Our Patch

The central figure in the Sansei Isshin-ryu emblem is called Mizu Gami (the water goddess), a female whose lower body is the shape of a sea dragon. Her left hand is held open in the universal sign of peace, symbolizing the gentleness of a mother caring for her children. Although appearing calm and gentle, she is also prepared to protect the young ones in the rough waves of the sea. Her right hand forms a fist of warning, showing she is ready to unleash a mother's fury if her children were threatened. This hand position is used in Seiuchin Kata. In oriental mythology, the sea serpent is born at the bottom of the sea and ascends into the heavens, depicted by the small dragon above the head of Mizu Gami. The three stars represent the spiritual, mental, and physical aspects of the arts. The three islands represent the United States Virgin Islands – St. Croix, St. John and St. Thomas (The emblem was created before Water Island officially became another U.S. Virgin Island.) The ten rays of the rising sun represents the Kyu & Dan rankings and the energy force attained through the study of this system. In Okinawan language, “Sansei” means third generation, “Isshin” means one heart/one mind, “Ryu” means style or way, and “Karate” means empty hands. A Sansei Isshin-ryu student must strive for a strong body and peace of mind through practice of the art.

Our Founder

Professor Richard A. Bell founded Sansei Isshin-ryu Karate-Do in 1980 and was chief instructor until his death in 2005. Professor Bell started his training in the martial arts in 1961 as a Marine recruit at Paris Island, South Carolina. Professor later trained in several styles and systems of martial arts; Jijitsu, Judo, Shorin-ryu, Wado-ryu, Uechi-ryu, Goju, Shotokan, Okinawan Isshin-ryu, USA Goju, Aikido, Okinawan Kenpo, Nisei Goju, Tai Chi Chuan, and Kendo. Teaching martial arts since 1967, Professor held many titles and ranks: Ph.D/Ma, Soke, Professor, Hanshi Shihan, 10th Dan Sansei Isshinryu, 8th Dan Nisei Goju, 6th Dan Lee Jijitsu-ryu, 5th Dan Okinawan Isshin-ryu, Intermediate Level Taoist Tai Chi Chuan, 6th Kyu Kendo, and 4th Kyu USA Goju. In 1994, Professor was inducted into the World Martial Arts Hall of Fame while serving as a Deputy United States Marshal on St. Croix.

Our current Sansei Isshin-ryu Karate-do Family Head

Grandmaster Alda E. Anduze, 10th Degree Black Belt, is the inheritor and current leader of Sansei Isshin-ryu. Grandmaster Anduze has studied Sansei Isshin-ryu since 1981 and other martial arts since 1970 including: Shotokan, Goju, Kung Fu, Moo Doo Kwan, Chun Doo Kwan, Judo, and Kendo. Hanshi instructed karate at St. Joseph High School for four years, became the first female Virgin Islander to achieve 8th Dan, and now is a 10th Dan. Grandmaster Anduze was inducted into the World Martial Arts Hall of Fame in 1995 and received the Diamond Life Achievement Award in 1996 for 25 years of martial arts training. Grandmaster Anduze now works as a free-lance photographer in addition to teaching martial arts.

History of Isshin-ryu

Tatsuo Shimabuku was born in Kyan Village in 1908, on the island of Okinawa on Saturday, the 19th of September.

Young Tatsuo began his study of Karate at the age of 8 when he walked some 12 miles to the neighboring village of Shuri to learn Shuri-Te Karate from his uncle. His uncle sent him home, but he returned repeatedly until his uncle finally gave in to Tatsuo's persistence and accepted him as a pupil.

For about four years young Shimabuku studied karate in his uncle's dojo, along with completing the most menial domestic chores. Having achieved a certain degree of skill in Shuri-Te Karate, he went on to formal training in Kobayashi-ryu. He met Chokotu Kiyan, who was already famous throughout Okinawa as a karate instructor, and become one of that master’s leading pupils. He also studied Goju-ryu Karate with Chojun Miyagi and become his best student.

Shimabuku’s reputation throughout Okinawa had reached its peak when World War II began. During the early part of the war he did his best to avoid conscription into the Japanese Army by escaping into the countryside where he worked as a farmer.

Given his great reputation in karate though, many Japanese soldiers sought him out to study karate under him. The officers who finally caught up with him agreed to keep his whereabouts secret in exchange for karate training. Thus, Shimabuku survived the war.

After the war, Shimabuku returned to farming and practiced karate privately. Soon U. S. Marines stationed on Okinawa heard of him though and sought him out to start training them in this new form of fighting: karate. As one the island’s leading practitioner of both Shorin-ryu and Goju-ryu styles of karate, Shimabuku felt a need over the next decade to combine the two styles of karate into one. After consulting leading martial artists, Shimabuku founded his own system of karate: Isshin-ryu, meaning “The One Heart Method-Empty Hand.”

Isshin-ryu Founder -- Tatsuo Shimbaku

Our Staff

Alda Anduze

Sunsu Dojo Chief Instructor

Sansei Isshin-ryu Karate-do Grandmaster and Inheritor

Certified Tai Chi Instructor

Reiki Master/Teacher

Martial Arts World Hall of Fame Inductee

Latin American Martial Arts Hall of Fame Inductee

Native Crucian

Professional photographer

David Beck

6th Degree Black Belt

Certified Tai Chi Instructor

Shihan Beck is an original student of Professor Bell and native Crucian. Retired after 30+ years as Director of Core Network Transport & Viya Business Solutions Engineering.

Roger Summerhayes

5th Degree Black Belt

Renshi Summerhayes is an original student

of Professor Bell and taught high school science on St. Croix for 36 years. He continues to assist with teaching at Sunsu Dojo for the half of the year he is on island. When off-island, he assists at Glens Falls Karate Academy in Glens Falls, NY.