Nakazato Shugoron

10th Dan, Hanshi

SHUGORO NAKAZATO was born in Naha-city Okinawa on August 14, 1919. While attending normal school in Osaka Japan in 1935, he began his study of Karate at the age of 16 under the instruction of Ishu Seichi. Nakazato studied under Sensei Ishu for 6 years. During the war, he was in the Japanese cavalry.

After the war was over, Nakazato returned to his home in Okinawa to find his family a casualty of the war. In June of 1946, he began his study of Karate under Choshin Chibana, who was the Menkyo inheritor of Anko Itotsu. In 1948 Chibana’s Shuri dojo closed but Nakazato continued his study with Master Chibana. For one year Chibana gave Nakazato personal tutoring at Chibana’s home.

In 1951 Nakazato was instrumental in helping Chibana open his new DAI ICHI DOJO in Naha City at Matsuo. Chibana continued his personal tutoring of Nakazato at the Dai Ichi Dojo until January 10, 1954, when Nakazato received his Shihan Menkyojo at which time he became Master Chibana’s Shihan Dai (assistant). After working as the Shihan Dai in the Dai Ichi Dojo under Chibana for one and half years, Nakazato was commissioned by Chibana to found the Shorin-Ryu Nakazato dojo in Naha City at Aza.

Nakazato was appointed as one of the directors of the Okinawan Karate Federation when it was formed in 1956 with the four major (ryu-ha) systems of Karate in Okinawa Goju-Ryu; Uechi-Ryu, Shorin-Ryu, Matsubayshi-Ryu. All during this time Nakazato devoted all of his time and energy to teaching and perfecting Shorin-Ryu Karate-do. In 1960 the Okinawan Karate Federation promoted him to Eight Degree Black Belt and Kyoshi. Seven years later Nakazato continued his climb to the top of the Shorin-Ryu hierarchy when Master Chibana and the Okinawa Shorin-Ryu Karate-do Kyokai promoted him to Hanshi and 9th Degree Black Belt.

Nakazato began his study of weapons almost from the beginning of his training in 1935. He was trained in the sai, bo, nunchaku, tonfa, and nicho kama, but he specialized in Bojutsu for 4 years. Throughout his career, he has given his knowledge very willingly. He has demonstrated his technique of Karate all over the world, in Europe, India, Africa, and mainland Japan, and he has made at least 12 trips to America. He has appeared on television many times and is often a guest on the “Tokyo T.V. Afternoon Show.” When Master Chibana passed away, Shugoro Nakazato inherited an arm of the leadership of Chibana’s Okinawan Shorin-Ryu Karate-do, at the time he was a (9th) NINTH DEGREE BLACK BELT.

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Minoru Nakazato

Hanshi Judan, Minoru Nakazato, is the President of the Shorin-Ryu Shorinkan Karate-Do Kyokai worldwide. He is the son of Hanshi Judan, Shugoro Nakazato, the founder of Shorin-Ryu Shorinkan Karate-Do who was one of the most influential karate masters of our time. His Hombo dojo is located in Naha, Okinawa, the birthplace of karate.

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Eddie

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Sensei Sherman McElwee

Sensei Sherman McElwee is a sixth-degree (Roku-dan) Black Belt and 1st-dan Black Belt in Kobudo (Weapons). He has been involved in karate most of his life and has been teaching for 20 years. Karate is a way of life for Sensei Sherman, and he is always looking to advance his education in karate. He enjoys encouraging and supporting others through karate to be their best. He has experience working with groups of all ages and ability levels and has taught women self-defense workshops and individualized training in a variety of areas.

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Jay