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Kobudo Teachers
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| ShinkenTaira (1897 - 1970) |
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Born as Maezato Shinken in Maezato village \ Kumajima in 1987.
Some sources claim that Taira was introduced to the Ryukyu traditional weaponry through his grandfather, Kanegawa Gimu (1862 - 1921).
Other sources state that after Taira Sensei completed his educational obligations required he started to work in sulfur mines. In a tragic scene a support beam collapsed and Taira Sensei was trapped inside. He was badly injured on his leg and could not continue to work. Taira Sensei came back to Kumejima but had difficulties because the injured leg. Taira Sensei then, left to Tokyo and planed to study Judo under Kano Jigoro in order to strengthen his body and character. He found an Uchinanchu (Okinawan) lodging at the "Meisei Juko" (Okinawan students dormitory) and in this place he firstly met Funakoshi Jichin, one of the Okinawan authorities who was responsible for introducing the Okinawan Karate ("Karate-Jutsu") in Japan.
In 1922 Taira Sensei had become a "Deshi" (Disciple\Student) of Funakoshi Jichin.
and years later, in 1929, Taira Sensei began to study Kobudo directly under Yabiku Moden Sensei.
In 1932 Taira Sensei moved to Gunma prefecture and established his first Dojo.
In August 1933 Taira Sensei was awarded his "Shihan menkyo from Yabiku Sensei.
"Shihan" - means a teacher of teachers, a professor. Shi translates as teacher, Han translates as wise (commonly translated as master).
Menkyo - Diploma\Liesence.
Funakoshi Sensei recommended Taira Sensei to ask for further instruction from Mabuni Sensei, which was highly respected, and by the year 1934 Taira Sensei had become a student of Mabuni Kenwa Sensei.
In 1940 Taira Shinken Sensei returned to Okinawa. Later on the war started and had dramatic effects. Taira Sensei returned to Kumejima, the place he was born, in order to support and help to rebuild the place after the war destruction.
Taira Shiken Sensei resumed his studding, researching and practicing in Ryukyu Kobudo combative heritage. Realizing that the study was beyond one man scope he dedicated himself to preserve and promote the Okinawan's civil combative legacy.
In 1955 Taira Shinken Sensei established the Ryukyu Kobudo Hozon Shinko-Kai.
Many of respected figures supported Taira Sensei society.
Taira Shinken Sensei went to the mainland and back to Okinawa and continue his activities. In 1960 the Institute of Ancient Japanese Martial Arts Studies bestowed an honor "Shihan Menkyo" to Taira Shinken Sensei in recognition to his dedication and contribution.
In 1963 he established the "Kokusai Karate Kobudo Renmei" and in 1964 he published the book: "Ryukyu Kobudo Taiken". A little after he received another "Hanshi Menkyo" from the Zen Nippon Kobudo Renmei.
Taira Sensei died at his home in September 1970. His dedicate efforts and activities to research, preserve and promote the ancient traditional Ryukyu Kingdom civil fighting arts and it's legacy has bear fruit and alive in these days.
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| Akamine Eisuke (1925 - 1999) |
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Akamine Eisuke Dai-Sensei had the privilege to be Taira Shinken Sensei's most senior disciple.
Akamine Dai-Sensei was born in 1925 in Aza Village, Tomoshiro, Okinawa.
Dai-Sensei went to army in 1944, at the age of 19, discharged to Taiwan in 1945 and came back to Okinawa in 1946 at the age of 21.
Akamine Dai-sensei was taught by Higa Seiichiro Sensei, a disciple of Chinen Sanda \"Yamane" (1840 - 1922).
Between 1949 to 1956 Akamine Dai-Sensei was guided by Sanda Sensei disciples: Higa Reisuke, Higa Jinsaburo and Akamine Yoei Sensei.
Akamine Dai-Sensei learned traditions which revealed as pliable, powerful and dynamic of Chinen Sanda Sensei that became later known as "Yamane-Ryu".
