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Someone recently ask about the payments the United States made to Grandmaster Shimabuku
Tatsuo for teaching martial arts to the US Marines. Our research uncovered
the following:
Grandmaster Harold Mitchum told us that Steve Armstrong was instrumental in wrangling the first
payments for Master Shimabuku Tatsuo to teach Karate.
Sensei Armstrong was in Disbursing {Finances}, prior to 1960. Ralph Bove was the
first 3d Marine Division Judo/Karate Coordinator and was responsible for getting the USMC contracts
to Master Shimabuku Tatsuo.
Master John Bartusevics told us that Issac Dawson replaced Bove in 1960 and he replaced Dawson in
May 1963.
Issac Dawson and
John Bartusevics were the keepers of the contract, and ensured that the contract stayed
with the
Master Shimabuku Tatsuo. The amount was $250.00 for Master Shimabuku Tatsuo per
month, $250.00 for Master Uechi
Kanei per month, and the Okinawa Judo Association received $ 450.00 a month.
Sensei'
Dawson and Bartusevics provided attendance cards at the Dojo's for the Marines and
Sailors of 3d Marine Division. The Masters turned in the
attendance cards to the US government for their payments. Karate lessons were free
to the servicemen.
If you have an interesting
"Did You Know" forward it to the web master at
chinto@cox.net
and we will be sure to pass on the credit.
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