At the September
23rd meeting with Little, Grandmaster Long and the Long family,
Grandmaster Long entrusted Hanshi Little with the honor and responsibility
of carrying forth his lineage. He
charged him with the mission of furthering the challenge given to him in the
early 1950's by Grandmaster Tatsuo Shimabuku, Soke, to advance Isshinryu
Karate and spread his teachings throughout the United States and beyond.
At this time he conferred his blessing on the formation of the United
States Isshinryu Karate Associationä
(U.S.I.K.A.). He called it,
"The Isshinryu Association of the Future."
Grandmaster Harold Long passed
away on October 12th, 1998, and through his Last Will and
Testament, bequeathed his personal Isshinryu Karate files, awards and
memorabilia to Hanshi Phil Little. Hanshi
Little chose to remain at Ku-Dan (9th Degree Black Belt) out of
respect for Grandmaster Don Nagle, a fellow Pioneer and Comrade of
Grandmaster Long until the passing of Grandmaster Master Nagle on August 23rd
1999. Hanshi Phil Little then resumed the original conferred rank of
September 23rd 1998 of Ju-dan.
In its founding year, the
U.S.I.K.A. proved itself a force to contend with at the Isshinryu Hall of
Fame Tournament, the largest gathering of Isshinryu Karate-Ka worldwide.
The Association established itself as a competitive force of over 100
Karate-Ka strong. Members were
victorious in Overall Team Competition, Kata Grand Championship, Men's
Kumite Grand Championship, and Overall Grand Champion as well as many
additional division championships in Kata, Kumite, and Weapons.
PERSONAL
ACHIEVEMENTS
·
1st generation
and Hanshi to Grandmaster Harold G. Long, Ju-Dan, Pioneer, Isshinryu Karate
·
Inheritor of the Harold G.
Long lineage, Shimabuku-Long Isshinryu®
·
President and Founder, United States Isshinryu Karate
Association
·
Founder of Isshinryu
Tactical Solutions / Instinctive Tactical Solutions (I.T.S.)®
·
4 time International Karate Champion
·
Co-author of Okinawan
Weapons and Bo Fighting Techniques with Grandmaster Harold G. Long
·
Co-author of Okinawan
Weapons, Sai and Tonfa Fighting Techniques with Grandmaster Harold Long
·
Isshinryu Hall of Fame
Member, Inducted 1992
·
Isshinryu Hall of Fame
“Dojo of the Year” awarded in 1984 and 1996
·
World Head of Family
Sokeship Council International Hall of Fame, Inducted 1997 of Silver
Lifetime Achievement Award
·
World Karate Union Hall of
Fame Member, Inducted 1997 as Karate Man of the Year
·
World Head of Family
Sokeship Council International Hall of Fame, Inducted 1998 as
"Outstanding Contribution to Isshinryu Karate"
·
World Head of Family
Sokeship Council International, Made a Member of The Sokeship Council 1998
·
Universal Martial Arts
Hall of Fame Member, Inducted 1998 as Grandmaster of the Year - Weapons
·
World Head of Family
Sokeship Council International Hall of Fame, Inducted 1999 Grandmaster
Instructor of the Year, Isshinryu Karate
·
World Karate Union Hall of
Fame Board of Directors 1999 elected and presented the Sword of Honor by a
special presentation by Grandmaster Don Nagle in Memory and Honor of
Grandmaster Harold G. Long
·
Universal Martial Arts
Hall of Fame Induction 1999 for Organization of the Year (United States
Isshinryu Karate Association)
·
World Head of Family
Sokeship Council International Hall of Fame, Recognizes Internationally by
Induction 2000 “Inheritor of the Shimabuku-Long® Lineage of Isshinryu
Karate”.
·
Australasian Martial Arts
Hall of Fame, Inducted 2000 Hall of Fame Member and added as a Sokeship
Council Member
·
World Karate Union Hall of
Fame Inducted 2000 Most Distinguished Board of Director
·
World Head of Family
Sokeship Council International Hall of Fame, Inducted 2001 “Ambassador of
Isshinryu Karate-Do”
·
International Police
Tactics Instructors Association, Vice President and South Carolina State
Director
·
Past Chairman and Board
Member of the Isshinryu Hall of Fame
·
Past Vice President of the
International Isshinryu Karate Association (I.I.K.A.) Resigned 1998
·
Member of the United
Isshinryu Council
