Don Nagle
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Don Nagle
April 5th, 1938 --- August 23rd, 1999
Master Nagle was born on April 5th, 1938. Master Don Nagle
began his study of Isshinryu karate before the close of 1955
in the Kyan (Pronounced Chun) village in Okinawa, Japan with
founder Tatsuo Shimabuku.
I talked with Grand Master Nagle several months before his
death and asked him when he began studying he told me he
knew it was late 1955 either November or December shortly
after he arrived in Okinawa. According to Master Nagle's
DD-214 he served a total of 1 year 2 months and 14 days of
foreign service. During his time in Okinawa Master Nagle won
the Okinawan championships as a white belt. Upon winning this
championship Master Shimabuku awarded Master Nagle his
personal black belt obi.
Master Shimabuku often received complaints from the other
karate Masters on Okinawa about Master Nagle. They would
complain that Master Shimabuku was sending Master Nagle to
embarass them and their students since he would go into their
dojo and beat their black belts in kumite. Master Nagle left
Okinawa as a 4th Dan.
When Master Nagle's tour of duty on Okinawa was over he
returned to the U.S. and began teaching Isshinryu Karate at
Camp Lejeune NC. It was during this time that he met Captain
Ernie Cates a well known Judo practitioner. Master's Cates &
Nagle opened a Karate/Judo Academy in Jacksonville, NC.
Master Nagle often said that if it were not for Ernie Cates he
would never have continued in Karate. In 1958 Master Nagle
formed the 1st Isshinryu karate organization called the IKA
(Isshando Karate Association).
After his discharge from the Marines on September 11th,
1959 he returned home to New Jersey and opened his first
commercial Karate Dojo at 524 Mercer Street in Jersey City.
In the early to mid 1960's Master Nagle had a famous karate
competition match between Master Peter Urban a student of
the late Master Gogen Yamaguchi and himself in Madison
Square Garden. This was certainly an exciting time in Master
Nagle life.
In 1964 Master Nagle visited his instructor Tatsuo Shimabuku
for a short time in Pittsburg PA. In 1966 Master Shimabuku
came to visit with Master Nagle in NJ for 2 weeks.
During this visit Master Nagle was promoted to 8th Dan by
Master Shimabuku.
Around 1967 Master Nagle began to work for the Jersey
City Police Department.
During the mid 60's Master Nagle branched out with student
Joel Buchholtz and opened a Karate School in Bayonne, NJ on
the 2nd Floor of a building on 22nd St. and Broadway. In
1969 Master Buchholtz & Nagle purchased a building on 19th
St. at 412 Broadway in Bayonne, NJ.
In 1970 Master Nagle was honored for being the Policeman
of the Year.
Later in 1973 his dojo was moved to it's present location at
371 Central Avenue in Jersey City.
In 1977 Master Nagle joined the Narcotics Squad of the
Jersey City Police Department. During his years of service
with the police the name "Nagle" became synonomous with
fear. Several times Master Nagle dressed up in female attire
to trap an unsuspecting narcotics suspect. Master Nagle
related a story that one time he was in the middle of one of
these narcotics groups they had under suspicion and one of
them said, "I'm going to get that Nagle" while he was standing
not 2 feet away. Master Nagle was known to go up to a
basketball court where the local "tough's" would shoot
hoops and hang out while on duty walk under the net and
from a dead stand still jump up in the air and kick the net with
his foot. Upon landing he would then say, "Now who wants to
fight me?"
Master Mark Wzorek told me of a time at Master Nagle's dojo.
During this time he related that everyone was sparring and
Master Nagle walked in and locked the door. Master Nagle
then told everyone that they were not leaving untill
everyone had blood on them. At the end only Master Wzorek
was without any blood and so he had to spar with Master
Nagle. Needless to say he too had blood by the end of that
fight. This was a time of no pads and full contact matches. One
account I read stated that Master Nagle would apprehend
between 8 to 12 men at one time singlehandedly. When backup
arrived they were already all layed out.
Master Ralph Passero noted that few people practice
Isshinryu Karate the way Master Nagle did. His lightening fast
technique overwhelmed his opponets. Master Nagle was
always very thin and I am sure this aided him with his lightening
fast speed and technique. Master Nagle's wild side earned him
a reputation in Okinawa and he was quickly tabbed as, "The
Laughing Red Devil" because of his fighting attitude and spirit.
