Harold G. Long
Encyclopedia
Harold G. Long was a Isshin-Ryu
Karate
instructor from Tennessee
.
, on September 3, 1930, one of thirteen children born of Bessie Marie Fance Long and John Riley Long. His family moved from Rockwood to Morgan County in 1934 where he attended elementary school in Petros, Tennessee
. Long attended Central High School in Wartburg, Tennessee where he excelled as a football player.
In 1949, Long joined the United States Marine Corps
, but was not called to duty until 1950. He was sent to Parris Island, South Carolina where completed his basic training, and then to Camp LeJeune, North Carolina, where he completed advance training. Shortly thereafter, the Korean War
broke out and he was transferred to Camp Pendleton, California, to bring the 1st Marine Division up to strength.
In 1950, as a young marine in Korea
, he fought in the Battle of Chosin Reservoir
against the Chinese Army. While temperatures ranged between four degrees below zero to thirty-five degrees below zero, the Chinese Army had orders to annihilate the marines at the Chosin Reservoir. This battle has been termed "the most savage fighting in modern warfare" by today's historians. The marines who survived this battle became known as the "Chosen Few". Today, this group is referred to as the "Eternal Band of Brothers".
Long married Doris Witsberger on October 18, 1952 in Wheeling, West Virginia
. They had three sons, Richard, the oldest, born in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina; Michael, born in San Diego, California; and Gary, born in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
In the mid 1950s, Long was stationed on Okinawa, he had always had the desire to study martial arts
and inquired of his house girl who the best karate instructor was on Okinawa. She told him that in Chun Village there was a teacher by the name of Tatsuo Shimabuku, who had the reputation of being the top karate instructor on Okinawa. After three visits to Shimabuku's dojo
, he was accepted as a student and began training. He studied for nineteen months, as much as eight hours a day, seven days a week, in some cases.
When Long returned to the United States, he was stationed at Twenty-nine Palms, California, where he opened his first dojo in his back yard. After his discharge from the Marine Corps, in July, 1959, he returned to East Tennessee, and opened a dojo at the Marine Reserve Training Center.
In 1963, he attended the "Systems Head meeting" of the first World Karate Tournament in Chicago, Illinois, to set up rules for all American karate tournaments. In attendance were John Kehan, Phil Kepal, Harold Long, George Mattson, Anthony Mirikan, Roy Oshiro, Don Nagle, Ed Parker
, Wendall Reeves, Jun Rehe, Mas Tsuroka and Robert Trias
. Rules for kata and kumite were adopted at this meeting to be used for all tournaments in the United States regardless of style.
In 1974, Long returned to Okinawa to visit with Tatsuo Shimabuku. During this visit, he received permission to start a new Isshin-Ryu
karate association in the United States.
In December 1995, Long closed his dojo in Knoxville, Tennessee, and retired from active teaching. He moved into the US Navel Retirement Home in Gulfport, Mississippi, in 1996. He remained active representing Isshin-ryū Karate at tournaments, clinics, seminars and special events.
In December 1997, he represented Isshin-ryū karate at the World Karate Union Hall of Fame's annual event in Australia. While returning home to Gulfport, he was involved in an automobile accident. He underwent several surgeries to repair ruptured blood vessels in his brain. In August 1998, while still recovering from the accident, he flew to Knoxville, Tennessee to visit his family and during this visit, he was diagnosed with terminal cancer. He remained in Knoxville until he died on October 12, 1998 and was buried at Oak Grove Cemetery in Rockwood, Tennessee on October 15, 1998.
- Co-produced the first national television coverage of the Isshin-ryū Hall of Fame Karate Tournament with Tim McGhee.
- Awarded a "Doctorate Degree" by the College of Martial Arts.
- Received the "Golden Life Achievement Award" and "Martial Arts Pioneer Award" from the World Head of Family Sokeship Council Hall of Fame.
- Inducted into the World Head of Family Sokeship Council Hall of Fame.
- Received "The Living Legend" award from the World Head Of Family Sokeship Council.
Isshin-ryu
is a style of Okinawan karate founded by Tatsuo Shimabuku and named by him on 15 January 1956. Isshin-Ryū karate is largely a synthesis of Shorin-ryū karate, Gojū-ryū karate, and kobudō. The name means, literally, "one heart method"...
Karate
Karate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
instructor from Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
.
Biography
He was born in Rockwood, TennesseeRockwood, Tennessee
Rockwood is a city in Roane County, Tennessee, United States. Its population was 5,774 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Harriman, Tennessee Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
, on September 3, 1930, one of thirteen children born of Bessie Marie Fance Long and John Riley Long. His family moved from Rockwood to Morgan County in 1934 where he attended elementary school in Petros, Tennessee
Petros, Tennessee
Petros, is an unincorporated town in Morgan County, Tennessee, United States, located on State Route 116.Petros is historically a coal mining town and is also the home of Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary. Some of the town and coal mine scenes for the movie October Sky were filmed...
. Long attended Central High School in Wartburg, Tennessee where he excelled as a football player.
In 1949, Long joined the United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
, but was not called to duty until 1950. He was sent to Parris Island, South Carolina where completed his basic training, and then to Camp LeJeune, North Carolina, where he completed advance training. Shortly thereafter, the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
broke out and he was transferred to Camp Pendleton, California, to bring the 1st Marine Division up to strength.
In 1950, as a young marine in Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
, he fought in the Battle of Chosin Reservoir
Battle of Chosin Reservoir
The Battle of Chosin Reservoir, also known as the Chosin Reservoir Campaign or the Changjin Lake Campaign ,Official Chinese sources refer to this battle as the Second Phase Campaign Eastern Sector . The Western Sector is the Battle of the Ch'ongch'on River. was a decisive battle in the Korean War...
against the Chinese Army. While temperatures ranged between four degrees below zero to thirty-five degrees below zero, the Chinese Army had orders to annihilate the marines at the Chosin Reservoir. This battle has been termed "the most savage fighting in modern warfare" by today's historians. The marines who survived this battle became known as the "Chosen Few". Today, this group is referred to as the "Eternal Band of Brothers".
