Seikichi Iha
Encyclopedia
was born in Nishihara City
, Okinawa
. Iha is an Okinawan martial artist
who trains in the Shorin-ryū
Shidō-kan style of Karate
. Iha is currently the Director of the North American Beikoku Shido-kan Karate-do Association and the highest ranking Okinawan master in the United States.
accepted him as a student. Iha trained under Gusukuma four years, until Gusukuma's death in 1954. After Gusukuma's death, Katsuya Miyahira
accepted him as a student. By 1963 he had achieved the rank of 5th Dan
. Shortly after, Miyahira sent him to the Philippine Islands to be an instructor where he spent roughly eleven months, after his return to Okinawa he was promoted to rank of 6th Dan and he began instructing the U.S. Marines stationed at Futenma, Okinawa. In 1967, after receiving another promotion to the rank of 7th Dan, he was sent to Los Angeles, California
to instruct there. In September 1978, he was once again promoted to the rank of 8th Dan. On March 12, 1989, he was promoted to the rank of 9th Dan, making him the highest ranking Okinawan master residing in the United States
. On March 25, 2001, Iha was awarded his final promotion to date by Miyahira Katsuya, awarding him the rank of 10th Dan.
on Olympic Blvd with two other 7th Dans. A year later, Iha separated from this dojo and created his own Shidokan Karate Dojo, located on West Pico Blvd in Los Angeles.
In 1974, Harold Armour, a senior student of Tadashi Yamashita (of Kobayashi Shorin-ryū), invited Iha to lead a dojo at Michigan State University
in East Lansing, Michigan
. Together with Toshiyuki Itokazu (of Uechi-ryū), Iha moved to Michigan and opened the Original Okinawa Karate dojo. In 1976, Iha relocated the dojo to its current location on East Michigan Avenue in Lansing, Michigan
. That year, Iha also formed the Beikoku Shido-kan Association. Shorin-ryū Shidō-kan is now the sole style of karate taught at the Original Okinawa Karate dojo.
Nishihara, Okinawa
is a town located in Nakagami District, Okinawa, Japan.As of 2008, the town has an estimated population of 34,869 and a density of 2,201 persons per km²...
, Okinawa
Okinawa Prefecture
is one of Japan's southern prefectures. It consists of hundreds of the Ryukyu Islands in a chain over long, which extends southwest from Kyūshū to Taiwan. Okinawa's capital, Naha, is located in the southern part of Okinawa Island...
. Iha is an Okinawan martial artist
Martial arts
Martial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....
who trains in the Shorin-ryū
Shorin-Ryu
is one of the major modern Okinawan martial arts. It was founded by Choshin Chibana in 1933. Shōrin-ryū combines elements of the traditional Okinawan fighting styles of Shuri-te.-History:Chosin Chibana was a top student of the great master of shuri-te, Anko Itosu...
Shidō-kan style of Karate
Karate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
. Iha is currently the Director of the North American Beikoku Shido-kan Karate-do Association and the highest ranking Okinawan master in the United States.
Martial arts training
Iha's first martial arts training was under his uncle. In 1950 Shinpan GusukumaShinpan Gusukuma
, also known as Shinpan Shiroma by the Japanese, was an Okinawan martial artist who studied Shōrin-ryū karate as a student of Ankō Itosu. Gusukuma also trained under Higaonna Kanryō in the Naha-te style. Gusukuma went on to establish Shitō-ryū with Kenwa Mabuni....
accepted him as a student. Iha trained under Gusukuma four years, until Gusukuma's death in 1954. After Gusukuma's death, Katsuya Miyahira
Katsuya Miyahira
was an Okinawan martial artist who was the grand master of the Shorin-ryu Shido-kan style of Okinawan Karate and the president of the Okinawa Shorin-ryu Karate Association. He is ranked Hanshi, 10th Dan. Miyahira created the Shido-kan branch of Kobayashi Shorin-ryu after the death of his teacher,...
accepted him as a student. By 1963 he had achieved the rank of 5th Dan
Dan rank
The ranking system is a Japanese mark of level, which is used in modern fine arts and martial arts. Originally invented in a Go school in the Edo period, this system was applied to martial arts by Kanō Jigorō, the founder of judo and later introduced to other East Asia countries.In the modern...
. Shortly after, Miyahira sent him to the Philippine Islands to be an instructor where he spent roughly eleven months, after his return to Okinawa he was promoted to rank of 6th Dan and he began instructing the U.S. Marines stationed at Futenma, Okinawa. In 1967, after receiving another promotion to the rank of 7th Dan, he was sent to Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
to instruct there. In September 1978, he was once again promoted to the rank of 8th Dan. On March 12, 1989, he was promoted to the rank of 9th Dan, making him the highest ranking Okinawan master residing in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. On March 25, 2001, Iha was awarded his final promotion to date by Miyahira Katsuya, awarding him the rank of 10th Dan.
Dojo
After teaching at the American-Okinawan Club for five months in 1967, Iha opened the Shureikan Dojo in Los Angeles, CaliforniaLos Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
on Olympic Blvd with two other 7th Dans. A year later, Iha separated from this dojo and created his own Shidokan Karate Dojo, located on West Pico Blvd in Los Angeles.
In 1974, Harold Armour, a senior student of Tadashi Yamashita (of Kobayashi Shorin-ryū), invited Iha to lead a dojo at Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
in East Lansing, Michigan
East Lansing, Michigan
East Lansing is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located directly east of Lansing, Michigan, the state's capital. Most of the city is within Ingham County, though a small portion lies in Clinton County. The population was 48,579 at the time of the 2010 census, an increase from...
. Together with Toshiyuki Itokazu (of Uechi-ryū), Iha moved to Michigan and opened the Original Okinawa Karate dojo. In 1976, Iha relocated the dojo to its current location on East Michigan Avenue in Lansing, Michigan
Lansing, Michigan
Lansing is the capital of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located mostly in Ingham County, although small portions of the city extend into Eaton County. The 2010 Census places the city's population at 114,297, making it the fifth largest city in Michigan...
. That year, Iha also formed the Beikoku Shido-kan Association. Shorin-ryū Shidō-kan is now the sole style of karate taught at the Original Okinawa Karate dojo.