"Alot of time on the job perps (Perpetraitors) see me as a
little guy explained the 5 ft 8 Nagle. To Someone 6'3 or 6'4 I
would announce that they are under arrest and they think I am
going to have a little problem with that. But I don't have a
problem. If they decide to use force I just use superior force. I
am proud to say that I never put anyone in the hospital as a
result of an apprehension."
The Late Master Don Bohan related an account of Master
Nagle. He's so thin and light no one can believe he's as fast and
as powerful as he is. I remember an incident some years back I
was doing some bartending and Sensei Nagle and another guy
came into the bar. I was a black belt at the time and considered
myself pretty fast. A fight started and nine guys attacked the
Sensei. Before I could come from behind the bar he and the
other guy had put them all away. And it was Sensei who had
done most of the work. In Just seconds! nine guys! It was
almost unbelievable.
Master Ed McGrath "The Voice Of Karate", once said, "His
speed was fantastic! even after we had achieved high ranks and
had won championships at the various tournaments Sensei
Nagle could still do just about anything he wanted to us. He
could actually call his shots in kumite in the dojo. He would
say, "I'm going to hit you with my left fist on the right side of
your face and then he would procede doing it three times in a
row. He was so fast you just couldn't stop him.
Master Joel Buchholtz once stated, "Master Nagle was
constantly in trouble with Tatsuo Shimabuku because of his
desire to learn and learn as much as possible. He would visit
other dojo's and fight the best black belts he could find.
Master Shimabuku would receive complaints from the other
Sensei's who thought he was sending Mr. Nagle around to
make their best men look foolish because this was just what
he was doing. We had a 15 ft ceiling with a ball hanging from
it. Sensei Nagle would throw kicks at the ball maybe 10 ft
from the ground and would hit it. He would do it from a
standing position and then he'd have the ball raised and he
would keep on throwing kicks untill he couldn't hit it
anymore. The Ball might be right up to the ceiling 15 feet from
the ground and he'd keep kicking it until he couldn't raise his
feet. Then he'd be ready to start his class.
Sensei Nagle never did look for trouble. One day while on
duty he went into a bar to check it out. He was spotted as a
cop and surrounded by 5 guys. He did not want to make a big
scene and have anyone get hurt and he wasn't in a position
where he could fight without hurting anyone and he could
have gotten hurt himself. So he screamed and charged and as
the startled guys jumped back he headed for the door. He got
about 2 feet outside the door then he turned and waited and
he caught them one at a time as they came through the door."
One Sensei once said, "So how would you like to be the loser
who tangles with Nagle? without knowing who he is. One of
my students was picked up in a narcotics rap in Jersey City by
Nagle. He didn't know who he was up against and said I'm a
black belt. And stated his name. Nagle didn't tell him anything.
My student made the wrong move and Nagle took him out with
a shuto to the forehead and a round house to the chest. The
kid never knew what hit him." Sensei Nagle explained when
reminded of the incident, "I'm issued a gun and can use it. But I'd
rather solve these problems without hurting anyone."
Master Don Bohan said, "He was a fabulous teacher and he not
only taught us how he taught us why."
Grand Master Peter Urban said, "He was the toughest fighter I
ever fought! He was one of the Great Pioneers of Karate."
Master Aaron Banks said, "He represents to me what the
American karate Ka should be. He is one of the country's top
Karate Ka's and one of it's finest men."
Master Chuck Merriman said, "Karate is in dire need of men of
Mr. Nagle's dignity, integrity and leadership."
Master George Coffield said, "Sensei Nagle is a credit to
karate and karate needs more men like him."
Some people Master Nagle met and had friendships with
include; Peter Urban, Bruce Lee, George Coffield, Pete
Siringano Sr., Michael DePasquale Sr, George Dillman, Chuck
Merriman, Chuck Norris, and Aaron Banks. Master Nagle chose
to stay in the background not in the limelight. He never had to
prove anything to anybody and it wasn't his way to puff
himself. His joy came from making you feel good.
