Harold Long’s Influence

(Left to right all rows)
Front: Harold Long, Angi Uezu, Bill Arnwin
Middle: Tommy True, Andy Anderson, JC Burris
Back: Allan Wheeler, Travis Brasfield,Maurice Msarsa
In 1963, Master Long attended the “Systems Head Meeting” of the first World Karate Tournament in Chicago, Illinois. The purpose of the meeting was to set-up rules for all American karate tournaments. In attendance were John Keehan, Phil Kepal, Harold Long, George Mattson, Anthony Mirikan, Roy Oshiro, Don Nagle, Ed Parker, Wendall Reeves, Jhoon Rhee, Mas Tsuroka, and Robert Trias.

Regardless of style, everyone at the meeting agreed to use the newly formed Kata and Kumite rules for all tournaments held in the United States. With one exception, all of the rules the group adopted were proposed by Master Long.

Master Long also served as Vice President of the United States Karate Association for several years. A true pioneer, Master Long put into motion many of the structures and formats now in use in the martial arts tournament world today.

Harold Long was unmistakably, “A man of unique character,” and was respected everywhere he went. His ideas about training and self-defense are rigid copies of Master Shimabuku’s philosophies and attitudes. Master Long was not known for compromise of principle or technique, and he required…no, he demanded the same commitment from others that he demonstrated himself.

Master Long lived and breathed Isshin‑ryu Karate. (His only additional passions involved reading Westerns and watching UT Football.) Through his words and his teachings, he was a fierce proponent that, if practiced properly and continually, Isshin‑ryu was all a person ever needed to defend themselves.

Perhaps a result of surviving the Battle of Chosen Reservoir or perhaps an inbred desire to survive, Harold Long was a determined leader whose life was committed to the practice and development of Isshin‑ryu Karate.