Karate evolved in East Asia over a period of centuries, becoming systematized in Okinawa in the 17th century, probably by people forbidden to carry weapons. It was imported into Japan in the 1920s. Several schools and systems developed, each favoring somewhat different techniques and training methods.

What is the basic history of karate do?

 It is with great sadness that I post this notice that an icon and idol of mines has passed on to the next life to be with his teachers.  I had the privilege and honor to have demonstrated karate with him to honor U.S. Veterans in Northern Ky a few decades ago and also learn Shushi no Kon Dai Bo Kata directly from him with two of my senior students as well.  A great loss to the Martial Arts/Karate world.  A true Karate Master.

 

Fumio Demura (出村 文男, Demura Fumio, September 15, 1938 – April 24, 2023) was a Japanese master of karate and kobudo (traditional weaponry). He was Pat Morita's martial arts stunt double in the first, third and fourth Karate Kid films (and the inspiration for "Mr. Miyagi").

 

Demura was born on September 15, 1938, in Yokohama, Japan. At the age of 9 (1947/48), he began training in karate and kendo under an instructor named Asano. At the age of 12 (1950/51) he started training under Ryusho Sakagami in Itosu-kai karate. Demura received his 1st dan black belt in 1956,and won the East Japan Championships in 1957.In 1959, he began training in kobudo, a style of Okinawan weapons training, under the direction of Taira Shinken. In 1963, he "came to know the Koga Ryu Ninjutsu Soke, Seiko Fujita- a 14th Generation Koga Ryu Ninja - personally" (quote attributed to Fumio Demura himself). Demura met martial arts scholar Donn Draeger, who introduced him to Dan Ivan, who would eventually bring him to the United States of America as a karate instructor.

 

In 1965, Demura came to the United States, representing the Japan Karate-do Itosu-kai. From his base in southern California, he became well known for his karate and kobudo skills. In 1971, he was ranked 5th dan, and he remained at that rank until at least 1982. Through the 1970s and 1980s, Demura wrote several martial arts books, including: Shito-Ryu Karate (1971), Advanced nunchaku (1976, co-authored), Tonfa: Karate weapon of self-defense (1982), Nunchaku: Karate weapon of self-defense (1986), Bo: Karate weapon of self-defense (1987),^] and Sai: Karate weapon of self-defense (1987).

In 1986, Demura was promoted to 7th dan in Shito-ryū karate. In 2001, he was expelled from the Itosu-kai, and became the Director of Shito-ryū Karate-do Genbu-kai. In 2005, he was promoted to 9th dan. He resided in Santa Ana, California, until his death.

In October 2010, Demura performed for the United States Martial Arts Festival, hosted by Koyamada International Foundation (KIF) at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center in Redondo Beach, California.

 In the 1980s, Demura became involved in the Karate Kid series of films. He was the stunt double for Pat Morita, who played Mr. Miyagi. The Karate Kid screenwriter Robert Mark Kamen stated that Mr. Miyagi was named after Chōjun Miyagi, the founder of the Goju-ryu karate style, and that Fumio Demura was the inspiration for the character.

Demura appeared in several films and documentaries, including: The Warrior within (1976), The Island of Dr. Moreau (1977), The Karate Kid (1984), The Karate Kid Part III (1989), Shootfighter: Fight to the death (1992), Rising Sun (1993), The Next Karate Kid (1994), Masters of the martial arts (1998, presented by Wesley Snipes), Mystic origins of the martial arts (1998),^[24] Modern warriors (2002), XMA: Xtreme Martial Arts (2003) and Ninja (2009). Demura is the subject of the 2015 documentary "The Real Miyagi" 

 ^{Video link:  https://youtu.be/36h5TSj3i1M}

 

 

Karate of Japan Federation International

At the KOJF Hombu, we put immense focus on the proper form and balance of each kihon, or basic technique. Through extensive training, our instructors have rigorously, scientifically analyzed and separated out each individual movement in each individual kata, and developed an unrivalled spectrum of kihon techniques. Using these special kihon, we have refined the kata to be more applicable in kumite. And in turn, the experience accumulated through kumite gives feedback to further perfect one’s kihon and kata. In this way kihon, kata and kumite form the inseparable trinity of Shotokan karate. Through constant repetition of such techniques, your body learns to move effortlessly, naturally. And your mind learns to be effortless and natural too. Shotokan karate is the way of balance.

