History Of Spirit Force

Karate is one of the few oriental traditions that can be traced to western cultures for its roots. In Egypt, tombs from 5000 years ago show murals depicting unarmed warriors. Later in Greece and Rome, more developed fighting methods (pankration) were used at the Parthenon and the Olympics, and by the Roman gladiators.

Karate today means "empty hand," (kara + te, "empty" and "hand")

The Spirit Force history can be traced as far back as the early 1900's in Okinawa, Japan. The Master then was Soshi (Bushi) Matsumura. Nicknamed Bushi by the king if the Rokyu Island, because of his heroic deeds in protecting the people of Okinawa.

Matsumura had a student by the name of Yatsune (Anko) Itosu (Iron Horse). At this time the system was called Itosu Ryu (Itosu's Method). A student of Anko Itosu named Gichin Funakoshi first introduced Okinawan karate into Japan. According to Funakishi in his book, it was toward the end of 1921 that he gave the first demonstration of karate in Tokyo. Where upon in 1922 he began to teach at the Butokuai Military Arts College in Kyoto, Japan.

Master Kenwa Mabuni was our next master, he taught karate at the Butokuai Military Arts College in Kyoto, Japan. This is where he met are next master, Master Yun Pon Gun. Master Gun was a Korean man who took charge of a japanese system called Shimpuren (God's Wind in Exercise).

A young boy, by the name of Yoichi Nakachi only 12 years old joined Master Guns class. In 1945 General Douglas MacArthur declared a ban on all martial arts in Asia as well as the United States, approximately 1 year later Master Gun decided to promote the young man to Shodan (1st degree Black Belt).

Learning and teaching matial arts in secret became a way of life for a while. In 1948, General MacArthur lifted the ban and people resumed open training again. This is also the year Master Nakachi received his Nidan (2nd degree Black Belt).

In 1950 Master Gun returned home to help his country in a war. He left Master Nakachi in charge of Shimpuren. In 1959,  Master Nakachi came to the United States to pursue an education. In 1960-61, he was asked by Olympic College to teach karate class. He said, "Yes!".

In 1961, Master Robert Hill met Master Nakachi. He began training under the wise Japanese man they called George. Despite his size, Nakachi was able to teach anyone karate, even the giant man, Robert Hill. Master Hill received his Shodan (1st degree Black Belt) 2 years late, in 1963.

In 1964, Master Nakachi changed the name Shimpuren, to Butokukan, because of its notorious background. In 1964, Nakachi was sent back hometo Japan because of an expired visa, never to be seen again in the U.S. Mater Hill was left in charge of Butokukan karate, and he is the one that has made Butokukan what it is today.

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.

In Fall of 2009, Sensei Rene Hoffman along with Angela Armstong had the dream to open a dojo in Belfair, that offered classes for women and children, as well as classes for Men.