In April 1975, Michie and I visited with Shimabuku Tatsuo Sensei and Mrs. Shimabuku at his home in Agena, Gushikawa City, Okinawa..
When my Michie and I visited, I told Shimabuku Sensei that several Americans had stated that they had come to study with him but that Kichiro only introduced them to him. I said that Bill Duessel came in 1974 and Kichiro again only introduced him and that Bill Duessel had wanted to train with him.
At this moment, Mrs. Shimabuku admonished Tatsuo. " I told you' she said," you should have taught them, they come to see you, not Kichiro" Mrs. Shimabuku said. I was in stunned, it was the first time I ever heard Mrs. Shimabuku scold Tatsuo.
Tatsuo then said," Tell anyone else, if they come to Okinawa I will personally teach them."
During the same visit, Tatsuo told me that Kichiro was not talking to him. The reason Tatsuo said that he had rented some of the Agena dojo to a weight lifter. The weight lifter had set his weights up in part of the dojo. Sensei said Kichiro came in and saw the weights and asked his father what were these weights doing in the dojo. Sensei said that he was renting out this space because the dojo was only used in the evenings and didn't take up too much space plus he would make a little extra money.
According to Tatsuo Sensei, Kichiro blew up and and said he couldn't do this and that he, Kichiro needed the space. Tatsuo said that this was his home which was also the old Isshin-ryū Karate honbu dojo. Kichiro lived in a new house in Kinaka (Chan village). Tatsuo Sensei wanted to make a little money from renting space he wasn’t using. Kichiro ignored his fathers wishes and had all the weights removed and piled them up in a corner. The weight lifter came in the next day and got angry that his weights were moved and then left with his weights. Tatsuo naturally, lost the income from the weight lifter. So much for your home is your castle.
Shimabuku Tatsuo Sensei said that Kaneshi Eiko, his right hand man had also left because of Kichiro. Tatsuo Sensei said that Kaneshi Eiko and other heads of other dojos had planned to have a demonstration to honor him and also to celebrate the anniversary of Isshin-ryu. They had arranged a meeting and planned the demonstration but Kichiro got mad and said they could not have the demonstration. Tatsuo Sensei backed Kaneshi Eiko and Kichiro again angrily said they couldn't hold the demo and said he was the head of Isshin-ryu and that was that!
In the last interview, Tatsuo Sensei said, Kichiro was going to open the new dojo at Kinaka on May 1975 (I'm not sure of the date). I asked Tatsuo Sensei if he was going to the Grand opening. Sensei said no. He wasn't invited. At the Grand opening of the Kinaka dojo, Tatsuo said, Kichiro was going to now officially claim he was the head of all Isshin-ryu.
I told Tatsuo sensei, "You are the head of all Isshin-ryū. You are my sensei. All the Americans follow you, not Kichiro. You should be there at the Grand opening." I then continued and said," I'll take you."
The day of the opening, I drove to the Kinaka dojo along with two of my students, Robert Embesie, Cyrus Bess and a friend of Embesie's. I then went to pick up Shimabuku Sensei at his home in Agena and brought him to New Kinaka dojo. Kichiro did not know Tatsuo Sensei was coming. All present paid respects to Tatsuo Sensei and Kichiro was demoralized.
A promotion exam was held with candidates free fighting and doing kata. Ceremonies were held, speeches made, and a photo session held. Kichiro asked me and my students to participate but I fibbed and told him we didn't have karate gi's. I did not want to be a part of his event where Kichiro was proclaiming he was the head of Isshin-ryū. I only wanted Shimabuku Tatsuo Sensei to still be acknowledged as the head of Isshin-ryū and I was there along with my two students, Robert Embesei and Cyrus Bess to show and support Shimabuku Tatsuo Sensei as the head of our style..
‘’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’
In April 1975, Michie and I visited with Shimabuku Tatsuo Sensei and Mrs. Shimabuku at his home in Agena, Gushikawa City, Okinawa..
