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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 Jujitsu with Sensei
Joseph Drual. By mid-1974 he had achieved a shodan rank in Isshin-Ryu
and a san-kyu rank in Jujitsu.
Later that
year, he became friends with Furman Simmons, a shodan in Sanuces Ryu
Jujitsu 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 Malachai 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.”
About his
training there, Master Latimer 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.” Master
Latimer had the privilege of being Sensei Lee’s student until his
untimely death in 1976. He continued studying at the dojo and was
promoted to shodan by the OI.
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 his sensei: Toby
Cooling. He has attributed his growth in knowledge to Master
Cooling’s leadership.
In 1979,
Master Latimer received his master’s 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. As well, for the last 9 years he’s
been a Tactical Training Officer for the NY State Division of Parole.
Sensei
Latimer was elevated to the rank of hachi-dan (8th degree
black belt) in 2005. He was awarded the Spirit of Isshin-Ryu award at
the 1996 Isshin-Ryu Hall of Fame, and was inducted into the prestigious
Isshin-Ryu Hall of Fame in 2003.
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