Arcenio James Advincula is a martial artist and a first-generation student of the founder of Isshin-ryū Karate, Tatsuo Shimabuku. He also has an extensive background in Largo Mano Eskrima, Hindiandi Gung Fu, Ryukyu Kobudo and Combat Judo. He is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps who served for 22 years, 6 months, 18 days including two tours in Vietnam during the Vietnam War. He retired in 1981 as a Master Sergeant.
Some of his other notable accomplishments include; designing the Isshinryu patch, receiving a Black Belt Emeritus from the United States Marine Corps, working with the San Diego Chargers on body mechanics, selected by the Okinawan Government to represent the U.S. at the 2005 Okinawa Karate and Kobudo Exchange Symposium.
Early years
Advincula was born in Juneau, Alaska, on January 25, 1938. When World War Two broke out Advincula's father, who was Filipino, brought him to a Filipino family by the name of Diaz to take care of him. His father left for Anchorage where he worked for the U. S. Army Air Corps at Elmendorf Air Base. At the conclusion of the war in 1945 Advincula was reunited with his father in Anchorage.
Advincula began his Martial Arts training in 1946 at the age of 8. His father hired two of his friends who were close-combat instructors for the Philippine Army, Pete Rado and Tony Navarro, to train him. Pete Rado began teaching Advincula Escrima knife fighting and Tony Navarro began teaching him knife fighting with a K-Bar. They both taught him Combat Judo. Around this time his father bought him a Springfield Navy Training Rifle and he started rifle and bayonet training as well.
Military background
Advincula's active duty career in the United States Marine Corps spanned 24 years and began on April 30, 1957, when he enlisted at Anchorage, Alaska, at the age of 19. During the course of his career he served 2 tours in Vietnam, one of which was ended by a back injury. He returned to Vietnam for about 40 days in 1975 after volunteering to assist in Operation Frequent Wind, the evacuation of U.S. citizens and allies before the impending fall of South Vietnam. Some of the highlights of his distinguished military service include the following:
Enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in Anchorage, Alaska, 30 April 1957 at the age of 19 Went through Boot Camp at MCRD San Diego, CA (May-Aug 1957) Assigned to the First Pioneer Battalion (MOS 1371 Combat Engineer) Camp Pendleton, California later redesignated on 1 May 1963 as the First Engineer Battalion Assigned to Okinawa - Camp S. D. Butler - 26 November 1958 for a 13½-month tour (concluded first tour on Okinawa 10 March 1960) began training with Shimabuku in Agena Dojo 12/1/58 began teaching close combat training
Returned to Alaska (3 April 1960). Released from Active Duty 18 April 1960
began teaching Karate in Anchorage
Returned to Okinawa as a civilian on 2 January 1961
married in Naha, Okinawa 23 January 1961
designed Megami Patch with consent of Tatsuo Shimabuku
Returned to Alaska May 1961
Reenlisted for active duty 25 September 1961
Returned to Okinawa on active duty 28 November 1961
TAD to Philippines (March - April 1962) TAD to Philippines (May - August 1962) TAD to Korea (June - July 1963) TAD to Taiwan (February - March 1964) 18 November 1964 returned to Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton opened dojo in Carlsbad with Harold Mitchum and Paul Heffernan 24 August 1965 - 15 August 1966 deployed to Camp Love, Danang Vietnam as a member of Bravo Company, 7th Engineer Battalion,1st Marine Division 28 September 1966 - 13 January 1969 Stationed at Maint Co. H&S Battalion, Marine Corps Base (MCB) 29 Palms, California Returned to Vietnam 16 March 1969 sustained an injury to his back and was MEDEVACed to Okinawa (30 June 1969) and assigned to Casual Company, Camp S. D. Butler (to 16 March 1970). 22 April 1970 - 27 August 1972 assigned to Headquarters Company, H&S Battalion, Parris Island, SC 28 August 1972 - 2 January 1975 assigned to "F" Company, 2nd Recruiting and Training Battalion, Parris Island, SC 16 January 1975 - 8 February 1976 reassigned to Okinawa returned to Vietnam as part of "Operation Frequent Wind", to assist in the evacuation of U.S. citizens and allies during the fall of South Vietnam, April 1975 21 April 1981 retired from the United States Marine Corp as Master Sergeant, after 22 ½ years of distinguished service to his country.