Harvey P. Hastings III To The Isshin-Ryu Hall Of Fame On July 31, 2009

It was a great weekend in Knoxville, TN for the 30th anniversary of the Isshin-Ryu Hall of Fame. It was nice to make the trip with my sister Suzanne, my brother Eric, and my nephew Eric Jr. We were greeted at the Hilton by my Step Mother Denise and my little sister Erin of which I haven’t seen in a good while. Unfortunately my brother Scott and sister Ellen couldn’t make the trip but it was still great that almost the whole family was able to attend the ceremony for dad. I can honesty say that I have never been so humbled in my life to hang out with guys like Tom Lewis, Bob Maxwell, and Wayne Wayland which are some of the greatest martial art masters that have ever been. I was floored at the end of the evening when Tom Lewis and Bob Maxwell presented my father with a promotion to level 8 in Bando and also 8th degree black belt in Isshin Ryu. This promotion has raised my father to the rank of Grand Master. I am trying to compile some photographs of the evening and will pass them along once they become available. Please read below the biography that was put together for my father for his induction. There are a few things here that I didn’t even know.

Thanks to all that attended and especially to all of my family whether they could make the trip or not as we know your hearts were there for dad,
Ted Hastings

Master Hastings was born in Salisbury, MD on December 15, 1935.  He started boxing age 9 at the Salvation Army Boys’ Club.  He entered the National Guard 1951-1953, and the US Marine Corps 1953-1956.  During his time in the Corp, he boxed for the Marine Corp and won several tournaments between 1954-1955.

He studied Judo under Nick Allbert, 1953-1955, and received his Black Belt in Judo, 1954.  He received Black Belt in un-named (later recognized as Gogu Ryu) Korean style under Major Leong (ROK) in 1954 as well.

He began his study of Isshin-Ryu under Master Tom Lewis and was awarded Black Belt in the mid 1960’s. He considered Isshin-Ryu his Heart and primary style of Martial Arts.  In the early 1970’s, he received Black Belt in Bando under Master Muang Gyi.
Master Hastings won the US Heavyweight Kickboxing Championship in 1973.  His Full contact fight record as an adult, both amateur and professional (boxing, kick-boxing, and pro-karate):  64 and 2…lost first and last matches.  One of his many adventures in life was to ride a bicycle from Maryland/Delaware line, south to Key West, Florida, then north to Chattanooga, Tennessee, and then back south to Atlanta, Georgia, stopping and teaching at many Karate studios along the way - 73’ 74’ 75’.  He furthered his studies under Joe Corley in Tang Soo do in 1975.

In 1975, he founded Florida Karate and Health studios and developed KOBA Ryu style  - kicking and training techniques are based on Korean styles.  The heart and hard training are from the Okinawa Isshin-Ryu style, the intellectual approach and animal techniques are from Burmese Bando, and the punching and blocking are from American boxing.

He became head official for NKL (National Karate League) under founder Chuck Norris in 1976 as well as became head official and chief architect of rules and procedures for PKA (Professional Karate Association).  During this time, he started the Florida Black Belt Association and wrote articles for Black Belt and Official Karate Magazine between 1975-1977.

Master Hastings conducted first-ever sanctioned professional judges and referees school, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, circa 1977.  He trained top ranked kickboxing and pro-karate fighters Jerry Rhome, Joe Corley, Steve Shepard, Bobby Sullivan, Tim Hautamaki, Jack Ballard, and Bill Clark.

He was Center referee for many world title bouts featuring fighters such as Bill Wallace, Benny Urquedez, Steve Shepard, Jeff Smith, and Blinky Rodrequez. Television appearances include ABC Wide World of Sports and CBS Sports Spectacular.

He currently lives on his ranch in foothills of Wyoming’s Wind River Mountain Range, Boulder, Wyoming.  Although no longer active in the Martial Arts as a teacher or practitioner, he plans to start a book on the subject as soon as he’s completed his fourth novel, Journey to Ecatabana and Palmyra…the second in a series about the Oregon trail written under the master heading of “Passages To India”; both are historic novels.  The first two novels, The Graymalkin Comes and Track Of The Wolf should be available by spring.  Both are modern day westerns.