Master Clarence Murray

Hanshi Clarence P. Murray, Head Instructor of Murray’s Okinawan Karate, currently holds the rank of 9th Degree Black Belt (Kudan) in the Okinawan Shorin-Ryu style of Karate. Sensei Murray has taught the martial arts to students of all ages for over forty years in the Washington Metro area.
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Clarence Murray began studying martial arts in 1964 under the late John Osaka(8th Dan Kodokan Judo) at the famous Detroit Judo Club. He began studying karate under aster Willie Adams at the Dexter/Davidson Dojo in 1968. In the fall of 1970, Clarence Murray relocated to the state of Maryland and became a student of James H. Coffman, a 4 th Degree Black belt and 1st generation student (1959) of Master Fise Kise and (1961) Grand Master Hohan Soken (White Crane). He received his Shodan in 1971 and Nidan in 1974 in Okinawan Shorin-Ryu Karate. Sensei Coffman was responsible for building the strong principles and setting the tone of Okinawan Karate and Kobudo that Sensei Murray instructs today.
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Clarence Murray competed in Karate tournaments from 1970 to 1993. He won over 300 trophies and awards competing in kata, kobudo, and kumite. Clarence Murray is nationally known for his expertise in Okinawan weapons, specializing in the Sai.

Sensei Murray has received numerous awards for his contributions to martial arts, including the Everhart’s Nippon Kenpo Karate-Do Living Legend Award and being inducted into the North American Black Belt Hall of Fame and the United States Naval Academy Hall of Fame in 2011. The Martial Arts Practitioners named Clarence Murray Outstanding Weapons Competitor in 1982. He was inducted into the US Capitol Classics Hall of Fame in 2014. Sensei Murray also received the prestigious Classic Award from the famed US Capitol Classics in 2016 and was inducted into the AMAA Who’s Who in the Martial Arts and the Masters and Pioneers Autobiography Book.

Sensei Murray is constantly increasing his knowledge of the Okinawan/Chinese martial Arts by traveling to Okinawa Japan every 2 – 3 years for advanced training and attending seminars from 1st generation students of the Okinawan Masters who introduced the art to the United States in the early 1960’s & 1970’s.Clarence Murray appeared in the Washington Times, Official Karate, Karate Illustrated and Black Belt magazines. In addition, Sensei Murray was featured on local television shows and cable media. Clarence Murray and his weapons demo team appeared on ABC Wide World of Sports in 1975. Sensei Murray credits his martial arts skills and abilities to some of the best Okinawan Karate Masters of this era. They are James H Coffman 7th Dan, Willie Adams 10th Dan, Frank Hargrove 9th Dan, William (Bill) Hayes 9th Dan, the lateJody Paul 9 th Dan and Jiro Shiroma 9th Dan. Other Martial Arts Master includes AliShabazz 9 th Dan Aikijujitsu..