Long married Doris Witsberger on October 18, 1952 in Wheeling, West Virginia
Wheeling, West Virginia
Wheeling is a city in Ohio and Marshall counties in the U.S. state of West Virginia; it is the county seat of Ohio County. Wheeling is the principal city of the Wheeling Metropolitan Statistical Area...
. They had three sons, Richard, the oldest, born in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina; Michael, born in San Diego, California; and Gary, born in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
In the mid 1950s, Long was stationed on Okinawa, he had always had the desire to study martial arts
Martial arts
Martial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....
and inquired of his house girl who the best karate instructor was on Okinawa. She told him that in Chun Village there was a teacher by the name of Tatsuo Shimabuku, who had the reputation of being the top karate instructor on Okinawa. After three visits to Shimabuku's dojo
Dojo
A is a Japanese term which literally means "place of the way". Initially, dōjōs were adjunct to temples. The term can refer to a formal training place for any of the Japanese do arts but typically it is considered the formal gathering place for students of any Japanese martial arts style to...
, he was accepted as a student and began training. He studied for nineteen months, as much as eight hours a day, seven days a week, in some cases.
When Long returned to the United States, he was stationed at Twenty-nine Palms, California, where he opened his first dojo in his back yard. After his discharge from the Marine Corps, in July, 1959, he returned to East Tennessee, and opened a dojo at the Marine Reserve Training Center.
In 1963, he attended the "Systems Head meeting" of the first World Karate Tournament in Chicago, Illinois, to set up rules for all American karate tournaments. In attendance were John Kehan, Phil Kepal, Harold Long, George Mattson, Anthony Mirikan, Roy Oshiro, Don Nagle, Ed Parker
Ed Parker
Edmund Kealoha "Ed" Parker was an American martial artist, promoter, teacher, and author.-Life:Parker was born in Hawaii, and raised a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He began his training in the martial arts at a young age in judo and later boxing...
, Wendall Reeves, Jun Rehe, Mas Tsuroka and Robert Trias
Robert Trias
Robert A. Trias was a U.S. karate pioneer, founding the first karate school in the mainland United States. He also developed Shuri-ryū karate, an eclectic style with roots in the Okinawan Shuri-te tradition.-Early years:...
. Rules for kata and kumite were adopted at this meeting to be used for all tournaments in the United States regardless of style.
In 1974, Long returned to Okinawa to visit with Tatsuo Shimabuku. During this visit, he received permission to start a new Isshin-Ryu
Isshin-ryu
is a style of Okinawan karate founded by Tatsuo Shimabuku and named by him on 15 January 1956. Isshin-Ryū karate is largely a synthesis of Shorin-ryū karate, Gojū-ryū karate, and kobudō. The name means, literally, "one heart method"...
karate association in the United States.
In December 1995, Long closed his dojo in Knoxville, Tennessee, and retired from active teaching. He moved into the US Navel Retirement Home in Gulfport, Mississippi, in 1996. He remained active representing Isshin-ryū Karate at tournaments, clinics, seminars and special events.
In December 1997, he represented Isshin-ryū karate at the World Karate Union Hall of Fame's annual event in Australia. While returning home to Gulfport, he was involved in an automobile accident. He underwent several surgeries to repair ruptured blood vessels in his brain. In August 1998, while still recovering from the accident, he flew to Knoxville, Tennessee to visit his family and during this visit, he was diagnosed with terminal cancer. He remained in Knoxville until he died on October 12, 1998 and was buried at Oak Grove Cemetery in Rockwood, Tennessee on October 15, 1998.
Accomplishments and Contributions
- 1975- Founded the International Isshin-ryū Karate Association (IIKA).
- 1980- Founded the Isshin-ryū Hall of FameIsshin-ryu Hall of FameThe Isshin-ryū Hall of Fame 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:...
.
- 1981- Inducted into the Isshin-ryū Hall of Fame.
- 1987- Co-authored "Okinawan Weapons" with Phil Little.
- 1988- Founded the Isshin-ryū Black Belt Society.
- 1991- Co-produced an eight tape instructional video series, Isshin-ryū Karate - The Ultimate Self-Defense with Tim McGhee.
- 1992- Inducted into the Knoxville Sports Hall of Fame, in Knoxville, Tennessee.
- Co-produced the first national television coverage of the Isshin-ryū Hall of Fame Karate Tournament with Tim McGhee.
- 1993- Issued membership into Tao of the Fist Martial Arts Fraternity.
- 1995- Issued membership into the World Head of Family Sokeship Council for Isshin-ryū Karate.
- Awarded a "Doctorate Degree" by the College of Martial Arts.
- Received the "Golden Life Achievement Award" and "Martial Arts Pioneer Award" from the World Head of Family Sokeship Council Hall of Fame.
- 1996- Inducted into the World Karate Union Hall of Fame.
- Inducted into the World Head of Family Sokeship Council Hall of Fame.
- 1998- Inducted into the Universal Martial Arts Hall of Fame.
- Received "The Living Legend" award from the World Head Of Family Sokeship Council.
Publications
- 1978- Co-authored a three book series, The Dynamics of Isshin-ryū Karate, with Allen Wheeler.
- 1994- Co-authored, Who's Who in Isshin-ryū, with Phyllis Manis and Tim McGhee.
- 1997- Co-authored, Isshin-ryū Karate - The Ultimate Fighting Art, with Tim McGhee.