In the year 1955 Taira Shinken Sensei established the Society for the Preservation and Promotion of Ryukyu Kobudo - "Ryukyu Kobudo Hozon Shinko Kai" and a year later Akamine Sensei was introduced to Taira Sensei.
At the age of 37, Akamine Dai-Sensei received the "Shihan Menkyo".
In 1968, at the age of 43, Dai-Sensei received "Renshi Rokudan" license from the Zen Okinawa Karate Kobudo Renmei. Following Taira Shinken Sensei death in 1970, Akamine Dai-Sensei was his senior disciple and following his teacher request Akamine Dai-Sensei become his successor and turned to Ryukyu Kobudo Hozon Shinko Kai second president.
In 1971 Akamine Dai-Sensei established the Shinbukan in Tomishiro in honor to Shinken Taira Sensei, his late teacher.
In 1976, when Dai-Sensei was 56, he awarded the "Kyoshi hachidan" license from the Zen Okinawa Karate Kobudo Renmei and in 1985 he received the "Hanshi" license.
(Kyoshi - is a teacher of teachers, a knowledgeable person).
On January 13, 1999, Akamine Eisuke Dai-Sensei past away in his hometown.
Today the Shinbukan is recognized as the world headquarters of the Ryukyu Kobudo Hozon Shinko Kai and the central location from which Taira Sensei orthodox tradition continue to prosper in its original form.
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| Akamine Hiroshi sensei |
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Akamine Sensei was born in 1954 in 69 Aza Kakakzu, Tomigusuku Village, Okinawa, the 4th son of Ryukyu Kobudo Hozon Shinko-Kai's 2nd President Eisuke Akamine-sensei (Dai-Sensei).
In 1960 he began karate study under father Eisuke Akamine-sensei.
In 1968 Akamine Sensei studied Tinbe (Halberd and Shield) Kata under Ryukyu Kobudo Hozon Shinko Kai 1st President Shinken Taira-sensei.
Since the age of 7 Akamine Hiroshi Sensei have had the privilege to learn under Taira Shinken Sensei when he came to teach his father, Akamine Eisuke Sensei.
1970: Studied Shorinryu karate under Hiroshi Gushiken-sensei.
In the year of 1987 Akamine Sensei was awarded teacher's license in karate by Eisuke Akamine-sensei.
In 1988 Akamine Sensei Awarded 5th Dan by Hiroshi Gushiken- sensei.
1995: Awarded Teacher's license in karate by Hiroshi Gushiken-sensei.
1997: Awarded 7th Dan in karate from Eisuke Akamine-sensei.
1999: Awarded Teacher's license in Kobudo by Eisuke Akamine-sensei.
1999 April: After the passing of Eisuke Akamine-sensei, Hiroshi Akamine-sensei becomes the 3rd President of the Ryukyu Kobudo Hozon Shinko-Kai.
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| Yukyo Kunyoshi Sensei |
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| 1976 | Entered the Ito-Higashi Ryu Itoman Dojo (Director Uechi Kanei-Sensei). |
| 1979 | Entered the Ryukyu Kobudo Hozon Shinko Kai Shinbu Kan (Director Akamine Eiryoo-Sensei). |
| 1981 | Kuniyoshi Yukio Sensei Received Sho-dan. |
| 1984 | Received San-dan and an Instructor's Certificate. |
| 1986 | Won the Ryukyu Kobudo Tournament Championship. |
| 1987 | Won the Ryukyu Kobudo Tournament Championship. |
| 1989 | Received Go-dan and Shihan Certificate. |
| 1990 | Attended the China-Japan Martial Arts Exchange Exhibition. |
| 1994 | Attended the Okinawa Prefecture Karate/Kobudo Martial Arts Festival. |
| 1996 | Attended the Ryukyu Kingdom Festival. |
| 1997 | Attended the Okinawa Prefecture Karate/Kobudo World Tournament and directed the Kobudo Seminar. |
| 1998 | Attended the Ryukyu Kingdom Festival. |
| 1999 | Appointed as the Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Ryukyu Kobudo Hozon Shinko Kai.
