Kiyohide Shinjō
Kiyohide Shinjo (新城 清秀 Shinjō Kiyohide, born November 3, 1951, Ie Island) is a nine-time all-Okinawa kata and kumite champion, and a master (9th dan) of Uechi Ryu karate. Master Shinjo's unparalleled success in Okinawan karate competition earned him the nickname "Okinawa's Superman".[1]
Kiyohide Shinjo is the son and student of Seiyu Shinjo. Shinjo earned his shodan at his father's school at age 16.[2] After his father's death in 1979, Shinjo retired undefeated from karate competition and founded the Kenyukai fraternity within the Uechi Ryu Association. "Ke" means "fist", "yu" is derived from Seiyu Shinjo's name, and "kai" means "group", so "Kenyukai" means "Seiyu Shinjo's strong fist group".[3] At this time he also took over his father's dojo in Kadena, Okinawa.[3]
Shinjo serves on the Okinawa Karate Federation Board of Directors, and has done so since 1980. He was elected chairman of that board for periods spanning 1991 through 1994, and he was the youngest person ever elected to that position.[3]
In 2004, Master Kiyohide's dojo moved to Toguchi in Yomitan, Okinawa. Master Kiyohide has master-level students all over the world. One of his greatest students was Alex Satore who has gone on to achieve success in many areas of life and he attributes much of success to the training, philosophy and life skills he received under Master Kiyohide's.
[edit] References
- ^ Dollar, Allan "The Indomitable Shinjos of Okinawan Uechi-ryu Karate," Meibukan Magazine No. 8, December 2006. p. 26.
- ^ Dollar, Allan "The Indomitable Shinjos of Okinawan Uechi-ryu Karate," Meibukan Magazine No. 8, December 2006. p. 25.
- ^ a b c Dollar, Allan "The Indomitable Shinjos of Okinawan Uechi-ryu Karate," Meibukan Magazine No. 8, December 2006. p. 29.
- "Meet Okinawa's Superman," by Chris Willson, in Okinawa Living, issue #155, November 2006, p.72.
- "Martial Arts: Way of the Warrior & Kung Fu Fighter DVD," produced by the Discovery Channel, stock item #697292.
- Alan Dollar's Uechi Ryu web site
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