Morris L. Mack 
began his earthly journey in New Salem, ND August 31, 1938 and lived until August 14, 2017. Morris Lane “Sensei” Mack Obituary – Yakima, WA (dignitymemorial.com)
Morris Lane Mack started karate after an athletic career in Richland, WA.
He had competed in the Tri-Cities, Washington area in baseball and basketball prior to starting
his lifetime in Karate-do. His participating in Karate began as a teenager in Richland, WA and
continued until his post-mortal experience began August 14, 2017.
Career Start
Morris worked for Big Apple Store at N. 6th Ave and Yakima, Ave in Yakima, WA.
During this time, Sensei Mack, who had been promoted to Shodan (1st degree black belt),
was teaching part-time at Women’s Century Club and later at Yakima YMCA. He also taught out of his
garage. My first few years as his student his Dojo (karate school) was located at 16th Ave.
Morris and his father owned a Grocery Store in Gleed, WA that is about 10 miles from Yakima, WA.
The Gleed Dojo opened after The Mack’s built a new grocery store. This was the first karate school where
Sensei Mack started teaching full-time. His decision to start teaching was greatly
influenced by Wiley G. Hurst. Wiley G. Hurst was prominent attorney and avid supporter
of the Yakima, School of Karate.
Yakima School of Karate was owned and operated by Morris Mack and his wife Kara until 2017. Since, then until the present time the owner has been
JOHN MICHAEL FRANCO JR
Franco.
Family
Sandy and Kara were the women in Sensei’s life that bore him seven children.
The author was privileged to know all members of the family
Seven Children:
- Melanie
- Stephanie
- Heidi
- Wendy
- Marlin
- Kim
- Adam
Five of the children Stephanie, Wendy, Marlin, Kim and Adam were all black belt holders.
Kara Sensei’s wife was a skilled Karate Ka as well. Sandan Niafanchi by Kara Mack
First full-time Dojo
The Gleed Dojo created tough students. The practices were fun and filled with lots
of hard and repetitious sessions. The school had only seventeen Kata. Over the years
and exposure to karate people around the world the knowledge and number of Kata expanded
to over one hundred.
A move to Yakima and the Dojo in the Snyder’s Bakery basement, was home to Yakima School of Karate
for a few years. Hard floors were a something many students were concerned with, especially since
kata application was filled with throws and takedowns. Back injuries also occurred with constant practice.
Ron Maxey owner of karate-brand and instructor at Brigham Young University encouraged Sensei Mack to have
softer surfaces. Softer surfaces became a reality at the main dojo at 13 North 7th Ave Yakima, WA. The school has
continued in operation. I have no first-hand knowledge of the success of the school under the new ownership.
Main Dojo
https://karate-brand.com/karate-lineage-shudokan-and-doshinkan/
The main dojo for the last 30 years of Sensei Mack’s teaching is located at 13 North 7th Ave.
The students became safer with the tatami matted surfaces that were installed. The main dojo
had 3 sizable rooms with bathrooms and showers. The knowledge expanded as well as student
enrollment and retention. Hundreds of students have reached black belt skills.
Training Programs
This important and unique training and philosophy will be addressed in future post.
The training consisted of:
Hanshi’s warmup
As I understand this series of exercises was learned while practicing karate with Isao Ichikawa (founder of Doshinkan Karate-do).
Basic technique drills
The basic hand techniques of karate are the punch, downward block, rising block, Inside middle block, outside
middle block and knife hand block. Although described here as blocks (except punch) , each of the techniques can be used as strikes or attacks. All the techniques can be utilized in various ways to accomplish the intended purpose, both offensive and defensive. Driving basics, as sometimes called, has a number of benefits. There are many components of physical fitness that can be improved by basic technique drills. Strength can be improved by the resistance known as overload principle. Muscular strength and endurance will improve with repetitious movements. Cardiovascular endurance, endurance of the heart and lungs, can be accomplished. This especially when someone spends an enormous amount of time performing karate exercises. Ron Maxey owner of karate-brand and instructor at Brigham Young University is one such person.
The more skillful the instructor and his/her knowledge of physical fitness and the best methods to accomplish the intended results will improve the probability that fitness will occur as a result of basic karate drills
Ippon kumite
Ippon kumite is the training methods used to prepare for full kumite. That stated, ippon kumite can be used to make the practice, in or out of formalized classes, enjoyable. It can also be used to enhance the exercise effect. The practice also helps condition the karate-ka’s body to physical contact.
Kata practice
Once the process of learning (memorizing the order of the techniques) the practice of kata becomes highly personal. This may not be true in a formalized class, but certainly is in an individual’s life.
Kata application
Kata application is a formalized series of applications of the movements of the kata. The movements are ideas about the kata by one or more karate people that are transformed into a two person kata. The more skillful and knowledgeable the creators are about the techniques of the kata, generally the better the kata application.
Character building
Kumite
In addition to the above internal link, the link below gives three branches of
Okinawan karate lineage.