So Shihan

My Budo journey began in Karate - Do under Soke Masaharu Sakimukai, my father, in January 1973, when I enrolled at the Chintokan Makurazaki Dojo in Kagoshima, Japan - one of more intense dojo(s) in the 70s. My first two years were three classes per week. When we moved to Kagoshima city in 1975, my father began teaching at three dojo(s) weekly. As a result, from 1975 to 1980, we trained at Makurazaki, Kaseda and Kagoshima dojo(s) in rotation, every day except Sunday. Then in 1980, after my father had visited twice on his own, our family of four moved to America.

After experiencing massive culture shock moving to Newark, Delaware, I really began to understand and appreciate Karate - Do. I realized just how much my father's teachings aided me in settling comfortably after that initial culture shock into our new and strange habitat.

I have also received some training from sensei(s) that were my father's peers, senpai(s) and teacher from both Okinawa and Japan. My Shodan thru 6 Dan (1984~2012) in both Shindo Muso Ryu Jodo and Mugai Ryu Iaiheido were awarded from Soke Hosho Shiokawa. He also taught me Shito Ryu Karate-Do. Additionally, I would like to honor Soke Shogo Kuniba, as he was an exceptional Budo-Ka and teacher as well as a great friend to my father. Soke Shogo Kuniba's father, Kosei Kokuba along with Ryu So Kenwa Mabuni were Soke Hosho Shiokawa's Karate masters.

In 2008, I was promoted to So Shihan, Chief Instructor and Examiner by my father, along with representing Soke Hosho Shiokawa in the US for the next six years until he passed away in 2014. In 2010, I have received my last promotion from my father, 7 Dan and Kyoshi in Okinawan Shorin Ryu Karate - Do.

I am sure they are in the "After Life Dojo" training together!

1973: Began Karate - Do, Makurazaki, Japan

1979: Began 6 Shaku Bo training

1982: Entered in Shindo Muso Ryu Jodo Life

1984: Received Black Belt in Karate-Do

• Entered in Iaido Life
• AAU/USA Jr. National Karate Team

1985: Received Black Belt  in Jodo (ZNKR)

1987: Received Karate-Do "Shidoin" title

• Began teaching at YWCA, Delaware

1988: Received Black Belt in Iaido

• Wilmington YMCA Chintokan added
• Stanton YMCA Chintokan added

1989: Began Sai training

1991: Received Shihan-dai in Karate-Do

• Shihan-dai in Okinawa Kobudo
• Chief Instructor of the US Chintokan

1992: USAKF National Karate Team 

1996: Received Karate - Do Shihan Menjo

2002: Received Jodo Shihan Menjo

• Received Iaido Shihan Menjo
• Received Renshi in Karate - Do
• Began Tonfa training

2007: Received Renshi in Jodo and Iaido

2008: Received So Shihan

2010: Received 7 Dan  in Karate-Do

• Received Kyoshi in Karate - Do

2012: My last promotion from Soke Shiokawa

• Received 6 Dan in SMR Jojutsu
• Received 6 Dan in Mugai Ryu Iaiheido
• Japan Budo Tour III

2014: India Chintokan Honbu visit, Pollachi

• Introduced SMR Jodo in Pollachi, India

2015: Bunbukan dojo training, Shuri Okinawa

• Tonfa/Bo, Hanshi & Kyoshi Nakamoto
• Japan Budo Tour IV

2016: Bunbukan dojo training, Shuri Okinawa

• Tonfa/Bo, Hanshi & Kyoshi Nakamoto
• SBK Shihan Meet, New Hampshire

2017: India Chintokan Dojo visit in Chennai

2018: Received 8 Dan in Karate-Do

2019: Visited the Seattle Chintokan

2020: Covid Shut Down introduced Zoom 

2025: Japan Budo Tour V