George W. Alexander-The President and Founder of the International Shorin Ryu Karate Kobudo
Federation is Master George W. Alexander. He is acknowledged as the
"World Pioneer of Shorin Ryu Karate." He began his training in 1964
while serving in the United States Marine Corps. His Marine Corps
assignments enabled him to journey to the orient including mainland
Japan, Okinawa and Southeast Asia. He began training in Shorin Ryu
Karate in 1964 while stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. He
quickly earned a reputation as a rugged fighter in the Marine Corps.
During his career he trained with a host of noted masters. He made it a
point of seeking out the best instructors.
A decorated veteran, he served as a team leader with the US Marine's 3rd Force Reconnaissance Company in Vietnam. In 1967 and 1968 while
stationed at Dong Ha, Vietnam he led jungle teams which gathered
intelligence information. Since then he has become a uniquely qualified
and popular instructor with international teaching credentials and
experience. He has traveled widely to spread the teachings of Shorin Ryu
Karate.
RANKS AND TITLES
- 9th Dan Hanshi Shorin Ryu Karate
- 9th Dan Okinawa Kobudo
- 9th Dan Hanshi Jujitsu
- 7th Dan Kendo
- 3rd Dan Judo
Master Alexander earned a Baccalaureate Degree in Business
Administration from Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida
in 1979 and did graduate work in Asian history at the same university
under Dr. Tsung I. Dow. He then received his Ph.D. in political science.
He received his Master Certificate and teaching credentials in Shorin
Ryu Karate and Kobudo in 1983 from the All Okinawan Shorin Ryu Karate
and Kobudo Association. He now holds the rank of 9th Dan Hanshi in
Shorin Ryu Karate and Kobudo and is also acknowledged as an expert in
Jujitsu and Kendo, Japanese swordsmanship. He is also a defensive
tactics instructor and has taught members of the LAPD and LAPD SWAT, USC
Police, Dept. of Homeland Security, LA County Sheriff's Dept. and many
other agencies in the U.S., Canada and Europe.
In 1989 he founded Yamazato International, a company specializing in
martial arts publications and video productions. He has been featured
in a series of videotapes on Karate, Kobudo and Jujitsu. In 1991 he was
inducted into the World Martial Arts Hall of Fame and in 1998 voted one
of the World's Top 100 Martial Artists by the International Martial Arts
Federation. As a competitor, he earned the titles of National AAU Karate
Champion and World Karate Champion. He has appeared on the Discovery
Channel as an expert commentator and has hosted a television show
entitled "Martial Arts!"
Master Alexander has always been fascinated with the history of the
martial arts and is an oriental art collector. As a result of this
fascination, he has done much historical research and translation work
and written numerous articles on the martial arts. According to Master
Alexander, "History and technique seem to intertwine themselves". He has
written two of the leading books on Okinawan karate history. The first,
Okinawa Island of Karate is an in-depth study on Okinawan Karate
history. The second book is a translation of a secret text known as the
Bubishi (Martial Art Spirit).
He has also written The Essence of Shorin
Ryu Karate and Warrior Jujitsu. In addition, he has written the
Encyclopedic Dictionary of the Japanese Martial Arts and Japan's Warrior
Nation -The Samurai in the Twentieth Century. Master Alexander has
established the Budokan Martial Arts Training Center in Reliance,
Tennessee.
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