When my Michie and I visited, I told Shimabuku Sensei that several Americans had stated that they had come to study with him but that Kichiro only introduced them to him. I said that Bill Duessel came in 1974 and Kichiro again only introduced him and that Bill Duessel had wanted to train with him.
At this moment, Mrs. Shimabuku admonished Tatsuo. " I told you' she said," you should have taught them, they come to see you, not Kichiro" Mrs. Shimabuku said. I was in stunned, it was the first time I ever heard Mrs. Shimabuku scold Tatsuo.
Tatsuo then said," Tell anyone else, if they come to Okinawa I will personally teach them."
During the same visit, Tatsuo told me that Kichiro was not talking to him. The reason Tatsuo said that he had rented some of the Agena dojo to a weight lifter. The weight lifter had set his weights up in part of the dojo. Sensei said Kichiro came in and saw the weights and asked his father what were these weights doing in the dojo. Sensei said that he was renting out this space because the dojo was only used in the evenings and didn't take up too much space plus he would make a little extra money.
According to Tatsuo Sensei, Kichiro blew up and and said he couldn't do this and that he, Kichiro needed the space. Tatsuo said that this was his home which was also the old Isshin-ryū Karate honbu dojo. Kichiro lived in a new house in Kinaka (Chan village). Tatsuo Sensei wanted to make a little money from renting space he wasn’t using. Kichiro ignored his fathers wishes and had all the weights removed and piled them up in a corner. The weight lifter came in the next day and got angry that his weights were moved and then left with his weights. Tatsuo naturally, lost the income from the weight lifter. So much for your home is your castle.
Shimabuku Tatsuo Sensei said that Kaneshi Eiko, his right hand man had also left because of Kichiro. Tatsuo Sensei said that Kaneshi Eiko and other heads of other dojos had planned to have a demonstration to honor him and also to celebrate the anniversary of Isshin-ryu. They had arranged a meeting and planned the demonstration but Kichiro got mad and said they could not have the demonstration. Tatsuo Sensei backed Kaneshi Eiko and Kichiro again angrily said they couldn't hold the demo and said he was the head of Isshin-ryu and that was that!
In the last interview, Tatsuo Sensei said, Kichiro was going to open the new dojo at Kinaka on May 1975 (I'm not sure of the date). I asked Tatsuo Sensei if he was going to the Grand opening. Sensei said no. He wasn't invited. At the Grand opening of the Kinaka dojo, Tatsuo said, Kichiro was going to now officially claim he was the head of all Isshin-ryu.
I told Tatsuo sensei, "You are the head of all Isshin-ryū. You are my sensei. All the Americans follow you, not Kichiro. You should be there at the Grand opening." I then continued and said," I'll take you."
The day of the opening, I drove to the Kinaka dojo along with two of my students, Robert Embesie, Cyrus Bess and a friend of Embesie's. I then went to pick up Shimabuku Sensei at his home in Agena and brought him to New Kinaka dojo. Kichiro did not know Tatsuo Sensei was coming. All present paid respects to Tatsuo Sensei and Kichiro was demoralized.
A promotion exam was held with candidates free fighting and doing kata. Ceremonies were held, speeches made, and a photo session held. Kichiro asked me and my students to participate but I fibbed and told him we didn't have karate gi's. I did not want to be a part of his event where Kichiro was proclaiming he was the head of Isshin-ryū. I only wanted Shimabuku Tatsuo Sensei to still be acknowledged as the head of Isshin-ryū and I was there along with my two students, Robert Embesei and Cyrus Bess to show and support Shimabuku Tatsuo Sensei as the head of our style..
……………………………………………………………………………………..
August 29, 1997
Inteview with Taira Kazu, August 29, 1997
Location: Harbor Hotel, Tairagawa, Gushikawa Shi, Okinawa
The interview was set up by Tokumura Kensho a friend of Taira Kazuo.
During the interview, Taira Kazu stated that he had trained with "Chan Migwa" at the Agricultural High School Karate Club located at the time in Kadena, from 1941 to 1943.
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