In the 1987 Master Nagle accepted 10th Dan at the request
of the present day senior ranking leaders of Isshinryu. He
really did not want to do this but did it for Isshinryu. Master
Nagle said several times before he died that he often thought
he would go back to 8th dan so as to stem the tide of so many
wanting to be 10th dan. In the Late 80's Master Nagle teamed
up with Master Harold Long in an attempt to unite Isshinryu
karate.
For a time Master Nagle tried to unite Isshinryu with a new
karate organization the UIKF (United Isshinryu Karate
Federation). In November of 1990 a banquet was held in
honor of Master Nagle. In 1990 Master Nagle received
Letters of commendation from the General Comandant of the
US Marine Corps, The US Congress, and the Govenor of NJ. In
1992 Master Nagle tried a run for sheriff in Hudson County.
In 1992 Master Nagle also did a seminar in Florida for Master
Joe Murphy. In 1995 Master Nagle did a seminar with Master
A.J. Avincula in New Jersey for Masters Nash, Kim and
Marriner.
In 1998 Master Nagle called a meeting of his senior students
and followers to discuss his wishes should he pass away.
Master Nagle's love was always for his students and
Isshinryu. Master Nagle was about being on the deck with his
students that is where his true love was. Several months
before he died he had a slight stroke. I can remember visiting
him in Bayonne Hospital and he was up and around the next day.
Months later he had a heart attack a week or so before he
died. While in the hospital I was told he would throw a
flurry of punches to set off the heart monitors. The nurses
would come running in and yell at him and he would say to
them, "What are you going to do throw me out I don't wanna
be here anyway." He told one of his senior students that he
was going to get out of bed, do a few laps around the
hospital and then beat him up. Right to the end he was as fast
as he ever was. During the last few years before he died he
worked as a deputy US Marshall working in the courts as a
security officer.
Master Nagle's philosophy was this, "It is not the critic who
counts, not the man who points out how the strong man
stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them
better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the
arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood,
who strives valiantly; who errs, and comes short again and
again because there is no effort without error and
shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deeds.
Master Don Nagle passed away on August 23rd, 1999 at the
age of 61. Master Nagle will be sorely missed by all we love
you Sensei. Oss!
April 5th, 1938 --- August 23rd, 1999
Master Nagle was born on April 5th, 1938. Master Don Nagle
began his study of Isshinryu karate before the close of 1955
in the Kyan (Pronounced Chun) village in Okinawa, Japan with
founder Tatsuo Shimabuku.
I talked with Grand Master Nagle several months before his
death and asked him when he began studying he told me he
knew it was late 1955 either November or December shortly
after he arrived in Okinawa. According to Master Nagle's
DD-214 he served a total of 1 year 2 months and 14 days of
foreign service. During his time in Okinawa Master Nagle won
the Okinawan championships as a white belt. Upon winning this
championship Master Shimabuku awarded Master Nagle his
personal black belt obi.
Master Shimabuku often received complaints from the other
karate Masters on Okinawa about Master Nagle. They would
complain that Master Shimabuku was sending Master Nagle to
embarass them and their students since he would go into their
dojo and beat their black belts in kumite. Master Nagle left
Okinawa as a 4th Dan.
When Master Nagle's tour of duty on Okinawa was over he
returned to the U.S. and began teaching Isshinryu Karate at
Camp Lejeune NC. It was during this time that he met Captain
Ernie Cates a well known Judo practitioner. Master's Cates &
Nagle opened a Karate/Judo Academy in Jacksonville, NC.
Master Nagle often said that if it were not for Ernie Cates he
would never have continued in Karate. In 1958 Master Nagle
formed the 1st Isshinryu karate organization called the IKA
(Isshando Karate Association).
After his discharge from the Marines on September 11th,
1959 he returned home to New Jersey and opened his first
commercial Karate Dojo at 524 Mercer Street in Jersey City.
In the early to mid 1960's Master Nagle had a famous karate
competition match between Master Peter Urban a student of
the late Master Gogen Yamaguchi and himself in Madison
Square Garden. This was certainly an exciting time in Master
Nagle life.
In 1964 Master Nagle visited his instructor Tatsuo Shimabuku
for a short time in Pittsburg PA. In 1966 Master Shimabuku
came to visit with Master Nagle in NJ for 2 weeks.