 

Karate is not a game of points, weight classes or showy demonstrations. It is a martial art and way of life that trains a practitioner to be peaceful; but if conflict is unavoidable, true karate dictates taking down an opponent with a single blow. 

 

Such an action requires strength, speed, focus, control. But these physical aspects are only part of the practice; they are just the vehicle, not the journey itself.

True karate is based on Bushido. In true karate, the body, mind and spirit—the whole person—must be developed simultaneously. Through kihon, kumite and kata we learn to control our movements. But more importantly, we learn to give up control too. We can perform the techniques without thinking about them, and remain focused without having to concentrate on any one thing. In essence, the body remembers how to move and the mind remembers how to be still.

This harmonious unity of mind and body is intensely powerful. Even the greatest physical strength and skill are no match for the power of wholeness.

The result of true karate is natural, effortless action, and the confidence, humility, openness and peace only possible through perfect unity of mind and body. This is the core teaching of Zen, the basis of Bushido, and the basis of the KOJF International Shotokan’s karate philosophy.

 

Such an action requires strength, speed, focus, control. But these physical aspects are only part of the practice; they are just the vehicle, not the journey itself.

True karate is based on Bushido. In true karate, the body, mind and spirit—the whole person—must be developed simultaneously. Through kihon, kumite and kata we learn to control our movements. But more importantly, we learn to give up control too. We can perform the techniques without thinking about them, and remain focused without having to concentrate on any one thing. In essence, the body remembers how to move and the mind remembers how to be still.

This harmonious unity of mind and body is intensely powerful. Even the greatest physical strength and skill are no match for the power of wholeness.

The result of true karate is natural, effortless action, and the confidence, humility, openness and peace only possible through perfect unity of mind and body. This is the core teaching of Zen, the basis of Bushido, and the basis of the KOJF Interantional Shotokan’s karate philosophy.

 

 Master Funakoshi Gichin laid out the Twenty Precepts of Karate, which form the foundations of the art. Within these twenty principles, based heavily on Bushido and Zen, lies the philosophy of the KOJF International Hombu Karate.

1. Never forget: karate begins with rei and ends with rei (Rei means courtesy or respect, and is represented in karate by bowing)
2. There is no first attack in karate
3. Karate supports righteousness
4. First understand yourself, then understand others
5. The art of developing the mind is more important than the art of applying technique
6. The mind needs to be freed
7. Trouble is born of negligence
8. Do not think karate belongs only in the dojo
9. Karate training requires a lifetime
10. Transform everything into karate; therein lies its exquisiteness
11. Genuine karate is like hot water; it cools down if you do not keep on heating it
12. Do not think of winning; you must think of not losing
13. Transform yourself according to the opponent
14. The outcome of the fight depends on one’s control
15. Imagine one’s arms and legs as swords
16. Once you leave the shelter of home, there are a million enemies
17. Postures are for the beginner; later they are natural positions
18. Do the kata correctly; the real fight is a different matter
19. Do not forget control of the dynamics of power, the elasticity of the body and the speed of the technique
20. Always be good at the application of everything that you have learned.

 With each practice session at the dojo, students kneel in the seiza position and repeat these five precepts out loud. This process reminds students of the right attitude, frame of mind and virtues to strive for both within the dojo, and outside.

Jinkaku kansei ni tsutomuru koto
Seek perfection of character

Makoto no michi o mamoru koto
Be sincere

Doryoku no seishin o yashinau koto
Put maximum effort into everything you do

Reigi o omonzuru koto
Respect others

Kekki no yuu o imashimuru koto
Develop self-control

 

Kanryo Higaonna Sensei
March 10, 1853	Born in Nishi-machi, Naha-shi, Okinawa
1876	Studied Karate under Rou Rou Koh Sensei in Fujian province, China at the age of 23.
1888	Went back to Okinawa. Started instruction of Karate at the request of his students.
1917	Passed away of illness at the age of 63.
Chojun Miyagi
April 25, 1888	Born in Higashi-machi, Naha-shi, Okinawa
May 1915	Went to Fuchowa province to study Chinese boxing. Returned to Okinawa one year later due to the death of Higaonna Sensei.
April 1929	Became a Karate instructor at Training Center of Okinawa Police Department and Naha Municipal Commercial High School.
November 1930	Karate Division was established in Okinawa Athletic Association. Miyagi Sensei was appointed to Karate Division Chief.
April 1934	"Yokoku Jihosha" invited Miyagi Sensei to Hawaii and he instructed Karate in several places in Hawaii until next February.
May 5, 1937	Performed Kata at Butoku Sai under the auspices of Dai Nippon Butoku-kai and he was given the title Karate jutsu Kyoshi first time in this nation.
April 1938	He was appointed to a Karate instructor at Okinawa Teacher Training School.
1945	With establishment of Okinawa Public Government, he was appointed to an instructor at Police Academy.
October 8, 1953	Passed away at the age of 65.

