Seikichi Toguchi

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article does not cite any references or sources. (January 2008) Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed.

Master Seikichi Toguchi (b. May 20, 1917 in Naha City, Okinawa, Japan - d. August 31, 1998 in Tokyo) was the founder of Shorei-kan karate.

[edit] Biography

As a young boy, Toguchi learned the basic techniques of Okinawan Te from his father. In 1930, at the age of 13, he began his lifelong study of Gōjū-ryū karate at the dojo of Master Sekō Higa and later under Master Chojun Miyagi as one of his principal students. He studied under Higa-sensei for over 33 years and under Miyagi-sensei for more than 25 years, making his karate education unique. Master Toguchi was fortunate as Master Miyagi was a personal friend of Master Toguchi's father and so paid many visits to the family. At these times the conversation nearly always turned to karate and the discussions would go on till the early hours of the morning.

Master Toguchi continued his full-time study of karate until the beginning of World War II, when he was drafted into the army as an electrical engineer and stationed in Sumatra, Indonesia. In 1946 he returned to Okinawa to find a devastated people and homeland. Miyagi-sensei had lost three children and one of his senior students, Jinan Shinsato. Higa-sensei had lost his wife. Master Miyagi began teaching at the police academy and Higa-sensei moved in with Toguchi-sensei. At this time Higa-sensei also played matchmaker and introduced Master Toguchi to a young girl named Haruko, soon to be his wife.

In 1949, with the help of Toguchi-sensei, Master Higa opened up a new dojo and Toguchi-sensei was appointed Shihan. Before his death, Master Miyagi passed on all his advanced kata and teachings to Toguchi-sensei, one of the more important being kaisai no genri. This teaching explains how to unlock the hidden techniques of the koryu kata. In 1953, after the death of Master Miyagi, his senior students formed the Karate-Do Goju Association, with Master Meitoku Yagi as chairman and Master Seikichi Toguchi as Vice Chairman.

In 1954 Master Toguchi opened up the first Shorei-kan dojo (House of politeness and respect) in Koza City, Okinawa. The Shorei-kan dojo was very close to the American military base and the Americans showed a great interest in the martial arts. With an increasing western population in his dojo, Master Toguchi found it necessary to devise a progressive teaching method to overcome the language barrier. Expanding on Miyagi's vision, Master Toguchi further developed a system of progressive kata and added bunkai kumite and kiso kumite to help explain application of the kata. Many of the early pioneers of Okinawan karate in the US studied with Master Toguchi.

In 1956 the Okinawan Karate-Do Federation was formed and Master Toguchi was installed as a member of the board of directors. By 1960 Toguchi-sensei decided to move to mainland Japan to spread the art of karate and Shorei-kan. During the coming years he would move between Okinawa in the winter and Tokyo in the summer. He first practiced outdoors at the Hikawa Shrine where he developed the kata Hakitsuru. In 1962 the first Shorei-kan dojo was opened in Tokyo in Meguro Borough and in 1966 Shorei-kan Hombu Dojo Tokyo was built with the help of Tomano Construction (founded by Toshio Tomano's father).

Although there were Shorei-kan students and instructors already in the US, in 1969 Master Toguchi sent Toshio Tamano to the US as the representative of Shorei-kan, and in 1972 Tomaki Koyabu was sent to Canada to spread Shorei-kan Karate. Over the following years Master Toguchi and his wife Haruko Toguchi travelled numerous times to both Canada and the US. Later on Shihan Tamano moved to Milan, Italy to spread Shorei-kan throughout Europe and Shihan Scott Lenzi is now the representative of the U.S. and South America. The representative of Canada is now Shihan Vic Hargitt and Shihan Haribabu represents India.

[edit] Death and legacy

Master Toguchi passed away at the age of 81. He was the last living Okinawan master to receive the title of bushi, a title also held by his teacher, Master Chojun Miyagi. He touched the lives and hearts of all his students and his spirit will touch the lives and hearts of generations of students to come. Shorei-kan is now headed by Kaicho Haruko Toguchi and a committee of Senior Black Belts. Master Toguchi left behind a strong organization that has spread throughout the world and with his spirit, the Instructors of today will continue his vision.

On August 31, 2004 Mrs. Haruko Toguchi Kaicho, wife of the late Master Seikichi Toguchi, took retirement as the head of the Shorei-kai. She returned to her home in Okinawa to enjoy the warm sun and to be with her family. She will remain as an advisor to the Shorei-kai in the future.

During the Shorei-kai October meeting of 2004, Norihiro Yamamoto was chosen as the Kaicho to head this new organization. He brings with him a wealth of true Shorei-kan teaching and technical knowledge. At the same meeting Masaru Nose Shihan was appointed President and Sohei Iijima Vice President.