Rank: 7th Dan
School: St. Peter's College Isshinryu Karate
Tom Flagg began his study of the Martial Arts as a teenager in Ohio. His uncle, a police detective and Ju Jutsu instructor, got him started on what would become a lifelong avocation. After moving to New York City in 1969 to attend The American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Tom temporarily put aside his martial arts study, and concentrated on his acting. While at the American Academy, he also studied stage and combat fencing with fencing master and Olympic fencing coach Gaiza Gazdag. Later, Tom assisted Master Gazdag at his Manhattan training studio. In his final year of school, Tom returned to Martial Arts, training in GoJu under Master Aaron Banks at his New York City dojo, eventually earning his first degree black belt. When he moved from Manhattan to New Jersey, Tom began his study of Go Shin Do Kempo Karate under Master Bob Long. Within the year, he was promoted to the rank of first degree brown belt. At about this time, Tom also took some classes in Isshin Ryu Karate with Master Don Nagle. But once again he had to set aside his Martial Arts studies when his acting career began to take him out of town quite frequently. During those years of almost constant travel, Tom trained in many dojo's, picking up techniques from Shorin Ryu, Jeet Koon Do, Krav Maga (Israeli Martial Arts), and Asian weapons like the Sai, Bo, and Nunchaku. When his acting career returned him to New York with a series of Broadway and Off-Broadway shows, Tom was finally able to solidify his martial arts training. This happened when he met and began studying Isshin Ryu Karate again, this time with Shihan Robert Mansfield. Over the twenty-two years of constant study with Master Mansfield, Tom rose through the ranks until December of 1999 when he was promoted to the master rank of 6th Degree Black belt. One year later, Shihan Flagg was honored with the Outstanding Instructor Award, as well as the Silver Life Achievement Award for 25 years in the martial arts, by Grand Master Ed McGrath at the AOKA Millennium Dinner honoring the late Grand Master Don Nagle. In 2003, at the Action Martial Arts Hall of Fame Dinner, Tom was awarded the Spirit Award trophy for his years of dedication to Martial Arts. The award he is proudest of is the red and white Master's obi that Shihan Mansfield took off his own waist and presented to Tom in 1999. While continuing to work as a professional actor, director, and writer for the stage, Shihan Tom Flagg still teaches Isshin Ryu Karate at his St Peter's College Dojo in Jersey City. He frequently gives classes and demonstrations on self-defense for children, women's groups, and student organizations. In attempting to connect his acting profession with his Martial Arts training, Mr. Flagg has also developed his own style of “stage combat”, training actors in the use of swords, guns, knives, and martial arts weapons like the sai, and bo as well as hand fighting techniques. Of paramount concern, is safety...because an injured actor can't work? He has created stage fights for many stage productions in New York, on and off Broadway and around the country. His personal tribute to Karate and his teachers; Masters Mansfield, Nagle, Long, Banks, and his uncle Ed Flagg, can be summed up as follows: "I've tangled with a lot of guys on the streets of New York, and thanks to my teachers, I'm still here." On August 4th, 2002, at a Shiai given by Master Robert Mansfield, Mr. Flagg was extraordinarily honored to be promoted, in the presence of friends and family, to his current rank of 7th Degree Black belt in Isshin Ryu Karate.