 

 KOJF International

 Shihan/Advisors

Here are a few pictures of our esteemed and valuable members who serve not only on the Shihan board but are senior advisors as well.  The list is not complete by any means but puts a few faces and names you may or may not know.  More to come as we try to make the blog more regular.

Konsta Myrick, 6th Dan Karate-do

Ken Tallack, 9th Dan Karate-do

John Jackson, 8th Dan Karate-do

Mujaga Mustafic, 8th Dan Karate-do

Richard Marks, 7th Dan Karate-do

Roger Payne, 8th Dan Judo

Santiago Scaba, 10th Karate-do

Sid Rayford, 10th Dan Karate-do

 

 

H A N S H I ’ S  C O R N E R:  Lackluster Effort! 

      My subject for this post and previous KOJF Newsletter contribution is about developing a habit of lackluster energy in practice and less than stellar effort when training.  Sadly some instructors and black belts mistake the "walk through" of a karate kata or martial arts technique as serious practice or training because they simply "walked through the movements!"  This is not practice or training in earnest, rather it is simply a "walk through practice" just like you walk through the opening of  a doorway.  Easy to do with little effort involved.  Lackluster effort delivers lackluster performance which translates to lackluster probability of success when confronted in a serious engagement of battle.  Just saying.

     We are given one life to live and thus one opportunity to go through each day with stellar effort and performance to create and develop amazing skills or deliver as I sad great technique.  I met black belts who teach with a cup of coffee in their hand or a cigarette in their mouth while barking out commends.  I have also seen instructors who give insane repetitions to their students and not partake in the same practice themselves. The danger of this practice that some students of course, are not in the dojo to become insane killing machines but simply there for their health and wellness or sanity.  Some have health concerns that do not allow them to give that insane effort during practice.  Understanding the level of the students ability to participate in the trainnig with the stellar effort of those who are training as throught they were seeking world dominance, is not possible by such people.  These are not the ones that I speak of.  It is the group of black belts that should be showing those around and below their grade that the path to greatness in technical excellence is achieved through stellar and above average training.  It seems that sometimes some black belts act as though they are above the idea of continuing to train, study and learn.  They make excuses for themselves and others why they "can't train fully.  It is unnerving to see those of black belt grade that seemingly are afraid of the sweat and effort which they used to achieve their rank. (or did they? Hummm?)

     Recently I had a high level black belt indicate to me that a certain instructor in their group. for whom great respect and high rank is held, has not been seen practicing in recent years and even throwing a karate punch for that matter.  More over, not in recent years has that instructor been seen fully training in an open setting with the effort to gain true mastery or even a fairly competent level of technique that would inspire others.  I was saddened to hear such statements as it remains apparent that others are watching those of us with high dan grades in our daily churn with a desire to see exactly what a high level instructor does and thus would be the behavior they would come to expect if they reach that level.  It perpetuates poor and bad behavior and those around someone like this will believe this is common and normal expectations of them once they achieve that rank.  Is that something we really want to perpetuate?  For me, no.  I still have sensei that I look up to that are on the floor practicing and delivering technical excellence and levels I have come to expect of myself!

     I once heard or read that a good leader leads by example and when I look back at men like General Patton, General Dwight D. Esenhower and others of this caliber, it makes me come to expect that if I teach, I know my students are inspired by my own efforts and delivery of technical excellence for which I expect of them.  Am I wrong? Lackluster effort and lackluster practice are the catalyst for lackluster performance and technical delivery that is, lackluster!  Please, let's not become known for less than stellar and high level effort when training and prcaticing our Budo art.  Remember that karate is the art of self defense, not self playing!  Thus, as I have always maintained and told my students that the way your practice in the dojo is how you will perform on the battlefield.  "The more you sweat in training the less you bleed in battle!"

      Let us all reflect on our trainng and practice and let's do so with great effort and fervor that delivers great spirit as if our life depended on our every movement!  Nothing else needs to be said.

