Nana-Dan Isshinryu Karate

Sensei Eduardo L. Gonzalez (Nana-Dan Isshinryu Karate) was born February 17, 1955 in Puerto Rico and is a true example of what Isshinryu Karate is all about. He started his Isshinryu Karate training in 1968 under the instruction of Sensei Eduardo Caro 2nd Dan, Sensei Jaime Acosta 2nd Dan, and Sensei Russell P. Best (First Generation student of Master Tatsuo Shimabuku) at the young age of 13 and receiving his 1st Degree Black Belt in 1977.  Other sensei that has influence his Isshinryu training has been Sensei Malachi Lee (6th Dan, and to whom he name his Dojo after), Grand Master Walter (Toby) Cooling, Grand Master Joe Bucholtz, and Sensei Maria Melendez (5th Dan).

He is currently a student of Grand Master Chester Holubecki (9th Dan). He has dedicated his entire life to the spreading of this unique form of martial arts. For the past 9 years, Sensei Gonzalez has been running an Isshinryu discussion group on yahoo.com (prishin) with over 150 members throughout the world. He has never been interested in profit, glory or rank. All he has ever wanted was to share his knowledge with others.

Sensei Gonzalez has been employed by the Inter American University (Guayama Region) to teach Isshinryu to students and faculty as part of there curriculum. Throughout the years he has had many students and many Dojos, and on many occasions has given the classes to his students at no cost, ending up paying for the location of the Dojo out of his own pocket. He has planted the Isshinryu seed on many great Isshinryu practitioners to include: Juan Lopez (6th Dan) and Jesus Jimenez (6th Dan and senior O.I. student in Puerto Rico), now top students of Grand Master Walter (Toby) Cooling, of the Order of Isshinryu. He also introduced Isshinryu Karate to Sensei Javier Martinez (7th Dan) at the young age of 10 and collaborated with him in writing numerous Isshinryu karate books. 

Sensei Gonzalez is a living legend in Puerto Rico martial arts; everyone who is involved with martial arts knows and respect Sensei Gonzales dedication to the art and his contributions to Isshinryu Karate. He has managed the longest running Isshinryu Dojo in Puerto Rico since 1978 and has produced over 25 Black Belts.

Throughout his many years in Isshinryu Karate he has been awarded two grand championships in Black Belt Heavyweight; numerous plaques by Karate organizations in recognition of his teachings, performance and students development. In 1996 he was inducted into the Latin American Martial Art’s Hall of Fame.

He expanded his teaching by traveling to the Dominican Republic in 1974 and opening the first, and only, Isshinryu Dojo in the town of San Pedro de Macoris, and in addition, going back every year after that to teach and promote Isshinryu on the island. In the summer of 2001 he traveled to Okinawa, Japan to expand his knowledge of Isshinryu Karate and to visit the Isshinryu birthplace and train with Grand Master Angie Uezu (10th Dan) and Master Tsuyoshi Uechi (8th Dan). 

His professional and community activities and involvement are unequal, he is a Medical Doctor specializing in the area of Anesthesiology and is or has been President, Vice-President, Chairman, Director, Treasurer, Secretary, Official, Vocal, and Member of many professional and community organizations.