 |
Sukon "Bushi" Matsumura
Bushi Matsumura was born in 1797, and died in 1889. According to some sources, Bushi's family name was Kiyo (Kayo). Matsumura grew up in Yamagawa village of the city of Shuri, Okinawa. He was partly Chinese. Sakugawa began training Bushi at Akata when he was 14 years old, in 1810. According to tradition, it was at Bushi's father's request that Sakugawa teach him. Some say that to train Bushi to block, Sakugawa tied to him to a tree so he could not move. Then he threw punches at him.
Sakugawa trained him up until his death, and then Sokon was probably on his own for a while. According to oral history, he studied under Sakugawa for 4 years.
Bushi was recruited into the service of the Sho family. At that time, Sho Ko, the king of Okinawa, desired to have him change his last name, as was the custom, and suggested the name Muramatsu (Muramachi), or "village pine." After discussing the matter with some friends and relatives, he decided that Matsumura (Machimura), or "pine village", would be more appropriate. Sokon asked the king to let him change the name to that, and the request was granted. Some say this happened at age 17, which would probably put it around 1813.
Many sources say that Bushi Matsumura trained in China, and it is certainly a strong
tradition. Hohan Soken said that Bushi trained at "Fukien Shaolin" for 26 years and some months. We do not know for sure of his length of time spent in China. We do know that he spent at least 20 years there from the records that were kept for the Okinawan King.
Some prominent students of Bushi Matsumura were Yasutsune Itosu and Chotoku Kyan, although there were many more. Itosu's head student and successor was Chosin Chibana, who formed Kobayashi Shorin-Ryu from Itosu's version of Shuri-Te. Kyan's students formed Shobayashi Shorin-ryu from his personal brand of Shuri-te. Another student of Itosu was Gichin Funakoshi, the founder of Shotokan. Once in a while, Itosu would take him to study under Bushi Matsumura. He was also a student of Azato, a Shorei-Ryu master.
Yastune "Anko" Itosu
Yasutsune "Anko" Itosu ( "Anko," means 'horse,' and referred to the horse stance at which Itosu was superb in demonstrating ) was an educator in Shuri, a south city in Okinawa. Itosu was born in 1830 into a shizoku, or noble family. He became an educator, but was also a learned master of karate. From Itosu came the Pinon katas, which are our first five Butokukan katas. These katas were stated by one source as coming from the Kusanku kata, before it was broken down into Sho ( lesser ) and Dai ( greater ). However, another source says that Itosu learned a form from a Chinese man, and the form was called "Chiang Nan" or ( Channan in Okinawan pronunciation ) from which he produced the Pinon katas.
Itosu taught anyone who wanted to learn, in contrast to some of the other masters, who would not permit a student to learn from more than one teacher. According to Gichin Funakoshi, student of Itosu and founder of Shotokan karate, Itosu was of average height, with a great round chest like a beer barrel. Despite his long moustache, he rather had the look of a well-behaved child. Itosu was so well trained that his entire body seemed to be invulnerable. Once, as he was about to enter a restaurant in Naha ( near Shuri), a sturdy young man attacked him from the rear, aiming a blow at his side. But Itosu, without even turning, hardened the muscles of his stomach so that the blow glanced off his body, and at the very same instant his right hand grasped the right wrist of his assailant. Still without turning his head, he calmly dragged the man inside the restaurant.
There, he ordered the frightened waitresses to bring food and wine. Still holding the man's
wrist with his right hand, he took a sip of the wine from the cup that he held in his left hand, then pulled his assailant around in front of him and for the first time had a look at him. After a moment, he smiled and said, "I don't know what your grudge against me could be, but let's have a drink together!" The young man's astonishment at this behavior can easily be imagined.
Itosu had another famous encounter with a rash young man, this one the karate instructor of a certain Okinawan school. Belligerent by nature and full of pride at his strength, the youth had the rather unpleasant habit of lurking in dark lanes, and when a lonely walker happened to come strolling by, he would lash out at the poor soul. So self-confident did he finally become that he decided to take on Itosu himself, believing that, no matter how powerful the master was, he could be beaten if set upon unawares.