Received Nana-dan.
Directed Kobudo Seminars held in England and in Israel. |
| 2000 | Performed at the Canadian VIP guest house during G8 Summit in Okinawa. |
| 2001 | Performed at the World Uchinanchu (Okinawan) Conference. |
| 2002 | Vice-President of the Ryukyu Kobudo Hozon Shinko Kai. |
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| Paul Vermiglio Sensei |
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Born 1962 under two of the most prestigious birds in the land, the Liver Birds in Liverpool. It was an early age of 9 years that he was introduced to boxing by his Grandfather, Dominic Vermiglio. As boxing was short lived he soon moved onto Martial Arts, Ju-Jutsu and incessantly studied for the next 20 years. During this time as he traveled around the world (Merchant Navy) he had the opportunity to meet other practitioners from different cultural arts and train together. The experienced gained with others added extra impetus to the never-ending development of this young warrior. In 1996, with 2 suitcases and $2000 in his pocket he headed off to Okinawa in pursue of truth and clarity, especially as he was seeking clarification about Ryukyu Kobudo kata and waza.
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A firm believer that Okinawa is the homeland of Ryukyu kobudo and Karate, he was taken in as the Uchi Deshi (4 ½ years) of Eisuke Akamine Sensei. There is started his study of Ryukyu Kobudo and Shorin Ryu Karate. Prior to going to Okinawa he had spent 2 years at the renowned Karate dojo, the "Red Triangle" and he still holds the greatest of respect for his then sensei's Andy Sherry, Bob Poynton and Frank Brennen.
After the death of his first Okinawan sensei, Akamine Eisuke, he came under Akamine Hiroshi Sensei while remaining at the Sohombu Dojo.
Through a chance meeting in Chiba, Japan with a fellow Israeli student at a seminar, a connection was made for Vermiglio Sensei to bring Akamine Sensei and Kuniyoshi Sensei to Israel for an Introduction into Ryukyu Kobudo. This was in 1999. Since then he has made tireless efforts in developing the students in Israel, and keeping with his promise to Dai Sensei (Eisuke Akamine) in that he would make every effort to promote and preserve the legacy of Taira Shinken Sensei and Eisuke Akamine Sensei's Kobudo by traveling across the globe in a quite unique gypsy fashion.
We here in Israel are very lucky that Vermiglio Sensei can spend a lot of time here and with our entire hearts wish that his stay here with us is a long one.
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A Word from Sensei
"Seeing something once is better than hearing about it one hundred times.
Unfortunately quite frequently the opposite applies in today's world of Martial Arts. The increasing application requests of enrollment without the seeing. Do you ever wonder why such individuals are always requesting that you send them video's and application forms to join but don't want to get involved in the Introduction training process? It makes you wonder, doesn't it?"
I am very happy and honored to have played a small part in the great achievements of the Ryukyu Kobudo Hozon Shinko Kai Israel. We should all recognize, too, the special achievements of the Chief Instructor, Effi, who continuous to sit on a stone since 1999, is to be acknowledged and appreciated by all.
Through this website, which will serve it's purpose in letting you know who we are and what we are about, we openly welcome with open doors new students looking for that flash of lightening which is like love, once you have been struck you will know about it.
When you enter through doors of the Ryukyu Kobudo Hozon Shinko Kai Israel, the intellectual key as you will see it, is therefore to study hard and keep on practicing. Letting go of the ego, now comes easily. Accepting others for what they are. Avoid hard headiness and closed mindedness.
In closing I would just like to say: "We, who study traditional Ryukyu Kobudo and explore the concepts, and contribute peace and prosperity to the society."
Thank You
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