User:Roninuta/Ed L. Johnson

Ed L. Johnson (Ed) is an American martial artist and Isshin-Ryu karate instructor and one of the original first generation students to study under Sensei Tatsuo Shimabuku, the founder. He is a veteran of the United States Marine Corp and served in Okinawa in the village of Agena. He is currently a Ju-Dan (10th Dan) in Isshin-Ryu and teaches in Fort Worth, Texas.

Military Background
Eddie Lynn Johnson was born 1 April 1941 in Fort Worth, Texas. On 24 April 1958 he joined the United States Marine Corp Reserve and entered Active Duty service in mid-July that year. Stationed at Camp Pendleton, California, Johnson wanted to study Judo and, the following year, he put in a request for transfer to Okinawa, where he had been advised that he'd be able to do so. In fact, he and Isshin-Ryu great Don Bohan were sent to Okinawa onboard the same ship, the USS General J.C. Breckenridge (T-AP-176), on 20 November 1959, arriving on 6 December.

Johnson went overseas to study Judo but instead, he soon found himself taking the free Isshin-Ryu karate lessons that were offered to the Marines in the village of Agena. While on Okinawa, Johnson trained alongside many other Isshin-Ryu greats including Shinsho Shimabuku, Harold Mitchum, Jim Advincula, Clarence Ewing, Sherman Harrill, Tom Lewis, Steve Armstrong, Bill Blond, Ralph Bove, Frank Van Lenten, and Jake Eckenrode. Johnson earned his black belt in July of 1960, after approximately seven months of training.

Johnson returned to the United States on 18 February 1961 and, like many others before him, he was entrusted with the rank of Roku-Dan (6th Dan) upon leaving -- with the proviso of not claiming that rank for at least 15 years. He joined the American Okinawa Karate Association (AOKA) in July of that year and he also taught Isshin-Ryu in the gymnasium at Camp Las Pulgas and Camp Pendleton, California.

Martial Arts
Upon his discharge from the Marines in March 1962, he relocated to Arlington, TX, where he taught karate at a local YMCA. In the Dallas/Ft. Worth metroplex in the early 1960s, Johnson was right in the midst of Texas karate's "Blood and Guts" era. His students were on the tournament circuit alongside such notables as Chuck Norris, Skipper Mullins, and Allen Steen. He trained numerous champions, including Texas favorite Roy Kurban. Johnson initially trained Kurban in karate in 1965 before Kurban switched to Tae Kwon Do. Johnson himself even briefly trained in Tae Kwon Do for a short while, and although he never held rank in the art, he taught for J. Pat Burleson. During this time, Johnson met Tae Kwon Do pioneer Jhoon Rhee, and he taught Rhee several self-defense techniques that he learned on Okinawa.

Unfortunately, Johnson was not informed that Master Shimabuku was visiting the United States in September 1964 and he did not find out about the visit until years later. Likewise, he was unaware of Shimabuku's second visit in late 1966 until about six months after the Master had returned to Okinawa, although through an interpreter, the two exchanged letters. Master Shimabuku famously stated in one letter that he remembered Johnson, saying "Eddie karate too much good".

To further enhance his Isshin-Ryu, Johnson traveled to Knoxville, Tennessee in late 1967 to train with Harold Long and Cas Cox. Back in Texas, Johnson eventually bought out his partner and operated the dojo on his own. In January 1968, upon Harold Long's recommendation, Shimabuku again recognized Johnson as Roku-Dan (6th Dan). Later that year, on 12 September, Long promoted Johnson to Nana-Dan (7th Dan).

In June 1970, Johnson returned to Okinawa for two weeks to train with Master Shimabuku and he assisted with teaching at the Agena dojo. While on Okinawa, he also attended the party celebrating the birth of Kichiro Shimabuku's son. In December, 1974, Johnson joined Harold Long in the formation of the International Isshin-Ryu Karate Association (IIKA). In August 1975 he assisted Harold Mitchum, Jim Advincula, and Milledge Murphey in creating the United Isshin-Ryu Karate Association (UIKA) in hopes of standardizing and disseminating purely traditional Isshin-Ryu. While Mitchum, Advincula, and Murphey acted as the Director, Vice-President, and Secretary, respectively, Johnson served as the President of the association until 1981.

In 1985, he traveled back to Okinawa and spent about 10 days assisting with classes at Camp Foster. Angi Uezu, Master Shimabuku's son-in-law, also gave him an extensive tour of the island. In September 1992, Johnson became an honorary Board Member of and accepted a promotion to Hachi-Dan (8th Dan) by the Isshin-Ryu Karate-Do Association (IKA), directed by Harvey Kennedy and Bill Pogue of Shreveport, LA. In May 1993, he was made an honorary member of the Isshin-Ryu Brotherhood (IB) for his consistent service and dedication to traditional Isshin-Ryu. In August 2004, he received the Lifetime Achievement award from the Isshin-Ryu Hall of Fame. On 30 April 2005, Johnson was promoted to Kyu-Dan (9th Dan) by Harold Mitchum and later, in July 2005, he was recognized as Kyu-Dan (9th Dan) by the Isshin-Ryu Brotherhood. Then, on 28 November, after nearly 46 years of active participation in Isshin-Ryu karate, Johnson accepted the rank of Ju-Dan (10th Dan) from Dr. Milledge Murphey and the Isshin-Ryu Brotherhood. Murphy and the Isshin-Ryu Brotherhood recognized Johnson as their Hanshi due to Johnson's unyielding dedication to totally traditional Isshin-Ryu. The following month, Johnson received the Lifetime Achievement award from Salil Nadkarni and the Isshin-Ryu Karate and Kobudo Association of India.

He presently resides and teaches in Fort Worth, Texas. On 20 July 2019, Johnson was inducted into the Isshin-Ryu Hall of Fame in Gatlinburg, TN. On December 19, 2019, Johnson celebrated 60 years in Isshin-Ryu.