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Thank you for acceptance to this list, looking forward to learning.

My direct Isshinryu instrutors were Robert Markovich, Lloyd Russette, and Harri Acklin, today it is Grand Master Lou Lizotte, I have been very lucky to train with many of the leading Isshinryu practitioners of our day as well, Masters, Don Bohan, Don Nagle etc...
I train under Shihan Henri Oh out of Sunny Side NY. the chairman of the North American Kyokushin Organization. Tomasz Kucharzewski is my heavy weight fighter that competes in the K-1, he was runner up in the U.S. last year, we have fought in Japan twice so far, Tomasz has a fighting record of over 210 fights and only 8 losses, in both Knock down and kickboxing matches. Right now we are trying to heal a knee injury that has caused us a few losses recently. All K-1 events are run by Japan there are no versions, the K-1 now all over the world and will be expanding throughout the U.S. very soon. Tomasz now has a K-1 trading card with his picture and stats on it in Japan. I will be teaching at Shihan Henri-oh's Kyokushin training camp this summer it is open to all, check out the Henri-oh's total fitness web page for details.

After the experience of Southeast Asia, in 1971 I was assigned to Camp Pendleton in Oceanside
California where I continued training in Shu Do Kan Karate under Sensei John Broderick. My Sho Dan
and Ni Dan grades cost me numerous bruises and sprains as Broderick Sensei was of the old school, I
trained with him until 1974 when the Marine Corps transferred me to Massachusetts. Here I discovered
Isshin-Ryu Karate in which I eventually gained Yon Dan. I trained with Sensei's Chester Holubecki,
Chris Stevenson and Lewis Lizzote.
I left the Marine Corps in 1976 and stayed in Massachusetts to pursue my education. I continued with
Isshin-Ryu and in 1979, I  met Sensei Noriyasu Kudo, who became my sensei. Kudo Sensei proved to
be one of the best teachers of karate I have ever had the opportunity of training with. After training for
six years which included teaching five days a week for four years, he awarded me with my Go-Dan rank.

In that same year we started practicing Ashihara Karate and in 1986, Kancho Ashihara personally came
to train and test our progress. I was honored with the San Dan Grade. I had joined the US Air Force
Reserve in 1984 and in 1988 they offered me a full time position as a recruiting supervisor. I was
transferred to San Antonio Texas and opened a small dojo with a select group of students training and
teaching three days a week. After three years I was transferred to Denver, Colorado where I continued
my training with Shihan Joko Ninomiya, who had since formed Enshin Karate. For the next three years
I made full use of this opportunity by training, questioning and learning as much as I could of Enshin
karate. In 1994, someone got the bright idea of transferring  me to Homestead Air Force Base, Florida.
Making use of the local base gymnasium, I ran a small dojo. Finally in 1998. I retired from the U S Air
Force.

Two years before my retirement, I had put Enshin Karate aside. I continued to train and teach on my own trying to figure out what to do with myself and what direction I needed to go. In February of 2000, along comes Hoosain Narker, whom I had met and trained with years earlier. During that time period, we had corresponded on an ad-hoc basis and when I saw what he was doing for Ashihara Karate, I offered my immediate assistance.  At  age 50, now in the third part of my life, I realize this is the direction I need
to go. A new challenge faces me!  Other than my karate, I am also the National Sales Director for AccuChecker Software.

I started in martial arts by doing TaeKwonDo, which I've done for about seven years now (ever since I was 14 yrs.) Only two years ago I got seduced into trying Ashihara and enjoyed it so much that I carried on training and eventually grading (breaking many constitutional rules in the process). I've got Senpai Hoosain and the late Shodan Mathokoza to thank for that.

To echo another persons' words, "This is going to be a learning experience for me and I hope you guys out there will always be there to answer my questions, of which I surely have many."

    I am Daniel McCarthy. I am 43 years old and have two children, Danny (12) and Alicia (10).  I resigned from General Electric (Plastics and Power Generation) after 13 years. I presently work for a Fuel Cell company, Plug Power. My hobbies include all sports. My life is Karate. I have done it my whole adult life.

    I have been training since 1979 and have "always" put my entire heart and soul into it. It is so much more satisfying when you know that you have done your absolute best. By example, I also teach students to do the same. I have never, nor would I ever, expect a student to do less. I guess you could call me a hard ass. I always expect everyone's absolute best. I enjoy the harder classes the most and love it when I am drenched in sweat and gasping for air. It is this consistent training philosophy that lets me know that I am most capable. I also hope this inspires other students to keep going, doing their absolute best. After all, that is what the higher level students are supposed to do, lead and inspire...

