Eihachi Ota

Sensei Ota is the highest ranking Matsubayashi Shorin Ryu practitioner outside of Okinawa. Sensei Ota started his training in Matsubayashi Shorin Ryu in high school with a close friend of his. He was invited by his friend to train at his school under Sensei Shima Masao and trained at the home dojo on weekends under O'Sensei Nagamina. Sensei Shima was one of the most important students of O'Sensei Nagamine. Sensei Ota was known to train 365 days a year, often three times a day. It did not matter what the weather was like, he never stopped training. Sensei Ota moved to the US in 1969. In 1973 he opened his first Dojo and has been teaching Matsubayashi Shorin Ryu in Los Angeles for over 40 years. Today, Sensei Ota teaches in his dojo in Gardena California. Guest Instructors from Okinawa: Sensei Kazuo Tajima, 8th Dan, Matsubayashi Shorin Ryu & Kishaba Juku. Sensei Tajima is the highest senior student at Kishaba Juku under Sensei Katsuhiko Shinzato. Sensei Tajima started karate when he was in high school. He was classmates with the son of the founder of Matsubayashi Ryu, Takayoshi Nagmine. Sensei Tajima joined the Hombu Dojo because of Sensei Takayoshi. Sensei Tajima has also trained in Tomari Te from Sensei Seiyu Nakasone, as well know master in Okinawa. At O'Sensei Nagamine school Sensei Tajima trained under the master of Sensei Nakamura, Sensei Ahagon, Sensei Makishi & Kishaba. These area all well know top students at O'Sensei Nagamine's Dojo. At age 35 Sensei Tajima started training under Sensei Kishaba, founder of Kishaba Juku and after his passing he trained with the well know Katsuhiko Shinzato who translated Sensei Nagime's took to English, "The Essence of Karate Do". Sensei Tajima has been teaching at the American Army base in Okinawa for many years. Sensei Tajima is know for his power and hip development that generates tremendous power. Sensei Noriaki Ikehara, A student of Sensei Taba, Sensei Taba was one of the top senior students of O'Sensei Nagamine and former World Matsubayashi Shorin Ryu President, Sensei Taba started his own organization called Shogen Ryu to compliment Sensei Nagamine's Matsubayashi Shorin Ryu. Sensei Ikehara currently teaches at his school Shorin Ikehara Karate Dojo.

Shorin Ryu is one of the world's major Karate styles. Created and developed by Okinawan masters, this style mixes the traditions and experiences of the ancient art with a modern approach to self-defense. In this work, Master Ota shows key traditional kata and bunker. Some of the traditional Shorin Ryu forms have never been analyzed this way before. This series is more than a how-to manual; it explores the history and philosophy behind this dynamic and practical method of karate-do. Containing hundreds of applications for all the forms of the Shorin Ryu stem, this series will be a valuable reference for anyone seeking to learn and understand not only principles and techniques of Shorin Ryu, but also the cultural essence of Okinawa Karate.

Shorin Ryu is one of the world's major Karate styles. Created and developed by Okinawan masters, this style mixes the traditions and experiences of the ancient art with a modern approach to self-defense. In this work, Master Ota shows key traditional kata and bunker. Some of the traditional Shorin Ryu forms have never been analyzed this way before. This series is more than a how-to manual; it explores the history and philosophy behind this dynamic and practical method of karate-do. Containing hundreds of applications for all the forms of the Shorin Ryu stem, this series will be a valuable reference for anyone seeking to learn and understand not only principles and techniques of Shorin Ryu, but also the cultural essence of Okinawa Karate.