Beginnings in Martial Arts, back in 1957 never would have seen me in the Arts this many years, I thought I was doing this for the weekend to have something to do with my ...  friends "away from home". Visiting my dad's friends and his second family in Chicago would eventually lead to my enrolling in the local Aikido class in Cecero a saburb of the Windy city ! the many times I would get on the bus to get onto the "Loop" which was known for sites ! LATER I began my ernest studies in Texas, which by then was - - later known for its BLOOD AND GUTS Era of Allen Steen and his Superb Black Belts ! the 60's what a time ! Becoming a Professional teacher while a rookie 3rd Dan wasnt as I thought it would be, many would go on to other schools due to my "OLD" ways of teaching, those ...who wanted the easier, less strenious ways went on to some of the local schools ? The more traditional have always .. kept on and endured the good and bad, we will be here while others come and go., as one individ-ual who doesnt really care whose toes he happens to "Mangle", he is man enough to stand and back it up and not eat his words, he is from the BLOOD AND GUT ERA and has been in the ring with the old guys who are now PIONEERS such as myself! GARY ALEXANDER Shihan 10th Dan and will be around for many years to come. Gary tells it like it is about the 70s when some in- dividuals came from the East and started teaching shake and bake, and walla BLACK BELTS by the numbers who were or what I call "Paper Tigers" and always will, due to how they made all their ranking and are unable to back it up., both on the mat and especially on the streets where it counts, I should know. I had to work in L.A. Niteclubs and Motels to earn a living due to not knowing anyone to sponge off of ! many later saw me on the streets and actually paid their respects to me?? whew. Either way there are those of you who may wish to read what a fellow Karateka has to say of the golden years era and how some of us managed to survive .. even though we had to lessen the HARD WORKOUTS, due to the drop-out rates, to those who thought it would be easy to condition oneself and prove your worth with real hard knocks in Germany one of my students who was at one time my teacher JOAQUIN ICHIJARA, and even Hong Sung Woo from Korea would call myself and Warren... "Head Hunters due to the blood on our GI's or the walls ! yea we didnt hold our punch's all the way, but we learned to excell in the streets and tournament became easier and harder on our oponents.        

  Isshinryu Karate: Donald Bohan's Memorial Website: Gary Alexander 

My early years saw many excellent players inTaeKwonDo and other arts, to me..Goju and Hapkido captured my.... young mind and led me into a wonderful and fullfilling life in the martial arts, that also allowed for visiting many other countries in the world., I will never for get the OLD DAYS, they certainly were not easy, but it made me realize just how it should be in TODAYs world, with all these 30 year olds self professed grandmasters who have friends and allow the youngsters to promote themselves to that HIGH rank ! those are the ones that come to me, and due to my not accepting them I have been told to retire and allow the new and young ones to attain what they deserve ! WOW, when this young man told me this...it ..  made me realize just what the martial arts had to face??? from 3rd dan in Aikido and on to grandmaster status in a year or so! now thats the way to go... reminds me of the quick lube  and friend chicken ready for you in a matter of minutes, just wait till the INK DRIES...

How proud they must feel, to have earned their rank by the american dollar.... shame on you  I know that those individuals read my website and it eats at them to see that its aimed at them but you wont see Norris, or all the others our age group nearing the 70's club accept those easy terms! we have a little more pride in how we earn ours. Our students are the same ole way ! as it should be, without shame, I have had white belts that can stand their ground with these so-called shake and bake!

Tournaments were much different, due to the difference in styles and people taking the style. 

Soke Tattersall in Europe with one of many class's he visits to teach JUJUTSU and Iaido, he ., teaches & represents various Iaido and DNBK groups., This is the time to learn from the Premier of Teachers ! I WILL BE HAVING Tattersall Sensei here in Texas to teach what he knows best ! and to certify those who wish to attend his sessions. In his 70's and with much knowledge one should consider themselves "FORTUNATE" to learn from such a teacher !

HANSHI  

We are about to make changes in photos and new membership that has come-on board.

Also to include others from Europe who have been waiting in line for the past months even while make ing plans from all the other web-  sites that I had., NOW this website will continue and will be reflecting the changes of the NEW Tanaka!

I have come to a decision on hav ing "Open" seminars so that it may benefit EVERYONE in the arts especially those that do not want or wish to belong to any one organ ization. So this is primarily why we have OPENED our seminars to the  PUBLIC and are allowing all karate kas to join in our hands-on seminars which will be from DNBK  only and will eventually lead to all being able or invited into the Japanese OLDEST of all organiza-tions ! the DNBK

I have "Retired" for the same reason...to devote all my time as I did many years ago, to ONE and only one teaching which will be to  DNBK's teachings.

HANSHI