1968: I purchased my first unbleached cotton off-white karate gi. It was typical for the uniforms to have ¾ length sleeves and ¾ length drawstring pants for the grand cost of $12. The sensei needed to see our wrists and forearms, ankles and feet. I never gave much thought to my martial wear. What our dojos sold, we wore.
1972: Everything changed when I became an independent instructor and my classes expanded into hundreds of students a week. I needed a reliable martial supplier. In the 1970’s martial art suppliers consisted mostly of mom-and-pop retail outlets sparsely scattered throughout the tristate area of New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Rather 
than drive into NYC, to Honda, or wait days to order from AWMA in Pennsylvania, I decided to track down a local supplier. The nearest one was Eosin Panther in Clifton, NJ, a good forty-minute drive north. The name Eosin was a combination of the proprietor’s and his Korean wife’s names, Edward O and Soon Ie Noll. In the 1960’s to the mid-80’s, these mom-and-pop outlets were the central hubs for the martial community before the Internet.
I often bumped into teachers from other disciplines picking up their training supplies. Edward Noll was an astute and affable fellow always willing to help. Through Ed and his store, I would learn about the latest school openings, the newest equipment, upcoming seminars and tournaments, and of course, karate gis. We’d discuss the pros and cons of light weight vs. heavy weight training garb, domestic versus Japanese uniforms, the latest in sparring equipment, weapons, etc. This was the pre-digital age. If you weren’t buying a copy of Black Belt, Official Karate, or Inside Karate magazines, you were likely in the dark as to what was taking place in your state, no less the country.
1983: With the explosion of interest in everything martial, Ed and I created a trade association to promote NJ martial arts, called MADA (Martial Art Directory Association of NJ) We published the second ever only directory of NJ martial 
arts, a 138-page resource for both professionals and newbies. We reached nearly 90% of the State’s professional martial community and produced a list of martial art schools with cross references by instructor, style, school, including articles providing an overview of issues and happenings in the State. Eosin Panther had its finger firmly on the pulse of the martial arts.
As my student body matured, with the senior-most achieving the coveted black belt, I began a tradition of awarding new yudansha Eosin’s highest-quality, embroidered black belts that could last decades. Eosin Panther had an excellent embroiderer, Mr. YI. Since the mid-1970’s to this day, all of my yudansha proudly wear these belts. I’ve been told that the Wind School is one of Eosin Panther’s oldest customers, and we are happy for this alliance.
2025: I am thankful for my martial ties to Eosin Panther. It’s been quite a journey down a well-paved, two-way street. Just as we support our vendors, they support our dojo’s endeavors by offering us their best products. Eosin Panther has been a solid supporter of the Wind School’s 53-year history. https://eosinpanther.com/
