Takayoshi Nagamine

Takayoshi Nagamine (長嶺 高兆, Nagamine Takayoshi, August 12, 1945 – April 25, 2012) was a prominent Okinawan karate master and also at times a Naha City Councilman and a Criminal Investigator for the United States Marine Corps.^[2]

Takayoshi was born in Naha, Okinawa as the son of Shoshin Nagamine, the founder of Matsubayashi-ryu Karate-do. He commenced training in Matsubayashi-ryu Karate-do under his father's tutelage at the age of seven years.^[3]

Takayoshi was the second generation headmaster and successor (Sōke) to the World Matsubayashi-ryu (Shorin-ryu) Karate-do Association (WMKA) and the Matsubayashi-ryu system as founded by his father, Shoshin Nagamine.^[4] He was also the Chief Instructor of the Kodokan Nagamine Karate Dojo located in Kumoji, Naha, Okinawa, Japan from 1997 to 2012.

At the direction of his father, and in order to help the development of Matsubayashi-ryu Karate-do world-wide, Takayoshi went to the United States at the age of 20, in the late 1960s, and opened a dojo in Cincinnati, Ohio. Some of Takayoshi Nagamine's original students to achieve black belt in the United States included Jim Driggs, Rick Kemper, Al Rozier, Bill George, Don Caponigro, Dave Williams and Steve Rafferty. Takayoshi also taught clinics and seminars in the Ohio region and around the United States until he returned to Okinawa in 1979.^[2]

Takayoshi returned to Okinawa in order to assist his father, Shoshin Nagamine with the running of the World Honbu Dojo and the World Matsubayashi-ryu (Shorin-ryu) Karate-do Association (WMKA).^[2] In 1991, Shoshin Nagamine retired from running the Matsubayashi-ryu organisation and in a speech passed the leadership on to his son, Takayoshi.

In 1992 Takayoshi called together senior instructors in Okinawa and the United States and formed what is now known as the World Matsubayashi-ryu (Shorin-ryu) Karate-do Association (WMKA). In 1997 after his father's death, Takayoshi took the position as the second Sōke (head) of the Matsubayashi-ryu Karate-do system. Soke Nagamine moved from Long Island, NY in 2004 leaving Sensei Racanelli to handel the WMKA Administration. In October 2008, Takayoshi was promoted to the rank of Hanshisei 10th Dan in Matsubayashi-ryu. Takayoshi has helped with the development, establishment and teaching at dojos throughout the world including, but not limited to Australia, United States, Germany, Norway, Ireland and Canada.

Students from around the world have attended seminars with Takayoshi Nagamine. Affiliates have attended clinics in Australia, Canada, United States, and Europe.

At the time of Takayoshi Nagamine's death, many people claimed to be affiliated with the Headquarters in Naha Okinawa. Most of these claims are not true.

Okinawa and Japan

• Yoshitaka Taira Hanshi (President WMKA - WMKA)
• Toshimitsu Arakaki Hanshi (Vice President - WMKA)
• Kiyoshi Shinjo, Hanshi 9th Dan (Director - WMKA)
• Hirosi Yamazato, Kyoshi 8th Dan
• Masato Nagamine, 5th Dan (no family relation)

United States

• WMKA USA Yudansha (see WMKA website World Matsubayashi-ryu (Shorin-ryu) Karate-do Association (WMKA))
• Walter Rowden Kyoshi 8th Dan (Deceased - WMKA)
• Dave Williams, Kyoshi 7th Dan (Deceased - WMKA)
• Nick Racanelli, Hanshi 8th Dan (Deceased - WMKA)

Australia

• John Carlyle, 5th Dan (WMKA)
• Reece Cummings, 4th Dan (WMKA)

Norway

• Ole-Bjørn Tuftedal, Renshi 6th Dan (WMKA/EMKA)

Spain

• Ricardo Camani, Kyoshi 7th Dan (WMKA/EMKA)

Ireland

• Anthony Whelan, 3rd Dan (WMKA/EMKA)
• Martin O'Malley, 2nd Dan (WMKA/EMKA)
• Michael O'Neill, 1st Dan (WMKA/EMKA)

Argentina

• Shigehide Akamine, Kyoshi 9th Dan (WMKA)

Canada

• Frank Baehr Kyoshi 7th Dan (WMKA)
• Stephen Trombley Kyoshi 7th Dan (WMKA)
• Ward Jardine, Renshi 6th Dan (WMKA)
• Anthony Gibson, 3rd Dan (WMKA)

References