One night, he followed Itosu down the street and, after a stealthy approach, aimed his strongest punch at the master's back. Bewildered by the quite evident fact that he had made no impression whatsoever, the young bully lost his balance and at that same instant felt his right wrist caught in a viselike grip. Now Itosu had very strong hands, able to crush a thick bamboo stem in his bare hand, as attested by Funakoshi himself. The youth now tried to free himself with his other hand, but of course he did not succeed. Itosu now walked on, hauling the other behind him without even bothering to look back. Realizing that he had failed completely, the young man begged the master's forgiveness. "But who are you?" Itosu asked softly.
"I'm Goro," replied the youth. Now Itosu looked at him for the first time. "Ah," he murmured, "you really shouldn't try to play such tricks on an old man like me," With that, he let go and strolled away.
Another time was from a well-known incident when Itosu was set upon by a group of young thugs, but before long the hoodlums were all lying unconscious in the street. An eyewitness, seeing that Itosu was in no danger, rushed off to tell Itosu's friend Azato what had transpired. Interrupting his account, Azato said, "And the ruffians, of course, were all lying unconscious, with their faces to the ground, were they not?" Much surprised, the witness admitted that that was true, but he wondered how Azato could have known. "Very simple," replied the master. "No karate adept would be so cowardly as to attack from the rear. And should someone unfamiliar with karate attack from the front, he would end up flat on his back. But I know Itosu; his punches would knock his assailants down on their faces. I would be quite astonished if any of them survive.
Here is an excerpt from a Shitokai website on Itosu:
http://www.shitokai.com/itosu.php
Born in Shuri, Okinawa, Itosu trained under karate greats Sokon “Bushi”Matsumura and Kosaku Matsumora. His good friend Yasutsune Azato recommended him to the position of secretary to the king of the Ryukyu Islands. He was famous for the superior strength of his arms, legs and hands. Itosu was said to have even walked in the horse stance (from which he received his nickname, Anko). Itosu supposedly was easily able to defeat Azato in arm wrestling. Itosu had very strong hands and could crush a thick stalk of bamboo with his vice-like grip. It is said that he walked past the imperial tombs everyday and would practice his punches against the stone walls that lined the road. Itosu believed that the body should be trained to withstand the hardest of blows.
Describing the art in his own words: "Karate means not only to develop one's physical strength but to learn how to defend oneself. Be helpful to all people and never fight against one person. Never try to strike if possible. even when taken unawares, as perhaps meeting a robber or a deranged person. Never face others with fists and feet. As you practice karate, try to open your eyes brightly and keep your shoulders down, stiffen your body as if you are on the battleground. Imagine that you are facing the enemy when you practice the punching or blocking techniques. Soon you will find your own striking performance. Always concentrate attention around you. A man of character will avoid any quarrels and loves peace. Thus the more a karateka practices the more modest he should be with others. This is the true karateka."
Below is a letter written by Itosu Sensei in October of 1908. This letter preceded the introduction of karate to Okinawan schools and eventually to the Japanese mainland.
Tode did not develop from the way of Buddhism or Confucianism. In the recent past Shorin-ryu and Shorei-ryu were brought over from China. They both have similar strong points, so, before there are too many changes, I should like to write these down.
1. Tode is primarily for the benefit of health. In order to protect one's parents or one's master, it is proper to attack a foe regardless of one's own life. Never attack a lone adversary. If one meets a villain or a ruffian one should not use tode but simply parry and step aside.
2. The purpose of tode is to make the body hard like stones and iron; hands and feet should be used like the points of arrows, hearts should be strong and brave. If children were to practice tode from their elementary-school days, they would be well prepared for military service. When Wellington and Napoleon met they discussed the point that tomorrow's victory will come from today's playground'.
3. Tode cannot be learned quickly. Like a slow moving bull, that eventually walks a thousand miles, if one studies seriously every day, in three or four years one will understand what tode is about. The very shape of one's bones will change.
Those who study as follows will discover the essence of tode:
4. In tode the hands and feet are important so they should be trained thoroughly on the makiwara. In so doing drop your shoulders, open your lungs, take hold of your strength, grip the floor with your feet and sink your intrinsic energy to your lower abdomen. Practice with each arm one or two hundred times.