Hanshi

Hirokazu Kanazawa has passed away – An Overview

Soke Hirokazu Kanazawa passed away on December 8, 2019. And the karate world mourns.
The facebook page of the SKIF-GB facebook page reported first. However, rumors spread that it the announcement might be a hoax. While the post disappeared a few hours later, we received information from a high ranking source within the inner circle of the SKIF. The source confirmed that the information about the passing of Soke Kanazawa is true.

Official Confirmation of the Passing of Soke Hirokazu Kanazawa

Around 1 pm central European time, the Board of the SKIF issued and published an official statement about the passing of Soke Kanazawa. The document states that he passed away peacefully.
It also states that he passed away at the “blessed ripe old” age of 88 years old. This refers to the Japanese of “beiju“. Because the Chinese character of 88 looks to similar to the character for rice. Rice, on the other hand, is considered to be a happy and sacred food in East Asia.

The Karate World Mourns

A wave of condolences have been expressed by the karate world for the passing of Soke Kanazawa today. Several thousand karate commented on facebook and other social media about how deeply shocked and shattered they were. Many more sent blessings and best wishes to the family of Hirokazu Kanazawa.
The sympathies go thereby far beyond the community of Shotokan karateka. Also practitioners from other styles of karate expressed their mourning and grief. For instance, the Kyokushinkai channel The Martial Way published a R.I.P. post about the passing of Soke Kanazawa. Such acts display the tremendous respect Hirokazu Kanazawa enjoyed in the karate world.

The Shotokan Times also expressed its condolences by sending an email to Kancho Nobuaki Kanazawa, Shuseki Shihan Manabu Murakami, and the SKIF HQ. Chair of the advisory board of The Shotokan Times, Thomas Prediger, commented: “He was a living legend. Soke Kanazawa will be dearly missed. His guidance and character are invaluable. However, his legacy will continue in Shotokan. Because a worldwide community of students will now carry his torch.”
Managing director and chief editor of The Shotokan Times, Dr. Christian Tribowski, stated: “I had the chance to meet Soke Kanazawa last year during the 40th anniversary festivities of SKIF in Tokyo. His health had deteriorated already. But I did not imagine to see him the last time. His death has left a huge void in the karate world. He was Mr. Shotokan, a splendid and charismatic personalty. Generations after generations have learnt from him the true meaning of karate do.

Deteriorated Health of Soke Hirokazu Kanazawa

In January 2009, Kanazawa suffered a skiing accident. Trough a badly fall he crushed three vertebra. Although he was already in his 70´s he recovered and taught Shotokan until 2012. Then he retired and spend most of his time in Japan.
Beside the skiing accident rumors spread that Soke Kanazawa also suffered two stroke in the last decade. Last year on the 40th anniversary of SKIF in Tokyo, he had difficulties to walk and could barely speak. Yet, he was the charismatic karate master who had an room filling presents.

The Legend Hirokazu Kanazawa

Soke Kanazawa was an outstanding Karate master. In a recent portrait about him in The Shotokan Times, Patrick Donkor and Dr. Christian Tribowski concluded:

“Hirokazu Kanazawa is considered one of the most skillful karate masters of all time. A great technician and an excellent instructor, he has built up a loyal and dedicated following of students. A gentle and sincere man, he has been able to convey the concepts of karate to many generations of students. As prolific author, he has also had many instructional books and videos produced. It could be argued that many people would not have started karate if they had not seen demonstrations from this very talented master. In any case, he is a true legend of Shotokan karate.”
Patrick Donkor and Dr. Christian Tribowski

Like no other, Hirokazu Kanazawa coined Shotokan karate in the 20´s century. He studied directly under Gichin Funakoshi and Masatoshi Nakayama. His technical elegance as well as his philosophy became the greatest technician of the 20´s century. After leaving the JKA he founded the Shotokan Karate International Federation in the late 1970´s, which chief instructor and later soke he became.

Hirokazu Kanazawa About Life and Death

Soke Kanazawa´s karate do comprise many notion of Zen Buddhism. In an interview he stated about life and death:

” My philosophy is that I try always to be true to myself and to others … I can say that I fear nothing – not even death, and this I do not say in a big-headed or conceited way. My meaning is that I always try my best in everything I do, so I will be satisfied when I do die – I think the reason that people fear death is because they want to do and accomplish so many other things that are still undone . . . they always want to do more. Also, I truly believe that life continues after physical death – all life continues … life is a circle “.
AJJIF GLOBAL ALL JAPAN JU-JITSU INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION WORLD JU-JITSU GOVERNING BODY

Oss!