Interviews

Master Z was born in North Dakota, but lived most of his life in Michigan. At the time of this interview he was a 9th degree Grand Master in Isshinryu Karate. He and his wife Chris own and operate the Family Self Defense Center, an Isshinryu Dojo. He was inducted into the Isshinryu Hall of Fame in 2016.

Master Holloway was born in 1952 in Tokyo, Japan. His mother was Japanese and his father was American. At the time of this interview he was a 9th Degree Grand Master in Isshinryu Karate. He owns a dojo in Waterford, Michigan. He was inducted into the Isshinryu Hall of fame in 2008.

Master Perkins was born in Detroit, Michigan. At the time of this Interview he held multiple master level ranks in Isshinryu and Kobudo. Master Perkins was a city of Livonia Police officer and continues to teach defensive tactics at the police academy. He was inducted into the Isshinryu Hall of Fame in 2010.

Master Carmona was born in Costa Rica in 1960 and came to the United States when he was a child. At the time of this interview he was a 9th degree Grand Master in Isshinryu karate and owns a school in New Jersey. He was inducted into the Isshinryu Hall of Fame in 2012 and at the time of this interview sat on the board of the IHOF and the board of American Isshinryu. 

Master Carmona was born in Pasaek, NJ and grew up in Randolph, NJ. in addition to co-owning New Jersey Martial Arts Academy with her Husband Master Marvin Carmona, she is a Certified Public Accountant.  She is the Director of Instruction for the 3 - 5 yr old program, Tiny Tigers.  She also created and runs a free program called "Real Girls Rule, Mean Girls Drool", teaching real life situation self-defense and bully problem solving in today's difficult world to girls from age 6 thru adult for no charge.  

Master Fierro was born in New York in 1942. At the time of this interview she was a 9th degree Grand Master in Isshinryu, the first woman in the United States to receive that title. She first was involved in martial arts in the early 1970s, when it was very difficult to find a dojo that would even teach women. In 2019 she represented the United States as a martial Artist on an official visit to Okinawa. She was inducted into the Isshinryu Hall of Fame in 1998.

Master Adler started Karate as a young man. He started studying Isshinryu in 1962 under Ed McGrath who was a student of Don Nagle. Grand Master Adler was inducted into the Isshinryu Hall of Fame in 1988. He has been a staple in the New York City Martial Arts Scene for decades.