I started my Martial Arts training in 1965-66 with Sensei Sekwii Sha, at the Martin De Pores Recreation Center in the Astoria Housing Projects, Astoria, NYC.
In the summer of 1967, I also started training with another of Grandmaster Urban’s first students, Rado “Ray” Skarica who was a well-known local boxer and early proponent of kickboxing at a VFW Hall on 41st Street also in Astoria, NY. At that time Ray taught us what he called, USA Kenpo. (Later he called it Kickboxing) At that time Full Contact and the term Kickboxing, was not used. Though we trained in karate uniforms and used all types of kicks, he no longer stressed Kata except for Empi Ha, which was created by Peter Urban Sensei and Rado’s favorite.
We trained as boxers did and incorporated many elements of Karate such as blocks, backfist, elbows, knee strikes. And kicks. But upper body, we trained as boxers.
In the summer of 1969, I also joined Jarome Mackey’s Studio on 56th and Lexington Avenue, Manhattan, NY when a Shotokan Instructor named, Toyotaro Miyazaki came to NYC. A noted Shotokan instructor, who had the best sidekick I ever saw, and Katas were off the chart!
One fond story I remember that Master Rado Skarica shared with us was his first meeting with Grand Master Urban. (Rado eventually told us he trained with Urnan in USA Goju…) He challenged Urban Sensei to fight, and he used boxing and Urban Sensei used Karate. The fight happened on a football field in New Jersey. This match was the start of a lifelong friendship between him and Urban Sensei, and he became one of Urbans early students.
Sensei Rado Skarica was affiliated with USA Goju, but right from the start, he added Boxing. In the early 70’s Ray opened the Queens Gym (Boxing / Kickboxing / Karate / Weightlifting) above the Elmwood Movie Theater on Queens Boulevard, in Elmhurst, NY. This is where I earned my first Black Belt and later ran the USA Goju/Kickboxing Training Classes. I joined Ray as a Green Belt and later Brown Belt (Skipped Purple) and took over the Karate and Kickboxing training as Ray devoted all his time to the Boxing Contenders he was also training. Notably, Vito Antuofermo who became the Undisputed Middleweight Champion of the World and an actor in the Godfather III and the Sopranos. Ray Sensei also trained Lou Neglia who went on to become Welterweight Kickboxing Champion and taught the Karate program at the gym after I moved to NJ and until Rick Gruosso Sensei took over. (Rick my lifelong friend, who married my cousin and became family) In 1972 at Ray’s urging Rick Gruosso and I joined Urban Sensei at the Crosby Street Dojo in Manhattan, as Ray was giving all his time now to training boxers and kickboxers and we wanted to learn the katas.
Throughout the 80’s and 90’s I continued training and teaching in-house employees and the General Public at our Company Training Academy. (Trained Civilian Executive Protection Agents, Police and Military) Our Academy was registered as a Certified Training School with, Virginia Division of Criminal Justice Services, Maryland and New Jersey State Police and the NY State Department Division of Criminal Justice.
In 2002 I reestablished contact with longtime Sensei Grandmaster Sekwii T. Sha. We met weekly at my NYC Office. In 2004, I was promoted to 5th Dan Renshi, in 2007 to 6th Dan Kyoshi and in January 2020 to 8th Dan Hanshi. In March 2025, I was promoted to 9th Dan. We opened a Dojo with AT-RISK and trained in-house agents 2006. AT-RISK Instructors were, myself, Chuck Tobin (Tae Kwon Do, Maui Tai and Control Force) Jack Hickey. (Kempo) and we called what we trained USA Goju / Kenpo. A style I was developing for over 20 years. I will continue with that tradition combining USA Goju, what I learned from Sensei Sha and Grandmaster Urban (Crosby Street Dojo) along with Kenpo / Kickboxing from the father of USA Kickboxing Rado “Ray” Skarica. In 2019 I was a student of GM Sifu Clarence Burris and GM Sam Scott, Chin Na and Tai Chi. In January 2020 after conferring with Grandmasters Sekwii Sha, Dayton Guinee and Ray Fitzpatrick, I founded and launched USA Goju-Kenpo, after more than 20 in development and ascended to 10th Dan as, SOKE.
John E. Gallagher, Hanshi
Founder, 10th Dan USA Goju-Kenpo, 9th Dan, USA Goju, 9th Dan Golden Fist USA Goju.
Goju Hall # 46 – A SG