MURPHY, Wayne Okinawan Karate Club of Lantana |
In 1989, Murphy Sensei became involved with an organization that practiced one on one and multiple opponent combat using simulated melee style weapons. It was within this organization Murphy Sensei became very interested in the basic combative principals of martial arts. He spent the next ten years actively participating in this organization and practicing with many different types of weapons and weapon combinations in an effort to learn how to effectively apply these principals. In January of 1999, wanting to further his understanding of martial arts, Murphy Sensei began studying under Ilene Smoger Sensei in Okinawan Karate Do. He studied in both the original Shobayashi system of Shorin Ryu as developed by Grand Master Eizo Shimabukuro and Shudokan Karate Do as developed by the late Kanken Toyama. Murphy Sensei became an avid student and was awarded his Shodan (1st Dan) in June 2001 in both systems. Continuing his study of martial arts Murphy Sensei has since earned up through his Yondan (4th Dan) also in both the Shorin Ryu and the Shudokan systems. Murphy Sensei has been fortunate to have trained with many world renowned martial artists from many different styles and systems. He began sharing his knowledge and instructing both adults and children in 2002 and believes the study of martial arts is not solely for self defense but also develops confidence, ambition, physical fitness, discipline and a sense of accomplishment just to name a few. He further believes it is a life long study working to achieve perfection of character, or as the ancient masters said “Mind, Body and Spirit”. |