Minoru Higa, 10th Dan Hanshi, Kobayashi Ryu. The nephew and long time student of Yuchoku Higa, Minoru Sensei is the current head of the Kyudokan Dojo in Tsuboya, and President of the Okinawa Karate Kobudo Renmei.
Morio Higaonna, 10th Dan Hanshi Goju Ryu, student of An’ichi Miyagi. Probably the best known karate instructor in the world, and the author of numerous DVDs and books on Goju Ryu Karate. Elevated to the status of, “Intangible Cultural Asset” of Okinawa in March 2013.
Tsutomu Nakahodo, 10th Dan Hanshi, Uechi Ryu. Student of Kanei Uechi, Seiyu Shinjo, and Seiko Toyama. Nakahodo Sensei is famous for his speed, power, and superlative technical ability.
Zenpo Shimabukuro, 10th Dan Hanshi, Shorin Ryu, Seibukan. A student of Zenryo Shimabukuro, his father, who was the premier student in the 1930s of karate legend Chotoku Kyan. Zenpo Sensei is the President of the Zen Okinawa Karate Do Rengokai. Rengokai.
Katsuhiko Shinzato, 9th Dan, Kishaba Juku Shorin Ryu, is a Professor Emeritus (Linguistics) of the Kokusai University who has also taught during his long and illustrious career at Stanford University (US) and Reading University (UK) universities. He is the co-author of the award winning volume The Kobudo & Karate Encyclopedia, and Supervisory Editor of Okinawa: Birthplace of Karate.
Takenobu Uehara, 10th Dan Hanshi Uechi Ryu. The son of Saburo Uehara, one of the first and most prominent students of the style's founder, Uechi Kanbun, Takenobu Sensei has been training for more than seventy years. and is training still! He was elevated to the status of, “Intangible Cultural Asset” by the Okinawan Government in March 2013.
Ryuko Tomoyose, 10th Dan Hanshi, Uechi Ryu. (Intangible Living Cultural Asset). A student of Kanbun and Kanei Uechi, as well as Chojun Miyagi, and a living part of the history of Okinawan karate. Tomoyose Sensei’s father was responsible for persuading Kanbun Uechi to make his karate, Pangai Noon, (as Uechi Ryu was then known) public during the 1920s.
Tsuyoshi Uechi, 9th Dan Isshin Ryu. After studying Shotokan in mainland Japan briefly in his youth, Uechi Sensei returned to Okinawa and trained extensively with Angi Uezu, the son in law of the Founder. Uechi Sensei is well known for his strength and technical ability.
Seisho Itokazu, 10th Dan Konan (Uechi) Ryu, 9th Dan Matayoshi Kobudo. The son of Uechi Ryu pioneer, Seiki Itokazu, Itokazu Sensei is a flawless performer when it comes to Uechi Ryu karate and Matayoshi kobudo.
Yoshio Kuba, 10th Dan Goju Ryu. A student of Seikichi Toguchi, Kuba Sensei is well-known for his mastery of the applications of the Goju Ryu kata, and his ability to apply them to great effect. Being an acupuncture therapist undoubtedly gives him a advantage in this field.
Zenshu Toyama, 10th Dan Hanshi, a student of Seiko Higa and Seikichi Toguchi, has been studying Goju Ryu karate for more than sixty years. He is also an accomplished artist, calligrapher, and raconteur. His seminars are always full, and notable for their content such as; self defense from the floor, small man versus large man, and ancient striking techniques compared with modern. |