The President and Founder of the International Shorin Ryu Karate Kobudo Federation is Grandmaster George W. Alexander. He 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 Marine Corps 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. He 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 Viet Nam. In 1967 and 1968 while stationed at Dong Ha, Viet Nam 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
- 9th Dan Hanshi Okinawan Shorin Ryu Karate
- 9th Dan Hanshi Okinawan Shorin Ryu Kobudo
- 9th Dan Hanshi Ju Jitsu
- 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 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 9th Dan Hanshi in Shorin Ryu Karate and Kobudo. He also holds the rank of 9th Dan Hanshi in Shorinji Ryu Ju Jitsu and is acknowledged as an expert in Kendo, the Japanese form of swordsmanship.
In 1989 he founded Yamazato International, a company specializing in martial arts publications and video productions. He has been featured in a series of video tapes on Karate, Kobudo and Jujitsu. In 1991 he was inducted into the World Martial Arts Hall of Fame.He has competed in Tournaments beginning in the 1960s and was the 1997 National AAU Karate Champion. He has served as a director and advisor for many martial arts organizations and is currently a vice president of the World Union of Martial Arts Federations.
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 Manual” and “Warrior Jujitsu”, a complete training guide in the art of Jujitsu.
Additionally, Master Alexander represents the Shorinji Ryu Jujitsu Federation and the International Budokan Kendo Federation.
