Osamu Ozawa 1925 – 1998“A Leader Who Commanded not Dictated”He was brought up in accordance with the ancient traditions of the samurai as these were his forefathers. Osamu Ozawa was forced to endure …

Gōgen Yamaguchi, was a Japanese martial artist and student of Gōjū-ryū Karate under Chōjun Miyagi. One of the most well-known Karate-dō masters from Japan, he founded the International Karate-dōGōjū …

Moreihei Ueshiba 1883 – 1969“Two Words only O’SENSEI”Morihei Ueshibawas a martial artist and founder of the Japanese martial art of aikido. He is often referred to as "the founder" Kaiso or Ōsensei " …

Peter Urban 1934 – 2004“America’s First Tenth Dan”Peter George Urban was an American martial artist. He is considered the father of the Karate styles American Gōjū-ryū and U.S.A. Gōjū-ryū. Urban was …

Kenji Tomiki 1900 – 1079"Creator of Kumite in Aikido”Shodokan Aikido is the style of Aikido founded by Kenji Tomiki. His teacher was Moreihei Ueshiba.Shodokan Aikido is sometimes referred to as "Sp …

Robert Trias 1923 – 1989“First Man to Teach Karate in America 1946”Robert A. Trias was a U.S. karate pioneer, founding the first karate school in the mainland United States. He also developed Shuri-r …

Japan 2016                What an amazing trip I just returned from.Martial Arts Martial Arts and more was what we went for and exactly what we got.The Jap …

Yim Wing Chun 1700’s “The First Lady of Kung Fu”Yim Wing Chunis a Chinese legendary character, often cited in Wing Chun legends as the first master of the martial art bearing her name. Wing Chun, tho …

Tsukahara Bokuden 1489 – 1571“Kensei Sword Saint"Tsukahara Bokuden was a famous swordsman and lone-samurai warrior of the early Sengoku period. He was widely regarded as a kensei (sword saint). He w …

Ken-Zen-ShoSword-Mind-BrushThe Samurai was always associated with the ken or sword, Zen or mind and Sho or Calligraphy and I always wondered what the relationship was between the three of them until …

Chen Man-ch’ing 1902 – 1975 “The Gentle Gentleman of Tai Chi”Born in Yongjia (Wenzhou), Zhejiang, Cheng trained in Chinese medicine, t'ai chi ch'uan, and the three perfections: calligraphy, pa …

Shinpo Matayoshi 1921 – 1997“Conservator of Okinawan Kobudo"”He was the only son of the legendary Okinawan martial arts master Matayoshi Shinko (1888–1947).The Matayoshi Family have long been associ …