    In the early 1970s, while living in New York City, I saw the movie "Billy Jack" and from that time on I wanted to have that ability. I do!

    I started studying Seido Karate in 1979 as a way to get involved in something more productive than "Hanging Out." Growing up in a relatively small town with little or nothing to do, Karate enabled me to participate in a positive and fulfilling activity.

    I was involved in Seido Karate till my Instructor, Shihan William Reid, decided to leave Seido and start Budokai Karate in 1987. He was a Yondan (4th Dan) and I was a Nidan (2nd Dan). Of course there were some tough times along the way. But, not once did I even think of quitting. Even during my Green Belt test with the Shinai beating, the reprimand classes, the broken bones and even after the back surgery in 1997. I was determined to prove the Doctors wrong when they told me "You will not be able to continue with Karate." I did not think that was a possibility! It was very hard work but it can be done by anyone wanting to do it. I am sure Karate played heavily in my divorce in 1998. It is such an intregal part of me that I could not separate from it without changing me! I loved the Art that much.

    Presently, I am a Rokudan (6th Dan) in Budokai having successfully tested for it in January 2001. I had heard that after Godan (5th Dan) all the higher promotions do not include a physical test. Mine was and I am glad for it. It gives me a sense of earning it. I know that the test is a confirmation of present skill level and is just a formality but I am still glad I "tested" for it. The level of difficulty was very satisfying since I would not want anything handed to me. I have approached every promotional extremely
prepared, proficient in every requirement. I went into every test knowing there was no way I could fail (except if Shihan wanted to as some sort of enrichment, which did happen along the "path.")

    I am the Chief Adult Instructor at the Budokai Karate Honbu in Albany, New York. I teach classes every week and continue with my training. I emphasize speed as well as being very technical. Speed brings power and doing techniques properly enables sharpness and power, as well as consistency throughout the organization.

    I also encourage students to maintain their abilities by constantly reviewing their material. Once you know how to do something don't stop practicing it. Especially all those jumping kicks. ;-)

Remember:
"If you don't use it, you'll lose it."
"If you did it yesterday, then you can do it today!"

    I look forward to meeting you and as many members as possible! Please let me know whenever you are in the Northeast, USA.  I will make every effort to meet you.

Osu,
Dan McCarthy

While studying there, my instructor became friends with a young man by the name of Yoshida (don't
know his formal name) ... who trained under Ashihara ... and we learned a lot of the side body from him
and later on my instructor incorporated it into his school and started his own style of karate with a
mixture of TKD, Okinawan Karate, Side Body, Modern Arnis and Brazilian Jujutsu (we were introduced
to the Gracie's way before the UFC was even thought of ... and studying ground at that time ... I wasn't
much in favor of it but it was self defense so I persevered and I am glad that I did ... I have no belt in it
... just a basic understanding of it).

I got as high as 3rd Dan in Ryu Kyu Kempo and under my instructor's eclectic style of Dai Shin Do
(meaning Great Heart Way) ... I made it to 4th Dan before leaving the school and him ... and later on
opening my own school. I have since studied further with other instructor's in Escrima and Aikido and
Kickboxing (Muay Thai). I have studied various other arts but have no black belt in them.  Only a burning desire to learn more but not enough hours in the day to do it all !

In 1976, I gained yellow belt afterwards went for green in 1977. This pushed me to learn more. I attended
the 2nd Kyokushin World Open Tournament in 1979 as well as the 3rd World Open as a competitor. I took judo classes and trained in other countries by myself trying to learn from everyone no matter what style.

I took classes from Carson Hines, a Red Belt of Okinawa Kempo Go sho Kai in Kobujutsu and Filipino
Arts and which ever was available and had an open mind & right attitude.

I competed in tournaments like any other young man eager to try and test his abilities and I learned a lot
from it mostly humbleness. I was able to arrange the visit to Panama of Randolph James of New York
a great big guy and famous fighter that showed me the human part of a competitor of high caliber.
In 1996, I went back to Japan but as the coach of the national team and acting branch chief and had the
opportunity to get the official 3rd Dan which I actually gained in 1986. I served as referee and judge in
tournaments all around specially in Costa Rica and received finer tuition from Keiji Sampei Shihan.

I am a U.S. National Federation of Professional Trainers certified Personal Fitness Trainer which give
me a good support in training this sport. I had taught in many places but later in a Ballet School; but
constructed my personal Dojo at my house which is better because nothing is better than having things
run in your own way.