5. When practicing tode stances make sure your back is straight, drop your shoulders, take your strength and put it in your legs, stand firmly and put the intrinsic energy in your lower abdomen, the top and bottom of which must be held together tightly.
6. The external techniques of tode should be practiced, one by one, many times. Because these techniques are passed on by word of mouth, take the trouble to learn the explanations and decide when and in what context it would be possible to use them. Go in, counter, release; is the rule of torite.
7. You must decide whether tode is for cultivating a healthy body or for enhancing your duty.
8. During practice you should imagine you are on the battle field. When blocking and striking make the eyes glare, drop the shoulders and harden the body. Now block the enemy's punch and strike! Always practice with this spirit so that, when on the real battlefield, you will naturally be prepared.
9. Do not overexert yourself during practice because the intrinsic energy will rise up, your face and eyes will turn red and your body will be harmed. Be careful.
10. In the past many of those who have mastered tode have lived to an old age. This is because tode aids the development of the bones and sinews, it helps the digestive organs and is good for the circulation of the blood. Therefore, from now on, tode should become the foundation of all sports lessons from elementary schools onward. If this is put into practice there will, I think, be many men who can win against ten aggressors.
The reason for stating all this is that it is my opinion that all students at the Okinawa Prefectural Teachers' Training College should practice tode, so that when they graduate from here they can teach the children in the schools exactly as I have taught them. Within ten years tode will spread all over Okinawa and to the Japanese mainland. This will be a great asset to our militaristic society. I hope you will carefully study the words I have written here."
Kenwa Mabuni
The founder (Ryuso) of karate-do Shito-ryu, Kenwa Mabuni was born on November 14, 1889 in Shuri, Okinawa. He belonged to the 17th generation from one of the bravest warriors of Ryukyu kingdom Kenio Oshiro. Kenwa Mabuni himself was a physically weak child; however, his family members often told him stories about his famous ancestors and he dreamed of becoming physically controlling. At the age of 13, Kenwa was accepted as a student at the school of the famous karate-do master Anko Itosu, who lived in Shuri. Kenwa Mabuni trained every day, even during typhoons, and within seven years he learned the art of Shuri-karate or Shuri-te.
When Kenwa Mabuni was 20 years old, he began to study the art of Naha-karate or Naha-te with the Grandmaster Kanryo Higaonna. Later both of these major directions of karate-do of Okinawa formed a basis for Shito-ryu karate-do style created by Kenwa Mabuni.
After graduating high school and and being discharged from the army Kenwa Mabuni worked in the police for about 10 years. His job required him to visit different parts of the country and he had an opportunity to study other forms of karate-do with little-known local masters. He also studied the ancient art of Ryokan Budo.
The beginning of the 20th century has become a period of a wide spread of Karate-Do. In
1910 it was included in the school program as a separate subject, which meant the official recognition of Karate-Do. But the Karate-Do education still lacked the system. The majority of masters paid most attention to the physical training of body, wrists, elbows and fingers, using Makiwara and sandbags. There was no standard karate-do uniform, as it exists now.
During these years Kenwa Mabuni began his teaching activity. Together with his master, Mabuni created school of Karate-Do for the study of this martial art. On February 13, 1918 his senior son Kenei was born. The same year Kenwa Mabuni started to popularize Karate-Do and many well-known masters helped him. He organized meetings in his house which were attended by Gichin Funakoshi, Choju Oshiro, Choshin Chibana, Shinbun Tokuda, Shimpan Shiroma, Seicho Tokuumura and Hoko Ishikawa. Besides, in 1918 he had the honor to demonstrate Karate-Do at the Okinawa Middle School in the presence of Prince Kuni and Prince Kacho.
In 1924 Kenwa Mabuni became the Karate-Do instructor in two schools and received the honor to demonstrate the Art for Prince Titibu.
In 1925 Kenwa Mabuni, with other masters organized "Okinawan Karate-Do Club", which brought to life his old dream of establishing a permanent training dojo. Many famous Karate-Do leaders like Juhatsu Kyoda, Chojun Miyagi, C. Motobu, 
Chomo Hanashiro, Choju Oshiro, Choshin Chibana, Wu Xian Gui(Go Kenki) - the master of Chinese-ken trained in this first dojo. Kenwa Mabuni and Chojun Miyagi became the permanent instructors of the club as the youngest members.
