Bakersville local nominated
Sarah Atkins
mnjreporter@gmail.com
Mitchell County native James McKinney is a nominee for the notable Harold Long Spirit of Isshinryu Award.
This July hundreds of people from around the country, and even the world, will travel to Gatlinburg, Tennessee to participate in a once-in-a-lifetime event: being inducted into the Isshinryu Hall of Fame (IHOF), an honor held by less than 200 individuals. Simply being nominated is a distinction.
According to the IHOF website, the Spirit of Isshinryu Award is given to those who exemplify honor, loyalty, courage, and leadership and have worked to promote the art of Isshinryu Karate.
The award is named for Harold Long, one of four marines who returned to the United States following World War II and spread the knowledge and values of Isshinryu Karate throughout the country.
Long, founder of IHOF, lived in Knoxville, Tennessee, and was a pivotal figure in sharing Isshinryu Karate with the southern and eastern United States. Isshinryu Karate, or the “one heart method,” was developed in Okinawa, a small island off the coast of China and Japan. This method of karate is much more direct than other methods, which tend to mirror the flow of dances.
According to an informational website on Isshinryu Karate, the style has been used for marines and law enforcement officers to better prepare them to defend themselves and helps those who practice it stay “battle fit and battle ready.”
McKinney said he has studied the art and history of Isshinryu Karate for 28 years and has competed in several competitions. He has won 40 trophies, 14 of which are for first-place wins.
Those who know him, say McKinney not only shows great knowledge of the history of Isshinryu but also humility in his successes and a passion for serving others through his proficiency in the art. He taught Self Defense Seminars for Abused Women and Realtor Safety in 2014.
McKinney is the owner of McKinney Tire Service in Bakersville as well as Appalachian Isshinryu Karate, a martial arts school in Spruce Pine. He serves as head usher at Roan Mountain Baptist Church, and he also served as an usher at Roan Mountain Baptist Church as a young boy.
McKinney has had an interest in karate since he was young and has grown to appreciate not only the art but also the process of learning.
He currently trains with his friend and teacher Mark Aycock, a 2011 IHOF inductee.
McKinney continues to improve his skills as a student and teacher. He says he is committed to maintaining physical, emotional, and spiritual balance.
McKinney hopes that his students not only learn the physical skills of karate but also the respect for others and passion for the art that will encourage them to work hard in life’s endeavors.