.  Also, I love the training and look forward to it every day. It’s fun and I have a ball. My profession in fugitive recovery also makes it in my best interest to keep skills sharp, but mainly, because it’s fun.   Q. What is your daily training routine? I get up early and go to the gym, The work out there includes lifting weights and cardio endurance training. The dojo opens at 3:00 PM and I’m there until 9:00 PM. I warm up during the early hours with kata and bag work. This gets me loose enough to stretch out good. Most of the adults come in the evening when we usually get sparring in. Our ring time includes stand-up striking and ground work. We do also strike on the ground. Q. Your book Gotcha is a great and exciting read do you plan to do anymore books or instructional DVDs? Thank you.  There’s a sequel to Gotcha in the works. My publisher signed a film rights contract with NBC Universal for a possible series on the USA network a couple of years ago based on the book. They opted to go another direction which put things on hold for a bit. I’ve published a close quarter combat handgun training book called Point Blank and collaborated on a book with Master Chris Spruiell on his training manual called The Encyclopedia of Combative Flow.

Q. What is a typical class like at your Dojo?

We don’t generally have classes per say but operate on an open mat basis. It’s not unusual to see everyone on the mat working on something different. It’s similar to a boxing gym where individuals work on specific things according to their needs at the time. Nobody has a specific time scheduled for them. They come in and what they do depends on how far they progressed in their last training session. I’m blessed to have close to two hundred years combined instructor experience at my dojo for my students to enjoy. Sometimes we do a group type of workout but it’s usually spontaneous according to who’s on the mat at the time.

Q What are some of the requirements for your black belt students?

First, they must be able to fight. Second, they must be willing to give back to the dojo what was given to them. We believe you are just becoming really capable of learning when reaching black belt level. So much time and effort was spent getting an individual to that point they must be willing to pass it on to others and to do so unselfishly.

Q. Do you consider yourself a traditionalist and if so what do you consider a traditional marital artist? I don’t know. Some consider anybody who does kata a traditionalist. If that’s so, then I am. At the same time, a lot of our training methods and techniques are very unconventional. We incorporate firearms and other untraditional weapons in our training so that’s a complex question. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anybody over the years who hasn’t varied at least somewhat from what they learned originally; if nothing more than to grow into their own style within their system. Q. Who are some of your marital arts role models and why? Gosh, there are so many. I particularly admire some of the older masters who are still active. You see a lot of higher ranked individuals who only put on a gi at events where they can walk around and look important. It’s the ones that have kept themselves in shape over the years and work out in the dojo as best as the years will let them that capture my admiration. They are also some of the most humble and unassuming persons you’ll ever meet. These are the people that should be sought out and emulated. Q. What do you feel makes a good instructor? Love of your art and students and the desire to perpetuate both.

Q. What is your personal philosophy on life?

Service to others.

Q. What is your philosophy on marital arts?

Same as my philosophy on life.

Q Do you have any hobbies outside martial arts

I enjoy writing, although, even that is martial arts related.

Q What is your favorite book

Mine

Q What is your favorite movie

You know, I can’t say I really have a one because my preferences change often depending on my mood. Sometimes I like comedies and other times action or other genres. I’m fickle on favorite movies.

Q What do you feel makes a good student

A desire to learn and work hard.

Q The name of your dojo is steel hand were did you get that name and does it have any meaning

When Mr. Long gave me permission to start my own dojo he asked me what I was going to call it. In jest, I said “Joe’s Dojo.” He didn’t think it was funny. Over the years he would take certain instructors with him to do public demonstrations. My participation in the demonstration was to break various objects with my hands and feet. I progressed from the usual 1 X 12 inch square boards and concrete blocks to breaking 2 X 4 boards edgewise. He suggested Steel Hand Dojo and the name was born. My hands and feet still bare the evidence of those days.

Q Any closing comments

I wish everyone good training and continued health. Please don’t forget to give back to your art and honor those who gave it to you. Thank you