Rank: 6th Dan
School: Briamonte Karate
Mr. William Briamonte Sr. was born in Jersey City, NJ April 2, 1941. He began training in the art of Isshinryu Karate in 1965 under Master Don Nagle, at the Mercer Street Dojo in Jersey City and was a member of Master Nagle's original “ Isshando Karate Association.” Master Nagle promoted Mr. Briamonte to Sho-Dan in 1967 and Ni-Dan in 1969. In 1968 Mr. Briamonte became a New York City police officer. In 1970 he resigned from NYPD and moved to Arizona where he became a police officer in Tucson. Mr. Briamonte continued training in Isshinryu Karate throughout the years. In 1971 he became the head defensive tactics instructor for the Tucson Police Department and Pima County Sheriff's Department teaching not only police tactics but the art of Isshinryu Karate as well. He also instructed other law enforcement agencies in southern Arizona, and federal agents from the F.B.I., A.T.F., D.E.A., and U.S. Customs. Mr. Briamonte traveled back to Jersey City numerous times over the years. In 1990 took his son Bill Jr. to meet Master Nagle and to test for Sho-Dan. Grand Master Nagle and Master Dennis Hoare tested Bill Jr. and Grand Master Nagle promoted him. The following year, Master Nagle elevated Mr. Briamonte to Go-Dan. In 1997 Mr. Briamonte was inducted into the AOKA Inc., ‘Grand Master Don Nagle Hall of Fame' for the “Silver Achievement Award—over 30 years teaching karate” and the “Master Instructor Award.” Master Nagle designated Mr. Briamonte as his representative for the southwestern United States. Over the years Mr. Briamonte has remained a loyal member in good standing of all of Master Nagle's karate organizations: Isshando Karate Assoc., Don Nagle's Isshinryu Karate Assoc., United Isshinryu Karate Federation, and the Grand Master Don Nagle's AOKA Inc. During a visit to New Jersey in 1997, Master Nagle told Mr. Briamonte and Master Ralph Passero that he intended to promote Mr. Briamonte to the rank of Roku-Dan during his next visit. Sadly, Master Nagle passed away in 1999. Master Passero honored Grand Master Nagle's wish and requested that Grand Master Nagle's appointed successor, Master Ed McGrath, promote Mr. Briamonte. Master McGrath who knew Mr. Briamonte from the ‘early days' of Isshinryu, did as Grand Master Nagle wished. He presented the promotion during the AOKA Inc. tournament held as a tribute to Grand Master Nagle. AOKA Inc. and Grand Master McGrath awarded Mr. Briamonte the “Grand Master Don Nagle Hall of Fame Pioneer in Martial Arts Award” in September of 2000. During the last 40 years, Mr. Briamonte has continued to teach and train in the art of Isshinryu Karate and to pass on the knowledge given to him by Master Nagle. His dojo remains non-profit and provides traditional karate training and discipline in Tucson Arizona.