Isshin-ryu Karate:  A Brief History Japanese martial arts are more straight line fighting styles, than the circular techniques of their Chinese cousins. Commonly call karate by those of us in the West, Japanese arts range from empty hand martial systems to joint locking and throwing systems to styles devoted entirely to weapons' practice. The art of karate (kara-te), which means empty hand, is commonly believed to have come to Japan from the island of Okinawa, where fighting with weapons was banned for many years. Ancient Okinawan traders visited China's Fukien Province and brought back the martial techniques of China's southern Shaolin temple. The Okinawans developed such an effective self-defense system that many Japanese masters wanted it as their own. It was brought to the Japanese mainland in 1922 and eventually became the best known Japanese martial art. Our style, Isshin-ryu, is Okinawan in origin.  The founder of Isshin-ryu (which literally means "one heart system" or "whole heart way") was founded by Master "Tatsuo" (which means "dragonman") Shimabuku.    Isshin-ryu stems from three different styles of martial arts:  Shorin-ryu, Goju-ryu and Kobudo.   Master Shimabuku, who studied under some of Okinawa's greatest masters, combined the best of these styles and weapons techniques that epitomized the powerful, lightning-fast skills the mostly rural and fishing people of Okinawa used to overcome their opponents.  On January 15, 1956, he officially announced the formation of his new style of karate calling it "Isshin-ryu," because according to Shimabuku, "all things begin with one."    Beginning in the mid-50s, Shimabuku began to instruct a number of U.S. Marines who would eventually bring this style of karate to the United States.  Master Arsenio J. Advincula (one of Shimabuku's first generation students) was one of those U.S. Marines to study Isshin-ryu.  He studied for 17 years on Okinawa directly under Master Shimabukulonger than any other American.  Master Advincula has been key to the implementa- tion and development of Isshin-ryu in the U.S.    Master Jon Lee has helped preserve and continue  Isshin-ryu by studying under Master Chow and Master A.J. Advincula.  He now shares his wealth of knowledge and over 30 years of experience with his students at Team Lee Athletics.   Sensei Sandi Lee, Master Jon Lee's wife, has been in Isshin-ryu karate for almost 23 years and is a first generation student of Master Jon Lee.   Their legacy continues through their son Galen and ALL their students at Team Lee Athletics.     Master Jon Lee and his wife and partner, Sensei Sandi Lee