Master TD Gribble - Bio
Anthony David "T.D." Gribble is a high-ranking martial artist, instructor, and academic best known for his lifelong dedication to Okinawan karate styles, notably Isshinryu Karate and Okinawan Kenpo/Kobudo.
Early Life & Foundations
T.D. Gribble began his martial arts training in 1977 at the age of four. His initial training began in Goju Shorin under Sensei Joe Dionne. In 1981, at age eight, he transitioned into the study of Isshinryu Karate ("the one heart way") under the guidance of his father, Tony Gribble (Ni-dan), alongside instruction from master Don Bohan (Ku-dan).
Following Bohan’s passing in 1998, Gribble continued his practice and extended his study into life-protection arts—specifically Okinawan Kenpo and Kobudo (traditional Okinawan weaponry)—under the tutelage of Hanshi Larry Isaac (Ju-dan).
Rank & Achievements
Over decades of training, Gribble has earned senior black belt ranks across multiple systems:
7th Degree Black Belt (Nanadan) in Isshinryu Karate, tested and promoted in 2017.
4th Degree Black Belt (Yondan) in Okinawan Kenpo and Kobudo, promoted in 2019.
Academic Career & Campus Leadership
Gribble serves as a Senior Teaching Instructor in the Leadership and Professional Development Program within the College of Business at East Carolina University (ECU) in Greenville, North Carolina.
Alongside his academic responsibilities, he has been a pillar of the university's martial arts scene:
Faculty Advisor: Serves as the long-time advisor to the ECU Isshinryu Karate Club.
Tournament Director: Directs the annual ECU Martial Arts Fundraising Tournament, expanding its reach to over 130 competitors and raising funds to support student clubs.
Self-Defense Education: Teaches community and campus self-defense seminars combining striking, grappling, and practical conflict-survival mindsets.
International Collaboration & Community Involvement
Gribble frequently travels across the Mid-Atlantic region to volunteer at tournaments and seminars. Internationally, he collaborates with martial arts practitioners from Okinawa (Japan), Denmark, and Canada to research, refine, and promote the quality of traditional Okinawan Karate instruction globally.
He resides in Greenville, North Carolina, with his family, continuing to teach, practice, and mentor martial artists on and off campus.