At this time instructors concentrated on physical training and kumite practice. When a student asked the teacher to explain something, the teacher gave him an opportunity to attack him and answered by demonstrating various defense techniques. The training was just a continuous practicing of the same techniques. All masters had varying techniques but the main teaching method was the same - practical trainings.
 | Yun Pon Gun, who had previously studied the Korean martial arts, learned from students of Kenwa Mabuni. The Korean martial arts probably first appeared during the Koguryo Dynasty (founded in 37 BC). During the Han Dynasty, the Chinese invaded Northern Korea, and colonized it. As a result, the Koreans were exposed to the northern styles ofChuan Fa (noted for their strong kicks). The Korean martial arts developed greatly during the Silla Dynasty (668 to 935 AD), when the nobility actively studied and developedHwarang-Do as a fighting art. With their martial skill, the warriors of Silla were able to unify Korea through conquest. After the decline of the Silla Dynasty, the Korean martial arts were still actively studied but the name was changed to Subak. The name Tae Kwon Dowas not adopted until 1955 (soon afterward the name Tang Soo Do also appeared). |
Yun Pon Gun’s business brought him to a village in Southern Wakayama called Kushimoto. Singe Gun was coming all the way from Osaka (where he lived), he came about once a month, leaving the work to his assistants the rest of the time. Soon Gun and the other Koreans began teaching martial arts to the locals (probably to establish a network there). The name which came to be associated with this system was Shinpuren (which means, "Continuous Divine Wind" in Japanese). However, the original meaning if the name may have been different since it was from Korean.Shinpuren was a word often overheard by the students when the Koreans were talking and did not become an official name for the system until later on. In Kushimoto, Shinpuren was not any sort of political organization, however, there was a counter-revolutionary movement in the southern Japanese city of Kumamoto which used the name Shinpuren in 1877. This group was involved in assassinations and a minor military coup in order to expel all western influences and to restore the power of the emperor (Sonno Joi). Training in Kushimoto was done outdoors, often at night in the nearby mountains, or at the beach, and involved a lot of stretching, high kicking drills, throws, basic weapons training (using home-made Nunchaku, Bo, wooden Sai, and wooden Kama) and Kata. During this period, there were about 20 Kata, however, training was sporadic since only Gun taught it and he only came once a month. In 1944, Yoichi Nakachi (then aged 12) began studying with Yon Pon Gun. In 1945, the American Occupational Government (SCAP) outlawed the practice of the martial arts to dispel the militaristic attitude of the Japanese people. However, the practice of Shinpuren continued in secret until the ban was lifted in 1948. In 1950, the Koreans left Kushimoto and closed down their operation. Since Master Nakachi had run some of the workouts for Yon Pon Gun, he became the head instructor. It is unclear what happened to Yun Pon Gun.
Soke Yoichi Nakachi
In 1944, Yoichi Nakachi at the age of 12, started studying karate under Yon Pon Gun. In 1948, when the ban on martial arts was lifted, the open practice of Shinpu-ren resumed. By this time, at the age of 16, Nakachi had his 2nd degree black belt . Because of business, Gun often visited the small fishing village of Kushimoto, Nakachi's home town. This was during the ban on Japanese budo (martial arts), enacted by the American military government under General MacArthur (1945 - 1948). In spite of this ban, Nakachi and his schoolmates continued to study martial arts in secret under the instruction of Yon Pon Gun and several other Koreans in the Kushimoto area. Due to the economic hardships of the post-war period, the practice of the martial arts took place outdoors, either in the surrounding mountains, in open fields, or on the beaches near the Kushimoto area, since a "dojo" was a luxury that people could not afford. This meant that training was often interrupted by rain or darkness. The small group of students with which Nakachi trained, and in 1950 came to lead, was made up of a small group of high school students. These seven or eight students would get together after school to practice what Yon Pon Gun had shown them on his last visit to Kushimoto. The outdoor classes were usually done in their school uniforms and consisted of kumite and kicking drills, as well as some weapons training. In 