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Many thanks to Diane Cooling for this weeks masters profile. Her information was so well written I am submitting it verbatim. I’m sure you will find these Masters as interesting and accomplished as you would expect, coming from the Order Of Isshinryu. I will allow myself some brief personal comments on these men in appreciation for the privilege of having them on our site.

Isham Latimer

Isham Latimer began his martial arts journey in 1972 with Sensei Robert Salay in Huntington Village, New York, studying Isshin-Ryu karate. About the same time, he also began studying Ju-Jitsu with Sensei Joseph Drual. By mid-1974 he had achieved a shodan rank in Isshin-Ryu and a san-kyu rank in Ju-Jitsu. Later that year, he became good friends with Furman Simmons, a shodan in Sanucus-Ryu Ju-Jitsu under renowned Master Moses Powell. They worked out together, and while the exchange of techniques and combat applications was fruitful, his heart was still with Isshin-Ryu. He began searching for a sensei that had the skills, rank, and reputation with which he would be confident. That search led him in the winter of 1975 to the dojo of Sensei Malachi Lee in New York City. Sensei Lee and his students so impressed him during his first visit to the dojo, that he made up his mind to join that very evening. He remembers that when he entered the dojo that night, everyone was serious and busy - and that was before the sensei even walked on the floor.  This was also Mr. Latimer's first introduction to the Order of Isshin-Ryu.  He remembers telling one of the other students that Isshin-Ryu was definitely "sweet for the street." Mr. Latimer had the privilege of being Sensei Lee's student until his untimely death in 1976.  He remembers thinking, "That man has got to be crazy! He would work you beyond your limits, then bring you back. He had a lot of energy, and would bring the same out in you." After Sensei Lee's death, he continued studying at the dojo and was promoted to the rank of shodan by the O.I.  He has attributed his growth in knowledge to Master Cooling's leadership. In 1976 he received an instructor's certificate in Modern Arnis from Master Remy Presas. He has also continued training with his friend, Furman Simmons. However, he has always considered only one person as his sensei:  Toby Cooling.  In 1979, Sensei Latimer received his masters degree in social work from the State University of New York.  He then began work at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice (NY) as an academic counselor and faculty advisor.  In 1992 he attended the NY State Division of Parole Academy, graduating first in the class and receiving the Leroy Drake Award for Excellence.  He currently works for the Specialized Warrants Unit as a warrant officer in the Absconder Search Unit, and is a certified defensive tactics instructor for the state of New York.

Sensei Latimer was elevated to the rank of nana-dan in July, 1999.  He was awarded the "Spirit of Isshinryu" award at the 1996 Isshinryu Hall of Fame and "Sensei of Senseis" in 2000. Sensei Latimer's busy life is anchored by his wife Joanne and daughters Lisa, Melissa, Michelle, and Laura.

MASTER SHAFFERS COMMENTS
I met Master Latimer for the first time at Master Coolings summer shiai. I knew of him of coarse. His name and reputation transcends geographic lines. Fortunately I got to spend some quality time with him. After a few minutes I just opened up and asked some very hard personal questions in search of advice. Our dojo is very racially mixed. Maybe 50/50. I wanted to know how to insure every student the same exact opportunity (rank, hall of fame, board appointments) as every other student in an environment that has a spotty record of such. I am white, so on a lot of life experiences I am only guessing. I wanted to know how to effect progress without asking too much or accepting too little. I could not have gone to a more fair, realistic, or well-grounded person on the subject. His advice was a reflection of his own core values and self-confidence. I came away a wiser man and Sensei. The cultural direction of our dojo will always have a compass point in the direction of Master Latimer.

  Master Denny Shaffer, Ku-Dan