Interviews
These oral history interviews were conducted by Rachel Manela. The purpose of these interviews is not to put forward a particular agenda or approach to Isshinryu, but rather to obtain and preserve the history of individuals who have dedicated their lives to Isshinryu Karate. The hope is that by listening to these individual's stories and histories in relation to Isshinryu, we can gain insight into what it means to be a karate practitioner, we can preserve our Isshinryu history, and we can teach the next generation of karate-ka.
Grand Master Ed "Z" Szelap
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.
Grand Master Dan Holloway
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.
Grand Master Jeff Perkins
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.
Grand Master Marvin Carmona
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 Kelly Carmona
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.
Grand Master Marilyn Fierro
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.
Grand Master Nick Adler
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.
This is an ongoing project and 3 other interviews were taken in the initial phase of research. However, due to time constraints those interviews have not been transcribed. As they are completed, they will be uploaded here.
If you or someone you know is a 6th degree or higher master in Isshinryu karate and would like to be part of this project. Please let me know.