1950, Yon Pon Gun and the other Koreans stopped going to Kushimoto, and since Yon Pon Gun had left for Korea, Nakachi took over the group, as he was "sempai" (senior student). In 1959, Sensei Nakachi came to the United States (age 27), to study at the University of Washington, under a college scholarship in philosophy, supported by the Tenri-ko religion. He started to teach karate in the University District, when he found there was more of a desire to learn it than judo ( which he also knew ). In 1961, Nakachi switched studies to Olympic College in Bremerton, and started to teach at the "Y" in downtown Seattle (5 nights a week). He taught at a health club in the downtown area as well. Olympic College asked him to teach classes for 4 days a week. Master Nakachi studied during the day, taught at Olympic College 4 times a week, and taught at night at the YMCA 5 times a week. Master Nakachi quit school and did this whole routine for 2 years, before teaching at night only. It was during this time Master Nakachi met Bruce Lee (1962), and they shared and exchanged many ideas about the martial arts. It was Master Nakachi that suggested to Lee that he try the nunchaku, since it was less cumbersome than the three-sectional staff. In 1963, Shihan Yoichi Nakachi changed the name, crest and katas from Shinpu-ren to Butokukan. The new crest shows the white fist coming head-on, with the red master ring around it. For more information on the crest, Click Here. The older Shinpu-ren crest originally showed an upright fist, similar to a Goju-ryu crest. From 1963-64, the school was still small. In April of 1965, Shihan Nakachi staged the first open Butokukan tournament, which also encompassed Armstrong's Isshin-Ryu, and Bill Ruter's Goju-Ryu. In May of 1965, Shihan Nakachi had to leave to return to Japan. Before he left, he made Sensei Robert Hill Nidan ( 2nd degree Black Belt ), and gave over the reins for Butokukan in North America. In 1967, Shihan Hill re-established the classes at Olympic college, and they are still being taught there by his students. Soke Nakachi , on his return to Japan in 1965 found that his Shinpu-ren black belts from before he left Japan had dispersed and were inactive. He began to teach and ascended some students to Shodan, but after he moved to Tokyo, they too, went Soke Nakachi passed away in 1998, almost a year after his dear beloved wife died from an prolonged illness. It was well known by Shihan Hill and other high ranking Butokukan black belts that he would not venture over to North America to visit the fruits of Butokukan, simply because he needed to go each day to the Japanese cemetery where his wife's grave lay, to visit her. This was just a reflection of the dedication that our master had, and had exhibited in the study of karate. Reflection:
I hope this helps you know my instructor, Master Yoichi Nakachi. |
Grandmaster Robert Hill
Meet Soke Hill. He is 6 ft. 5 in. tall and weighs 210 pounds.
Soke Hill first became interested in karate when his brother showed him some techniques of Tae Known Do that he learned in the army while in Korea.
Soke Hill spent the next two years practicing what he learned and studying from books he found about karate. Then in September 1961, he went to Olympic College, where Master Nakachi was also a student. Master Nakachi was asked to teach karate at the college and it was through this class that Soke Hill really got into karate.
The style was still called Shin-Pu-Ren at the time. Soke Hill began with two days a week workout but quickly changed to four days with lots of outside practice. Master Nakachi was also teaching karate in Seattle at this time and Soke Hill went over and worked out with that group about every other week.
In June 1963, Sensei Robert Hill received his Shodan (1st degree Black Belt) from Master Nakachi. Shihan Hill then went back east with a brown belt (Ed Mehus) to Boston, MA.
In February, 1964, upon returning after a period of 9 months, Soke Hill found that Master Nakachi had changed the katas, changed the crest, and changed the name of the Okinawan-style Shinpu-ren to Butokukan, reflecting the softer, faster style of Kenpo karate. Soke Hill had some catching up to do. He began at once working out with Master Nakachi twice a week and also started teaching in his parents garage. This continued through January, 1965, when he went to work at Keyport Naval Torpedo Station. After going to work there he was asked to teach at the gym on the base. Soke Hill discontinued the garage dojo and taught at the Keyport three nights a week for the next 14 months. It was during this time that Sensei Ted Kozikowski and Sensei Harry Turnbull started as white belts.
