Central Penn Karate Academy

Isshinryu History

Tatsuo Shimabuku (“Dragon Man”) founded Isshinryu Karate. Growing up he studied under three (3) masters and decided to combine the three with his own personal touch to make Isshinryu. He started teaching in 1947 and named it Isshinryu in 1951.

Tatsuo was a short man at 5’2″ and taught American military soldiers that were much taller. Saying that, he taught that kicking to the head you lost power. He taught to kick below the belt.

Harrisburg Area History

Sensei Harry Smith was a student of Tatsuo and brought Isshinryu karate into the Harrisburg Area in the 1960s. Sensei Smith spent most of his time training under Tatsuo during the Vietnam War.

Fogleman’s History

Sensei Bruce Fogleman studied under Sensei Harry Smith, but had a four (4) year stint in the military, which pushed back his studies. On his return, he became a police officer. One of his partners, who also studied with Sensei Smith, was Sensei Jim Clark.

Sensei Clark was the one who started the school in Swatara in 1976, but it was set up for only police officers at the time. In 1978, Sensei Clark handed the school over to Sensei Fogleman, which it was then opened up to the public. Through the years, Sensei Fogleman also taught karate clubs at CD East. The new school helped give him more time to teach than the limited amount allowed by the schools.

Sensei Fogleman has since passed on and the school has been led by by several Senseis over the years; and is now largely taught by Sensei Jim Keiser and Sensei John Cassatt. There have been other black belts that have taught for a time and each have their own strengths and weaknesses. They all focus on the basics, katas (dance or prearranged fight), sparring, and improving each student.