During this visit Master Nagle was promoted to 8th Dan by
Master Shimabuku.
Around 1967 Master Nagle began to work for the Jersey
City Police Department.
During the mid 60's Master Nagle branched out with student
Joel Buchholtz and opened a Karate School in Bayonne, NJ on
the 2nd Floor of a building on 22nd St. and Broadway. In
1969 Master Buchholtz & Nagle purchased a building on 19th
St. at 412 Broadway in Bayonne, NJ.
In 1970 Master Nagle was honored for being the Policeman
of the Year.
Later in 1973 his dojo was moved to it's present location at
371 Central Avenue in Jersey City.
In 1977 Master Nagle joined the Narcotics Squad of the
Jersey City Police Department. During his years of service
with the police the name "Nagle" became synonomous with
fear. Several times Master Nagle dressed up in female attire
to trap an unsuspecting narcotics suspect. Master Nagle
related a story that one time he was in the middle of one of
these narcotics groups they had under suspicion and one of
them said, "I'm going to get that Nagle" while he was standing
not 2 feet away. Master Nagle was known to go up to a
basketball court where the local "tough's" would shoot
hoops and hang out while on duty walk under the net and
from a dead stand still jump up in the air and kick the net with
his foot. Upon landing he would then say, "Now who wants to
fight me?"
Master Mark Wzorek told me of a time at Master Nagle's dojo.
During this time he related that everyone was sparring and
Master Nagle walked in and locked the door. Master Nagle
then told everyone that they were not leaving untill
everyone had blood on them. At the end only Master Wzorek
was without any blood and so he had to spar with Master
Nagle. Needless to say he too had blood by the end of that
fight. This was a time of no pads and full contact matches. One
account I read stated that Master Nagle would apprehend
between 8 to 12 men at one time singlehandedly. When backup
arrived they were already all layed out.
Master Ralph Passero noted that few people practice
Isshinryu Karate the way Master Nagle did. His lightening fast
technique overwhelmed his opponets. Master Nagle was
always very thin and I am sure this aided him with his lightening
fast speed and technique. Master Nagle's wild side earned him
a reputation in Okinawa and he was quickly tabbed as, "The
Laughing Red Devil" because of his fighting attitude and spirit.
"Alot of time on the job perps (Perpetraitors) see me as a
little guy explained the 5 ft 8 Nagle. To Someone 6'3 or 6'4 I
would announce that they are under arrest and they think I am
going to have a little problem with that. But I don't have a
problem. If they decide to use force I just use superior force. I
am proud to say that I never put anyone in the hospital as a
result of an apprehension."
The Late Master Don Bohan related an account of Master
Nagle. He's so thin and light no one can believe he's as fast and
as powerful as he is. I remember an incident some years back I
was doing some bartending and Sensei Nagle and another guy
came into the bar. I was a black belt at the time and considered
myself pretty fast. A fight started and nine guys attacked the
Sensei. Before I could come from behind the bar he and the
other guy had put them all away. And it was Sensei who had
done most of the work. In Just seconds! nine guys! It was
almost unbelievable.
Master Ed McGrath "The Voice Of Karate", once said, "His
speed was fantastic! even after we had achieved high ranks and
had won championships at the various tournaments Sensei
Nagle could still do just about anything he wanted to us. He
could actually call his shots in kumite in the dojo. He would
say, "I'm going to hit you with my left fist on the right side of
your face and then he would procede doing it three times in a
row. He was so fast you just couldn't stop him.
Master Joel Buchholtz once stated, "Master Nagle was
constantly in trouble with Tatsuo Shimabuku because of his
desire to learn and learn as much as possible. He would visit
other dojo's and fight the best black belts he could find.
Master Shimabuku would receive complaints from the other
Sensei's who thought he was sending Mr. Nagle around to
make their best men look foolish because this was just what
he was doing. We had a 15 ft ceiling with a ball hanging from
it. Sensei Nagle would throw kicks at the ball maybe 10 ft
from the ground and would hit it. He would do it from a
standing position and then he'd have the ball raised and he
would keep on throwing kicks untill he couldn't hit it
anymore. The Ball might be right up to the ceiling 15 feet from
the ground and he'd keep kicking it until he couldn't raise his
feet. Then he'd be ready to start his class.
