On the morning of December 10, 2009, Ridgely Abele was called home. The passing of this iconic man of the martial arts was a great loss for the karate community and his family. Ridgely Abele stepped through boundaries, crossed lines of style and ideology, brought science to traditional training methods, and embodied the Martial Art way of life so robustly, he demonstrated to others how to live and train.
Hanshi Ridgely Abele began his martial arts career in 1964 under the tutelage of Hanshi John Pachivas. In 1982 Grandmaster Robert A. Trias appointed him as one of eight chief instructors of Shuri-ryu Karate-Do worldwide and later became a member of the Inner Council for the International Shuri-Ryu Association. He founded and directed the International Shurite Yudansha-Kai, a world-wide organization of black belts dedicated to the research and development of Karate-Do, Jujutsu and Kobudo. He was also elected to the Trias International Society as one of the most spirited fighters in the country.
In his earlier years of training Hanshi Abele achieved national and international acclaim as the champion of numerous tournaments, including a two-time winner of the USKA World Championships. Mr. Abele was recently inducted into “Living Legends” as a pioneer of sport karate. His students have included many state, regional and national champions, as well as top-ranked world competitors.
Hanshi Abele traveled internationally, teaching and training with the best martial arts instructors in the world. He produced over 300 black belts and maintained schools in the United States and Europe. In 1979, he founded the Columbia School of Karatedo in Columbia, South Carolina. He served the USA National Karate-Do Federation as the Head Coach for the USA Karate Team and later served as the Chairman of the Coaches Committee. As a nationally licensed referee, he also served as the Chief Referee for two World Championships.
At the pinnacle of his achievements, Hanshi Abele achieved a 9th dan in Shuri-Ryu Karate-Do and 6th dan in Shintoyoshin Jujutsu. He was the Technical Chief Advisor for the American Karate and Jujutsu Association. As a teacher, Hanshi Abele was much more than ranks, titles and awards. His approach to karate was filled with appreciation of the ancient ways and constant research in modern scientific training methods. He had a manner of teaching that always made students think inwardly to discover their own strengths and weaknesses in their bodies, minds and spirits. Students never walked away from his classes without learning something, not just about their martial art, but about themselves.
In his personal life, Ridgely Abele was a devout born-again Christian. He and his wife Sally were members of the Harvest Church and taught high school age classes for a time. He also has two wonderful children, his son Jordan and his daughter Sasha. He spent ten years in a weekly bible study, which covered in-depth books of the Bible. He believed in continued education and received a B.S. in 1973 from Florida State University and a PhD in Asian Studies from Martial Arts University in Hong Kong, China in 1995.
Hanshi Abele was a true ambassador of the martial arts and touched so many lives in a positive way. He had the ability to cross political and style boundaries in order to bring students and masters from many different arts together in a sharing environment. His radiant personality and incredible understanding of the arts drew people from around the world to him. This was evident as he hosted and celebrated the 30th anniversary of his International Martial Arts Symposium this past October with over 200 participants and more than 30 instructors. His presence there inspired joy and wonderful training.
Hanshi Able was a great leader, a caring teacher, a devoted family man and a loving husband. He influenced several generations in the way they think about the martial arts. To many other masters, he was a gem in their lives as a great mentor and a true friend all in one package. Hanshi Abele moved many people in the karate world, motivated students to try harder, and inspired people to live their lives in a virtuous way. He always set the example as the ultimate role model and firmly reminded people that their actions, good and bad, always had consequences. He graciously gave heartfelt advice that will never be forgotten by many from life, to technique, to motivation. People around the world will carry his message through their lives, teachings and actions.
Hanshi Ridgely Abele will be remembered and celebrated each day we don a gi, step onto a training floor, or bow our heads to say a prayer. He truly lived as each of us strives to live. He lived the Martial Way. What Ridgely Abele did for others and for the world remains and is immortal. Thank you for showing us the Way.
- Darren Myers
Ridgely Abele is survived by his wife of 18 years, Sally, his daughter and son, Sasha Katz and Jordan Abele; sister, Jan Konesey and brothers, Lawrence, Paul and Edward Abele and two grandchildren, Quinn and Leila.
Funeral services will be held at the Church of the Harvest, 4865 Sunset Blvd., Lexington, SC 29072 on Friday, December 18 at 2 p.m.
Memorials may be made to Ridgely’s favorite charity, The Women’s Shelter, 3425 N. Main St., Columbia, SC 29203,
www.womenshelter.org.
Thompson Funeral Home of West Columbia is assisting the family.
Please sign online guest book at
www.thompsonsfuneral.com
