Edward 'Bobby' Lowe was a prominent Chinese American

Chinese American

Chinese Americans represent Americans of Chinese descent. Chinese Americans constitute one group of overseas Chinese and also a subgroup of East Asian Americans, which is further a subgroup of Asian Americans...

 master

Grandmaster (martial arts)

Grandmaster and Master are titles used to describe or address some senior or experienced martial artists. Such titles may be, to some extent, aligned to the elderly martial arts master stock character in fiction...

 of Kyokushin karate. He was the first uchi deshi (live-in student) of Masutatsu Oyama, founder of Kyokushin karate, and established the first Kyokushin school outside Japan. Lowe held the title of "Shihan" and was the Senior Instructor and an International Committee Chairman of the International Karate Organization

International Karate Organization

The International Karate Organization was founded by Mas Oyama in Japan. Its purpose is to promote and teach the Kyokushin Way around the globe...

 founded by Oyama.

Early life

Lowe was born on August 23, 1929. His father was a teacher of sil lum pai kung fu, and taught this art to his son. The young Lowe also studied judo

Judo

is a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an...

 under Seishiro Okazaki

Seishiro Okazaki

Seishiro "Henry" Okazaki was a Japanese American healer, martial artist, and founder of Danzan Ryu jujitsu....

 before studying kempo karate under James Mitose

James Mitose

James Masayoshi Mitose James Masayoshi Mitose James Masayoshi Mitose (born Masayoshi Mitose, (December 30, 1916 — March 26, 1981) was a Japanese American martial artist who brought the art of Kenpo to the United States starting in the late 1930s....

. At 23 years of age, he was ranked 4th dan in judo, 2nd dan in Kosho-ryu kempo, and 1st dan in Yoshinkai aikido

Aikido

is a Japanese martial art developed by Morihei Ueshiba as a synthesis of his martial studies, philosophy, and religious beliefs. Aikido is often translated as "the Way of unifying life energy" or as "the Way of harmonious spirit." Ueshiba's goal was to create an art that practitioners could use to...

.

Kyokushin karate

Lowe first met Oyama at a demonstration the latter gave in 1952 in Hawaii. From late 1952 to early 1954, Lowe trained daily under Oyama. Oyama promoted him to the rank of 1st dan in 1953. In 1957 in Hawaii, Lowe opened the first Kyokushin dojo (training hall) outside Japan. Oyama promoted him to 4th dan in or before 1957, 5th dan in 1965, 7th dan in December 1976, and 8th dan in October 1984.

Lowe wrote three books on his martial art:

• Mas Oyama's karate as practiced in Japan (1954)
• The 'Young Lions' of Mas Oyama's Kyokushin karate headquarters (1985)
• Kyokushin karate: Self-defense techniques (1999)

Later life

On September 17, 2005, Lowe was recognized for his contributions to karate by the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii, at the Celebration of Lifetime Achievement dinner for 2005. Lowe was ranked 8th dan, and was the International Committee Chairman for North America and the South Pacific in the International Karate Organization

International Karate Organization

The International Karate Organization was founded by Mas Oyama in Japan. Its purpose is to promote and teach the Kyokushin Way around the globe...

 led by Shokei Matsui

Shokei Matsui

, also known by his Korean name of Moon Jang Gyu , is a master of Kyokushin karate and current Kancho of one faction of the International Karate Organization founded by Mas Oyama ....

.

On September 14, 2011, Lowe died peacefully in hospital in Honolulu. He was survived by his wife, daughter, and son. Lowe was posthumously awarded 10th dan ranking by Matsui on November 6, 2011, during a memorial service at the 10th World Tournament.