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| History of Our Karate Training |
Kenwa Mabuni
The style of Karate our training comes from is called Shito Ryu. The founder of Shito Ryu was Kenwa Mabuni. Mabuni Sensei lived in Okinawa and originally called his style of Karate Hanko Ryu, which meant Half-Hard Style. In 1929 Mabuni Sensei moved to Osaka Japan. In the early 1930's Mabuni Sensei changed the name of his Karate style to Shito Ryu, in respect to two of his teachers he was influenced by. Mabuni Sensei's first instructor was Anko Itosu who taught Shuri Te. His second teacher was Kanryo Higaona who taught Naha Te, which had more Chinese influence. Mabuni Sensei also studied with Arakaki Seisho in Naha Te and with Gokenki in White Crane Kung Fu.
Soke Teruo Hayashi
The branch of Shito Ryu our training comes from is Hayashi-Ha Shito Ryu, named after the Grand Master (Soke) Teruo Hayashi. Soke Hayashi trained in Judo from age 8 until, at the age of 24, he switched to studying Karatedo. He studied Karate with a well respected Master of the time, Kosei Kokuba Sensei, who was a direct student of Mabuni Sensei. Hayashi advanced quickly and was exceptional at Kumite (Free Sparring). He traveled from dojo to dojo trying to spar anyone he could and was always the winner.
Soke Hayashi wanted to learn more, so he traveled to Okinawa and studied Karate with Shoshin Nagamine (Shorin Ryu) and Seiko Higa (Goju Ryu) and studied Okinawan weapons with respected masters Shinken Taira and Ryusho Sakagami. He also studied weapons with Kenko Nakaima another great master (Ryuei Ryu). Soke Hayashi then returned to Japan and continued to study Shito Ryu with Mabuni Sensei until Mabuni Sensei passed away in 1957.
In 1971 Soke Hayashi founded the Hayashi-Ha Shito Ryu style with the permission of the Japanese Government and the approval of FAJKO (the Federation of All Japan Karate-do Organization). Soke Hayashi has branch schools on all continents of the world. Some of the top Karate practitioners of the world come from Hayashi-Ha Shito Ryu. One of those is Master Instructor (Shihan) Akio Minakami. Soke Hayashi passed away in the Fall of 2004.
Shihan Akio Minakami
Shihan (Master Instructor) Akio Minakami was born in Tokyo, Japan. He began his formal martial arts instruction at the age of 7. He belonged to the Jujitsu/Kodokan Judo School under 9th degree Kodokan Black Belt Takagi Sensei.
Shihan Minakami came to the United States in 1963. During his first years in America he made a name for himself as an outstanding Karate man. By age 21 he was the first man ever to win both Kata and Kumite at the All Hawaii Championships.
His most outstanding accomplishments include winning 5 Gold Medals at the Hayashi-Ha Shitoryu-Kai International Championships and 5 Gold Medals at the All Japan Karate Championships. He was also the first man to ever win 5 Gold Medals (every dividsion possible) at the AAU National Championships.
In 1983 Shihan Minakami recieved his Shihan Certificate - 6th Degree Black Belt from both the Hayashi-Ha Shitoryu-Kai and from the Federation of All Japan Karatedo Organization - FAJKO. FAJKO is the governing body for Karate in Japan. Shihan Minakami was the first individual ever to receive a unanimous passing grade, meaning all 11 Masters (representing the 4 major styles of Karate)on the examining board, gave him their approval. This is an amazing honor for which he will always be known.
In 1985 Shihan Minakami founded the Minakami Karate Dojo (formerly known as the United Karatedo Organization (UKO)). It was his goal to teach traditional Japanese Karate and to pass his knowledge onto dedicated students who would learn and enjoy the techniques, as well as the attitudes, of the true martial artist.
Shihan Minakami holds an 8th Degree Black Belt in Hayashi-Ha Shitoryu-Kai, a 7th Degree Black Belt from FAJKO, a Black Belt in Judo, and a 3rd Degree Black Belt in Kendo (Japanese sword fighting).
Dedicated Karate students come from all over the world to his dojo in Seattle to train with this amazing man.
Sensei David Grout
Sensei Grout has practiced Karate with Shihan Minakami since 1978. Sensei Grout currently holds a 4th Degree Black Belt from Hayashi-Ha Shito Ryu and has also formally studied Kendo, Aikido, and Tai Chi. He supported Shihan Minakami as a previous Chairman of the Regional AAU tournament.
In 1974 Sensei Grout entered the University of Washington with the intent of attending medical school. He graduated from the University of Washington in 1978 with two college degrees, a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemistry. It was at this point Sensei Grout decided that people had more of a need to learn how to live, than how to avoid dying. This sparked his interest in studying people and success. He had had an interest in learning martial arts for many years so he began to look for an instructor. He looked through many, many martial arts schools and watched classes in the Seattle area. "But when I came to watch Shihan MInakami's classes I knew there was something very, very different about them. I knew Shihan Minakami was the real thing. I quickly began to value what Shihan Minakami taught me more than all my college training, because I was learning things about real life and success."
Sensei Grout went on to study advanced Biochemistry and Radiation Biology at the University of Washington Graduate School. He subsequently was hired by the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in 1982 as a Health Physicist and was the Alternate Radiation Safety Officer for the Shipyard when he left government service in 2002.
Sensei Grout is an avid student of our brain programming and the limitations it places in our lives. He is a Certified Practitioner of Neuro Linguistic Programming, and a Certified Instructor of Firewalking. Sensei Grout set the World Record for the longest Firewalk at the University of Pittsburg in Jonestown PA in 1998. He continues to periodically conduct fairewalk seminars.
Sensei Janice Record
Sensei Janice Record began practicing Karate with Shihan Minakami in 1973. Sensei Record knows what it takes to win tournaments. She has won many State and Regional Tournaments with a room full of trophies. She holds a Third Degree Black Belt from Hayashi-Ha Shito Ryu. She has also earned a Bachelors Degree in Human Services from the Western Washington University. She has previously been the instructor for Karate and Self Defense at Olympic College. Sensei Record is a well recognized expert in women's self defense and periodically conducts seminars on the topic.
Sensei Roland Edgar
Sensei Roland Edgar started his Karate training in 1996 and holds a Third Degree Black Belt from UKO. He received this rank in 2006. He has been a champion in many tournaments including a State Champion of the AAU. Sensei Roland Edgar is also a graduate of the Bates Technical College in Dental Assistance. He currently is the instructor for Karate, Self Defense, and Tai Chi at Olympic College in Bremerton.
Created on 11/23/2005 11:25 AM by SenseiGrout
Updated on 07/31/2007 04:01 PM by SenseiGrout
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