Sensei Nagle never did look for trouble. One day while on
duty he went into a bar to check it out. He was spotted as a
cop and surrounded by 5 guys. He did not want to make a big
scene and have anyone get hurt and he wasn't in a position
where he could fight without hurting anyone and he could
have gotten hurt himself. So he screamed and charged and as
the startled guys jumped back he headed for the door. He got
about 2 feet outside the door then he turned and waited and
he caught them one at a time as they came through the door."
One Sensei once said, "So how would you like to be the loser
who tangles with Nagle? without knowing who he is. One of
my students was picked up in a narcotics rap in Jersey City by
Nagle. He didn't know who he was up against and said I'm a
black belt. And stated his name. Nagle didn't tell him anything.
My student made the wrong move and Nagle took him out with
a shuto to the forehead and a round house to the chest. The
kid never knew what hit him." Sensei Nagle explained when
reminded of the incident, "I'm issued a gun and can use it. But I'd
rather solve these problems without hurting anyone."
Master Don Bohan said, "He was a fabulous teacher and he not
only taught us how he taught us why."
Grand Master Peter Urban said, "He was the toughest fighter I
ever fought! He was one of the Great Pioneers of Karate."
Master Aaron Banks said, "He represents to me what the
American karate Ka should be. He is one of the country's top
Karate Ka's and one of it's finest men."
Master Chuck Merriman said, "Karate is in dire need of men of
Mr. Nagle's dignity, integrity and leadership."
Master George Coffield said, "Sensei Nagle is a credit to
karate and karate needs more men like him."
Some people Master Nagle met and had friendships with
include; Peter Urban, Bruce Lee, George Coffield, Pete
Siringano Sr., Michael DePasquale Sr, George Dillman, Chuck
Merriman, Chuck Norris, and Aaron Banks. Master Nagle chose
to stay in the background not in the limelight. He never had to
prove anything to anybody and it wasn't his way to puff
himself. His joy came from making you feel good.
In the 1987 Master Nagle accepted 10th Dan at the request
of the present day senior ranking leaders of Isshinryu. He
really did not want to do this but did it for Isshinryu. Master
Nagle said several times before he died that he often thought
he would go back to 8th dan so as to stem the tide of so many
wanting to be 10th dan. In the Late 80's Master Nagle teamed
up with Master Harold Long in an attempt to unite Isshinryu
karate.
For a time Master Nagle tried to unite Isshinryu with a new
karate organization the UIKF (United Isshinryu Karate
Federation). In November of 1990 a banquet was held in
honor of Master Nagle. In 1990 Master Nagle received
Letters of commendation from the General Comandant of the
US Marine Corps, The US Congress, and the Govenor of NJ. In
1992 Master Nagle tried a run for sheriff in Hudson County.
In 1992 Master Nagle also did a seminar in Florida for Master
Joe Murphy. In 1995 Master Nagle did a seminar with Master
A.J. Avincula in New Jersey for Masters Nash, Kim and
Marriner.
In 1998 Master Nagle called a meeting of his senior students
and followers to discuss his wishes should he pass away.
Master Nagle's love was always for his students and
Isshinryu. Master Nagle was about being on the deck with his
students that is where his true love was. Several months
before he died he had a slight stroke. I can remember visiting
him in Bayonne Hospital and he was up and around the next day.
Months later he had a heart attack a week or so before he
died. While in the hospital I was told he would throw a
flurry of punches to set off the heart monitors. The nurses
would come running in and yell at him and he would say to
them, "What are you going to do throw me out I don't wanna
be here anyway." He told one of his senior students that he
was going to get out of bed, do a few laps around the
hospital and then beat him up. Right to the end he was as fast
as he ever was. During the last few years before he died he
worked as a deputy US Marshall working in the courts as a
security officer.
Master Nagle's philosophy was this, "It is not the critic who
counts, not the man who points out how the strong man
stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them
better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the
arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood,
who strives valiantly; who errs, and comes short again and
again because there is no effort without error and
shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deeds.
Master Don Nagle passed away on August 23rd, 1999 at the
age of 61. Master Nagle will be sorely missed by all we love
you Sensei. Oss!
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