Memories of Rick Niemira

 

 

“There are 10,000 stories in the Naked City and this is one of them.” A long time ago there was a tv show called the Naked City, and these words began each episode. I am reminded of them because a now distant memory comes to mind. I am reminded that there are so many tales experienced by the first students of Isshinryu in America that have never been told. Explaining who the early karate was experienced by those students. Rarely told but when heard never to be forgotten.

 

I was a brand new beginner, which means I knew nothing, I had experienced receiving a beating by a 16 year old female green belt during my 2^nd class, where she walked all over me. Sensei Lewis was having his annual dojo summer party held at a friends house every year. I was invited as a member of the dojo. The entire school was there, and karate friends of Lewis Sensei as well. It always was a grand day

.

One of those attending was Rick Niemira. Rick was a senior in Bando, but had originally been a student of Don Nagle at the time he originally began teaching Isshinryu in the States. He was also a police officer nearing retirement from the force. He spent time telling us many stories about his Isshinryu, Bando and Police experiences.

 

All of them were fascinating.

 

One time he told us this story.  He began his study in Isshinryu under Don Nagle in North Carolina. The way he explained it at that time Nagel Sensei had a number of schools, and spent his time rotating visits to all of them. Ajnd each time he was there he would spar with everybody. And to place that this was years before safety gear was ever a dream, so in those days it was bare knuckle sparring

 

One night, in NC, he sparred with everyone there, and as Rick explained it, Don put all of them in the Hospital as the same time. Not to suggest it was anything but normal for had sparring in those days. And accidents did occur.

 

It certainly seemed believable to me, for I started Issinryu much later and it was still in those bare knuckle days, and I had experienced my own stories about injuries during sparring.

 

There is likely so much that occurred all over the place in those earlier days, so much never shared.

 

I hope this adds some detail to the past.

 

Rick Niemira Another Personal Memory

 

 

Rick was an early American Isshinryu Karate-ka, a senior to many of us.

He was also a Bando stylist of very high ability.

 

I first met him through his friend, my instructor Tom Lewis, at one of our summer Isshinryu pool parties, from the Salisbury Dojo.

 

I still remember his stories from his days with the Police in DC.

 

But my favorite story was at one of the Bando summer camps in Maryland either 1983 or 1984.

 

One of the groups of the camp was focused on learning how to break, boards. Camp attendees had a chance to learn how to break. I had done so for a long time and I was just observing as the others tried their hand.

 

Rick was talking with some of the other senior Bando instructors, and they were watching what everyone was doing.

 

Suddenly Rick asked everyone to stop, and said something like this is how I break boards, Not with a Strike, but with a Slap.

 

He then proceeded to place a few boards (without spacers) on the blocks, placed a thin phone book atop the boards and dropped into a deep stance. I remember him inhaling, then he simply slapped downward, striking the boards with the flat of his palm.

 

The boards shattered.

 

He then explained that it took him a while to get it down.

 

Then the other senior Bando guy’s all had to try. As I recall it there were a lot of red palms and few boards broke.

 

As an aside that camp was an incredible weekend of training. This memory of Rick just makes it more special to me.

 

 

Coincidentally at that camp these individuals were all there. Don Bohan, Bob Maxwell and Rich Niemira.