About this instructor:

George W. Alexander is the President and Founder of the International Shorin Ryu Karate Kobudo Federation and is acknowledged as the “World pioneer of Shorin Ryu Karate.”  He began his training in 1964 while serving in the United States Marine Corps.  His assignments enabled him to journey to the orient including mainland Japan, Okinawa and Southeast Asia.  He began training in Shorin Ryu Karate in 1964 while stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.  He quickly earned a reputation as a rugged fighter in the Marine Corps.  During his career he trained with a host of noted masters, and made it a point of seeking out the best instructors.  

A decorated veteran, he served as a team leader with the US Marine’s 3rd Force Reconnaissance Company in Vietnam.  In 1967 and 1968 while stationed at Dong Ha, Vietnam he led jungle teams which gathered intelligence information.  Since then he has become a uniquely qualified and popular instructor with international teaching credentials and experience. He has traveled widely to spread the teachings of Shorin Ryu Karate.

RANKS AND TITLES

• 10th Dan Hanshi Shorin Ryu Karate & Kobudo
• 10th Dan Hanshi Jujitsu
• 7th Dan Kendo
• 3rd Dan Judo

Master Alexander earned a Baccalaureate Degree in Business Administration from Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida in 1979 and did graduate work in Asian history at the same university under Dr. Tsung I. Dow. He then received his Ph.D. in political science.  He received his Master Certificate and teaching credentials in Shorin Ryu Karate and Kobudo in 1983 from the All Okinawan Shorin Ryu Karate and Kobudo Association.  He now holds the rank of 10th Dan Hanshi in Shorin Ryu Karate and Kobudo and is also acknowledged as an expert in Jujitsu and Kendo, the Japanese form of swordsmanship. He has also founded the Okinawa Hakutsuru Kenpo style of karate.

In 1989 he founded Yamazato International, a company specializing in martial arts publications and video productions.  He has been featured in a series of videotapes on Karate, Kobudo and Jujitsu. In 1991 he was inducted into the World Martial Arts Hall of Fame. He has competed in Tournaments and was the 1997 National AAU Karate champion and voted one of the world’s top 100 martial artists by the International Martial Arts Federation. He has won many titles including USA Karate Champion and World Karate Champion. He has served as a director and advisor for many martial arts organizations. 

Master Alexander has always been fascinated with the history of the martial arts and is an oriental art collector. As a result of this fascination, he has done much historical research and translation work and written numerous articles on the martial arts. According to Master Alexander, “History and technique seem to intertwine themselves.” He has written two of the leading books on Okinawan karate history. The first, Okinawa Island of Karate is an in-depth study on Okinawan Karate history. The second book is a translation of a secret text known as the Bubishi (Martial Art Spirit). He has also written The Shorin Ryu Karate Training Manualand Warrior Jujitsu, a complete training guide in the art of Jujitsu. In addition, he has written the EncyclopedicDictionary of the Japanese Martial Arts and Japan’s Warrior Nation –The Samurai in the Twentieth Century. He has been featured in a video called The Secrets of the Bubishi. Master Alexander has established the Budokan Martial Arts Training Center and Museum in Reliance, Tennessee.

George Alexander, Hanshi 10th Dan can be contacted the
ISKKF Honbu Dojo or
Yamazato Videos/Publications
180 Yellow Jacket Drive - Hwy 315
Reliance, TN 37369
Tel. (423) 338-4972
Fax. (423) 338-5651
www.yamazato-videos.com
www.worldbudokan.com