Fumio Demura

In this Japanese name, the family name is Demura.
Fumio Demura

F. Demura, November 2006
Born (1938-09-15) September 15, 1938
Yokohama, Japan
Residence Santa Ana, California, USA
Nationality American[1]
Style Shitō-ryū Karate
Teacher(s) Ryusho Sakagami, Taira Shinken
Rank 9th dan karate
Website http://www.genbu-kai-hq.com/

Fumio Demura (出村 文男 Demura Fumio, born September 15, 1938) is a Japanese American master of karate.[2] He is a well known master of karate and kobudo (weaponry),[3] and was Pat Morita's martial arts stunt double in the first four Karate Kid movies.[4] Demura holds the rank of 9th dan in Shitō-ryū karate.[2]

Early life

Demura was born on September 15, 1938, in Yokohama, Japan.[2] At the age of 9, he began training in karate and kendo under an instructor named Asano.[2] At the age of 12 he started training under Ryusho Sakagami in Itosu-kai karate.[2] Demura received his 1st dan black belt in 1956,[2] and won the East Japan Championships in 1957.[2] In 1959, he began training in kobudo, a style of Okinawan weapons training, under the direction of Taira Shinken.[2][3] In 1963, 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.[4]

United States of America

In 1965, Demura came to the United States, representing the Japan Karate-do Itosu-kai.[2] From his base in southern California, he became well known for his karate and kobudo skills.[4] In 1971, he was ranked 5th dan,[5] and he remained at that rank until at least 1982.[6] Through the 1970s and 1980s, Demura wrote several martial arts books, including: Shito-Ryu Karate (1971),[7] Advanced nunchaku (1976, co-authored),[8] Tonfa: Karate weapon of self-defense (1982),[9] Nunchaku: Karate weapon of self-defense (1986),[10] Bo: Karate weapon of self-defense (1987),[11] and Sai: Karate weapon of self-defense (1987).[12]

In the 1980s, Demura became involved in the Karate Kid series of films.[4] He was the stunt double for Pat Morita, who played Mr. Miyagi.[4] Demura has appeared in several films and documentaries, including: The Warrior within (1976),[13] The Island of Dr. Moreau (1977), The Karate Kid (1984), The Karate Kid, Part III (1989),[14] Shootfighter: Fight to the death (1992),[15] Rising Sun (1993),[16] The Next Karate Kid (1994),[17] Masters of the martial arts (1998, presented by Wesley Snipes),[18] Mystic origins of the martial arts (1998),[19] Modern warriors (2002),[20] XMA: Xtreme Martial Arts (2003),[21] and Ninja (2009).[22]

In 1986, Demura was promoted to 7th dan in Shito-ryū karate.[2] In 2001, he was expelled from the Itosu-kai,[23] and became the Director of Shito-ryū Karate-do Genbu-kai.[2] In 2005, he was promoted to 9th dan.[2] He currently resides in Santa Ana, California.[24]

In October 2010, Demura performed for the Koyamada Foundation's United States Martial Arts Festival at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center in Redondo Beach, California.[25]

References

  1. ↑ "Sensei Fumio Demura". Retrieved 2015-09-19.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Japan Karate-Do Genbu-Kai International: Sensei Demura at a glance ... (c. 2007). Retrieved on March 3, 2010.
  3. 1 2 Clayton, B. D., Horowitz, R., & Pollard, E. (2004): Shotokan's secret: The hidden truth behind Karate's fighting origins (p. 108). Black Belt Books. (ISBN 978-0-8975-0144-6)
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 USA Dojo: Shihan Fumio Demura (c. 2009). Retrieved on March 3, 2010.
  5. ↑ Demura, F. (1971): Shito-Ryu Karate (p. 4). Burbank, CA: Ohara. (ISBN 978-0-8975-0005-0)
  6. ↑ Demura, F. (1982): Tonfa: Karate weapon of self-defense (p. 5). Burbank, CA: Ohara. (ISBN 978-0-8975-0080-7)
  7. ↑ Demura, F. (1971): Shito-Ryu Karate. Burbank, CA: Ohara. (ISBN 978-0-8975-0005-0)
  8. ↑ Demura, F., & Ivan, D. (1976): Advanced nunchaku. Burbank, CA: Ohara. (ISBN 978-0-8975-0021-0)
  9. ↑ Demura, F. (1982): Tonfa: Karate weapon of self-defense. Burbank, CA: Ohara. (ISBN 978-0-8975-0080-7)
  10. ↑ Demura, F. (1986): Nunchaku: Karate weapon of self-defense. Burbank, CA: Ohara. (ISBN 978-0-8975-0006-7)
  11. ↑ Demura, F. (1987): Bo: Karate weapon of self-defense. Burbank, CA: Ohara. (ISBN 978-0-8975-0019-7)
  12. ↑ Demura, F. (1987): Sai: Karate weapon of self-defense. Burbank, CA: Ohara. (ISBN 978-0-8975-0010-4)
  13. ↑ IMDb: The Warrior within (1976) – Full cast and crew Retrieved on March 4, 2010.
  14. ↑ IMDb: The Karate Kid, Part III (1989) – Full cast and crew Retrieved on March 3, 2010.
  15. ↑ IMDb: Shootfighter – Fight to the death (1992) – Full cast and crew Retrieved on March 4, 2010.
  16. ↑ IMDb: Rising Sun (1993) – Full cast and crew Retrieved on March 4, 2010.
  17. ↑ IMDb: The next Karate Kid (1994) – Full cast and crew Retrieved on March 4, 2010.
  18. ↑ IMDb: Masters of the martial arts (1998) Retrieved on March 4, 2010.
  19. ↑ IMDb: Mystic origins of the martial arts (1998) Retrieved on March 4, 2010.
  20. ↑ IMDb: Modern warriors (2002) Retrieved on March 4, 2010.
  21. ↑ IMDb: XMA – Xtreme Martial Arts (2003) Retrieved on March 4, 2010.
  22. ↑ IMDb: Ninja (2009) – Full cast and crew Retrieved on March 4, 2010.
  23. ↑ Karate World: Fumio Demura expelled from Itosu-kai (November 1, 2001). Retrieved on March 3, 2010.
  24. ↑ Demura, F. (2006): Fumio Demura resume (June 6, 2006). Retrieved on March 3, 2010.
  25. ↑ "@The Filme Files SHIN KOYAMADA’S INAUGURAL UNITED STATES MARTIAL ARTS FESTIVAL by Dr. Craig Reid".

External links

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