In 1965 Shihan Nakachi had to return back to Japan, leaving the reins of the style in the hands of Sensei Hill (at this time a Nidan, 2nd degree black belt). After Shihan Nakachi had left, other schools in the area, like Goju Ryu and others, tried to take over the school. Shihan Hill had a meeting with the other schools, and told them who we are, and that we would not be leaving or changing our school. From that point on, the other schools respected his wish. Shihan Hill has continued teaching, and has also supplemented the basic karate core of techniques he has learned with some Wing Chun Kung Fu, Aikido, and other styles, to enrich the abilities of Butokukan.
In February, 1966, Soke Hill opened a dojo in downtown Bremerton, and has maintained a public dojo ever since.
In April, 1965 Soke Hill entered his first tournament. Soke Hill competed in almost every tournament in the northwest through 1968. One notable tournament was the 1968 Tacoma Tournament, where he took 1st in Black Belt Kata and 1st in Black Belt Heavyweight Kumite and went on to win Kumite Grand Championship. Soke Hill
relates that he experienced a really great feeling winning in front of hometown crowd, when he won Black Belt Kumite and went on to win the Grand Championship at the First Annual Bremerton Open Tournament in 1968.
At the end of 1968, Soke Hill decided to concentrate on teaching and developing his up and coming black belts and students. Since that time Soke Hill has fought in one more tournament.
In 1971, his students talked him into trying his hand at the Seattle Open Tournament (the largest in the Northwest). After walking through the elimination rounds with only one point being scored on him, he met Junki Chung in the finals. That fight is still talked about to this day. It was a three 2 minute round fight. Soke Hill lost the match with a final score of 12 to 11. The score would have been 20 to 3 in favor of Soke Hill but he gave up 9 points for light contact. Everyone in the building knew the best fighter in the place going to be watching the Grand Championship fight instead of winning it. Of all the tournament fights, Soke Hill liked best the elimination round match with Tom Greenley in that same 1971 Seattle Open. Greenley had won three Grand Championships that year and was considered the man to beat. Soke took him out in less than 30 seconds with three straight points.
Soke Hill has stressed tournaments for their self development and confidence building experiences. He has said, "when you compete in a tournament and can fight as well as you would in your own dojo, then you have mastered your own emotions and have gained the true value of a tournament."
In November, 1966, Soke Hill along with his wife Sharon, went to Japan to visit Master Nakachi for three weeks. Master Nakachi was in Tenri, Japan but met Soke Hill in Tokyo. They met Master Nakachi's relatives in Tokyo and were given a chauffeur driven tour of the city. Following this they went to Tenri and stayed at the guest house of the Tenri-ko religion. While in Tenri, Soke Hill workout with Master Nakachi and learned new kata. From Tenri, Master Nakachi took them to Kushimoto to visit with his parents and see where he grew up. While in Kushimoto, Soke Hill worked out with twelve of Master Nakachi's black belts. They were all young men of 16 to 18 years old. After Kushimoto, it was back to Tokyo and visit to Mas Oyama's Dojo, A visit to JKA (Shotokan) Headquarter and visit to Kotokan. Soke Hill's most fond memories of his trip are of working out with Master Nakachi on the beach of Kushimoto.
Around 1973, Soke Hill made a decision that was to effect the Association. Don Williams, a Butokukan Black Belt under Master Nakachi, had established himself in the Seattle area and also started group in Vancouver, Canada. He promoted six people to Black Belt between the time Master Nakachi left (1965) and 1973. In 1973, various senseis and students began to bring various news to Soke Hill's attention concerning Sensei William's conduct. Soke Hill and Sensei Ra Rasun had a talk with Williams. Things changed for a little while and went back to same no good again.
Soke Hill and Sensei Rasun had a talked with Williams. Nothing changed this time. A meeting was held at the Bremerton Dojo and included Sensei Williams black belts and brown belts. Much talk ensued and Soke Hill decided to inform Sensei Williams that he was no longer in Butokukan because of conduct unbecoming of Butokukan Black Belt. Namely misuse of the Butokukan name, financial problems an bad social and moral conduct. Of the six black belts under Williams at that time only one stayed with Williams and five decided to come under Soke Hill. Later Williams appealed to Master Nakachi and was given permission to call his style "Williams' Style of Butokukan". This explains why there are two factions of Butokukan in the U. S. A.
