On first contact, I was blown away by his physical size. I personally stand 6'3" tall, and usually weigh in at 225 lbs. I felt dwarfed by Master Armstrong. This is hard to explain, he wasn't much taller than I was, nor did he weigh much more. It's just that everything about him was big. His hands were huge, and all I could think on first seeing those "paws" was he could kill me if he ever hit me. They were nothing less than battering rams. Master Armstrong was 44 years old and still in his physical prime. He was pretty much held in awe by all who knew him. Not just because of his imposing presence, but because of his absolute command of Isshinryu, and Karate in general. With a glance, he could discourse for an hour on all the things he found in your Kata that could be improved. His power was awesome, and one of his typical "feats" was to throw a pine board in the air, and "nail" it with a punch, while it was free floating. The board would explode. If you think that's easy, try it sometime. Few people talk about Mr. Armstrong's past, but he was a bona fide war hero, having established himself in the Korean War, and gaining enough notoriety from his exploits that he became a member of President Truman's personal guard before reaching the age of twenty (yes, he enlisted underage). From the first encounter, to the very end, Armstrong emphasized that meeting Tatsuo Shimabuku was the turning point of his life. Master Shimabuku is known to us mostly through the reflection of his art through generations of Isshinryu students. Armstrong knew the man, and maintains adamantly he has never met a master who compares to Shimabuku.
I eventually developed a friendship with Armstrong. I was working Arnis with Sensei Dave Bird, and had been accepted as a student by Master Archibeque...and that took most of my time. Armstrong and I remained in contact for those several years, having no clue about the evolving brain tumor that was to derail his life in the martial arts on September 8, 1977. That story is detailed in his book "Isshinryu Karate".
Despite the debilitating illness, after several years of very hard work, Master Armstrong did return to a renewed level of stature in the martial arts world ("Seven times you fall down, eight times you get up"). He had opportunity to travel to Israel, and Europe, where he authenticated and validated schools in several countries, and Sensei from several countries came to spend time with Armstrong, not infrequently staying as his guest on the second floor of his dojo. I had the good fortune of testing for Isshinryu Black Belt before Mr. Armstrong on February 20, 1988. He was careful to scrutinize everything I did, often asking for second repetitions of my Kata, then offering extended commentary into the Bunkai (combat applications), and significance of the many moves. I experienced first hand the passion he brought to the art, and his desire that it be passed down, in tact.
He was a pioneer, and made great personal sacrifices to preserve and perpetuate his Master's art. Where there was one, there are now many.
Thank you Master Armstrong.##imported-begin##Bill Mc Cabe##imported-end##
