John C. Lennox, 8th Dan
December 12, 1918 – October 30, 1998.
Our Beloved Isshinryu Sensei
"The Path up the mountain is steep. If it were not, it would not be a mountain"
John C. Lennox was a great friend and teacher to many Isshinryu Karate students.
Mr. Lennox devoted much of his life to Isshinryu Karate. He often made the comment that if he had invested as much energy in his jewelry business as he had in his karate career, he would have been a rich man. In fact, he was a rich man even if he did not have the finances to prove it. He touched and inspired many karate-ka.
He was dearly loved by many of us in the Isshinryu family. Through his leadership and inspiration, there are at least 7 Isshinryu dojos in Indiana that trace their roots to Mr. Lennox.
Mr. Lennox's introduction to unarmed self-defense came in World War II. His earlier training as a gymnast prepared him for his role as an instructor of unarmed self-defense to assault troops and Rangers. After W.W.II, Mr. Lennox began studying Judo, Hapkido and later Isshinryu Karate. He studied Isshinryu under Clarence Ewing who was taught by Tatsuo Shimabuku. He developed a close friendship with Kichiro Shimabuku and consulted with him often while writing a book on Isshinryu Karate. Mr. Lennox actually earned his black belt in Judo before earning his black belt in Isshinryu. He was for a time the president of the Indianapolis Judo Association in Indianapolis. After beginning Isshinryu, he soon decided to focus his training towards karate rather than splitting his energy between the two different martial arts.
Mr. Lennox was the head karate instructor at the Mudokwan Judo and Karate school, the oldest continuous karate school in Indiana. He taught Isshinryu Karate for approximately 30 years until he retired in 1996. During his tenure as head instructor, he promoted 39 black belts. Under Mr. Lennox's guidance, the Mudokwan produced many tournament champions in kumite, hand katas and weapon katas.
Mr. Lennox wrote three books on Isshinryu, which are still used today. He authored Weapons of Isshinryu , Isshinryu Karate and Isshinryu. He wrote his last book on Isshinryu in 1980. His reasons for writing these books were simple. They started out as just notes to assist his students in the Karate class to help them understand Isshinryu better. The three books were a logical extension of his notes. His books are true gifts to his students.
Mr. Lennox believed in staying mentally active and physically fit. As proof of his philosophy, he actively taught at the Mudokwan until he was 77 years old. He would run regularly with his students and friends until his mid-70’s. Often on his runs, he would recite poetry that he had recently memorized. In his 60’s and 70’s he studied the Japanese language. He took up wood carving. His first carving was of two karate fighters kicking each other. He studied heraldry (coats-of-arms) and carved many coats of arms for friends. He was proud of the fact that he was still actively running his jewelry business with his assistant and long time friend Dulce Allen up to the day he died. He created many pieces of martial arts jewelry for his karate friends. Mr. Lennox was a man of many talents.
Mr. Lennox never liked being called a Master, he always said that he was a student of Isshinryu.
If he had to have a title, he always said he considered “Sensei” to be the highest possible honor. (Sensei is Japanese for teacher.)
The Path up the mountain is steep. If it were not, it would not be a mountain.
One of Sensei Lennox's favorite sayings. He believed that the things in life that were most difficult to attain. Held the most value.