Soke Hill has done considerable teaching, even going into teaching full time for four and a half years. He has taught self-defense police and reservation police throughout Washington State. He taught self-defense class at Olympic College for four years before turning it over to one of his black belts. He also taught self-defense at the Alternative High School and has maintained juniors, beginning and advanced classes and his Bremerton Dojo for the past 14 years.
Throughout his years in training, Soke Hill has maintained his one goal in karate "Continuous Self Improvement". Having little instruction from Master Nakachi since 1965, Soke Hill has kept learning and improving by doing, students attending tournaments and reading on the martial art (he has over 100 martial arts books and 400 magazines). Also, in 1976, he started private training in Wing Chun Kung Fu for one and a half years and added what he learned into his training and teaching.
Soke Hill is known throughout the Northwest for his expertise in tournament refereeing and judging, having been Head Judge at most every northwest tournaments.
Soke Hill is married and had three boys. His wife Sharon has been a big help in encouraging him both as a competitor and an instructor.
A feature article about Soke Hill is in the May, 1976 Vol. 7 #4 issue of Karate Illustrated Magazine.
Shihan Hill, at the beginning of 1997, was elevated to KYU DAN (9th degree black belt) and in June of 2003, Shihan Hill was elevated to JU DAN (10th degree black belt) or SOKE, and has also been given the title of Grandmaster of Butokukan, the only living Grand Master of Butokukan now that Grand Master Nakachi has passed on.
Reflections:
"Over the many years I've been a student of Shihan Hill, the one thing about his personality which impressed me most of all was his ability to be humble. On numerous occasions I've seen Shihan Hill doing Kumite with less capable Black Belts and I've never seen him maliciously take advantage of a less able student of the art. The Shihan Hill has always allowed the slower students an opportunity to show they can be competitive.
I could easily go into a much more lengthy detail of the many challenges I've seen Shihan Hill confronted with and which he easily overcame.
On one occasion, I became some what arrogant with Shihan Hill during kumite. I was lucky to get a Yoko-Geri into his rib cage. The lesson he taught me during that sparring session is still remembered to this day."
Sensei Ted Kozikowski
"The Shihan Hill is the picture of all a good karate-ka could possibly be. He does not carry his ego into the art as others in his position in this country have come to do. His is the most humble Karate-Ka I have ever known. He shows concern for students of all ranks, race and sex. He is also the most patient instructor I have ever known. Above all, he has always set the example for which I have patterned my karate after. He commands respect by the honesty and sincerity that he puts into the art. He can be gentle when need to be, tough if he has to be but always concerned and sensitive to what's happening around him at all times. He is the perfect Master; the only master people who know and love him have no trouble and are glad to follow."
Sensei Robert Long
“Being a master of a style doesn't mean you're above any other people; it only means you have studied the style sufficiently to be able to master the style.
Grandmaster David Smith
 | David Ray Smith started karate under Grand Master Hill in 1971, at the age of 12 years. Although young Smith was clumsy at first, he rapidly grew to love the art of karate. He continued his training in a very large and demanding class. The Bremerton school was considered the best karate school around. They called it the school of hard knocks. |
Grand Master Smith has always been considered one of the most spirited and talented students that Grand Master Hill had ever produced. "he is more like Master Nakachi than any of my Black Belts", said Grand Master Hill.
During Grand Master Smith's training, he competed in many tournaments, winning over 150 awards. Grand Master Smith received his Shodan (1st degree Black Belt) September 11, 1976 at 17 years of age.
In 1980 Grand Master Smith began teaching his own karate class at the Port Orchard National Guard Armory. This is where he began to create a kata called "spirit Force One".
Grand Master Smith continued to teach and compete for Butokukan for over 18 years. Then in 1994 he decided to branch off Butokukan because of too many politics in the system.
The System is now called Spirit Force Karate (Chikara-ki) means "Smith's Way". Grand Master Smith's kata, Spirit Force One , has earned he and his students many awards throughout the Northwest, and was the inspiration for his system's name. Grand Master Smith won Grand Champion Kata at the 1994 Bremerton Open, and has continued to compete.
Grand Master Smith's idea of Spirit Force is to give each individual the opportunity to become Black Belts as well as Master's in our system. With the Spirit of the Eagle, we can soar beyond our dreams, and with the Force of the Lion, we can accomplish all of our goals.
