Crossville Isshinryu Karate Academy teaches techniques and principles from Karate, Boxing, Kickboxing, Jujitsu, and Tai Chi, but the core of our curriculum is centered around Isshinryu Karate. Isshinryu Karate originated in Okinawa, created by Grand Master Tatsuo Shimabuku. 

Tatsuo Shimabuku was born in Chun Village, Okinawa, on September 19, 1906. At the age of eight, he began to study Shorin-Ryu Karate under his uncle. After mastering Shorin-Ryu, he began his study of Goju-Ryu Karate, during the mid 1936’s, Shimabuku entered a special martial arts festival. His performance of both Shorin-Ryu and Goju-Ryu katas so impressed the spectators, that by 1940, he was recognized throughout the Ryukyu Islands as the foremost proponent of Shorin-Ryu and Goju-Ryu Karate. He was the first person ever to master both systems.

By the early 1950’s Master Shimabuku was refining his karate teachings combining what he felt was the best of the Shorin-Ryu and Goju-Ryu sty to, and incorporating his own techniques. While his experimentation continued, his adaptation of techniques and kata were not widely publicized. He consulted with several of the masters on Okinawa concerning his wish to develop a new style. Because he was highly respected as a karate master, he received their blessing. [This would later be rescinded due to the many radical changes made in traditional Okinawa Karate].

One night in 1954, Master Shimabuku had a dream of a beautiful sea goddess, half woman, half serpent, named "Mizu-Gami".   The next morning when Master Shimabuku awoke, he felt that his dream had been a divine revelation. This was the basis of the Isshinryu symbol, and the birth of Isshinryu Karate. [Isshinryu means "One Heart Way"]. The date was January 15, 1954.

In 1955, the 3rd U. S. Marine Division was stationed on Okinawa, and the Marine Corps chose Master Shimabuku to provide instruction to marines on the island. As a result of this instruction, Isshinryu was to be spread throughout the United States by marines who returned home. The first two marines to bring Isshinryu Karate to the United States were Don Nagle and Harold Long. Master Tatsuo Shimabuku died on May 30, 1975,

The martial arts lineage of CIKA instructors is through Master Harold Long who during the Korean War fought in the Battle of Chosin Reservoir. This battle is known as one of the most fierce and grueling battles in USA Marine Corp history. Following his part in the Korean War, Harold Long was stationed in Okinawa where he sought training in karate. Mr. Long asked local about finding “the best” karate instructor in Okinawa and was repeatedly referred to Grand Master Tatsuo Shimabuku. After several visits to Grand Master Shimabuku’s dojo, he was accepted and began training. He trained for nineteen months, as much as eight hours a day, seven days a week, in some cases. When Master Long returned to the United States, he was stationed at Twenty-nine Palms, California, where he opened his first dojo in his back yard. After his discharge from the Marine Corps, in July 1959, he returned to East Tennessee, where the seed of his instruction took root, and branched out to all corners of our nation, which fulfilled the desire of his instructor.