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.
[edit] History
The IHOF was originally called the IIKA Hall of Fame.[1] 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.[2][3] Master Tatsuo Shimabuku, the creator of Isshin-ryū, was the first inductee.
The Hall of Fame remains the single best attempt to unite the Isshin-ryū world.
— International Isshin-ryū Karate Association, [1]
[edit] Currently
Where some hall of fame lists allow persons to nominate themselves for induction[4], 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.
[edit] 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 |
| 1993 |
none |
|
| Year |
Name |
| 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. |
| 2002 |
Pete Mills |
|
| Year |
Name |
| 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 |
| James Bond |
|
[edit] References
