Kodokai Martial Arts

Takamiyagi Tetsuo
Takamiyagi sensei is a tremendously qualified teacher. His background is very well-rounded and he was a direct student of several legendary masters. He studied Motobu Udundi under Uehara Seikichi, Toma Seiki, and Taira Ryoshu. He also is an 8th degree black belt in Shobayashi Shorin-ryu Karate and Kobudo under Shimabuku Eiso, and he studied Goju-ryu karate under the famous Toguchi sensei. He also studied Noguchi Taiso under Noguchi sensei in Tokyo.

He is a superb teacher in so many ways. His technique is strong and his knowledge is both deep and broad. He has an open mind and is always eager to learn new ways- a rare trait at any age. He is a dedicated teacher, squeezing in as much as we can take during our times together. While walking, driving or eating, from the dawn darkness and into the night, there is always a lesson.

Taira Ryoshu 1930- 2009
Taira sensei received private lessons twice each day from Uehara Seikichi, the twelfth headmaster of Motobu Udundi. This continued for thirty years. He received 'menkyo-kaiden', certificate of complete transmission. Taira sensei was a senior student of Uechi sensei, of Uechi-ryu karate, before switching to Motobu Udundi.

During the Vietnam era, Taira sensei owned a nightclub in the rough hustle and bustle of Okinawa City, a rest area for troops heading to Vietnam or just back from the war. These were wild times and Taira sensei experienced a great deal of martial arts "practical application". He developed a no-nonsense approach to self-protection. This made his instruction unique- while many teachers I had known expressed pride in never getting in a fight, Taira sensei offered us instruction based upon extensive experience.

Taira sensei and Takamiyagi sensei were students of Uehara Seikichi sensei.

Odo Seikichi 1926-2002
Seikichi Odo was both a karate master and a weapons master. His first martial art was judo which he began as a child. He then studied Tomari-te under Koho Kuba and continued to invest the rest of his life researching the old ways of Okinawan martial arts.
As a senior student of the legendary Master Nakamura Shigeru, Odo sensei enjoyed access to some of the finest training available.

I began my training with Odo sensei in 1978. He was a humble and little known karate teacher off the beaten path. As time went by his skills caught the attention of more and more people. By the time he passed away he was known throughout the world for his old style karate and his impressive weapons skills and had  students from all over the world.
I received my 1st through 8th degree black belts from Odo sensei throughout a twenty-four year period.

Eiso Shimabuku
I would like to acknowledge my first martial arts teacher, Shimabuku sensei. I only was his student for a few months before switching to Odo sensei, but they were a good few months. As my first exposure to martial arts most of the basics that I still practice were taught to me by Shimabuku sensei. I also take much of my teaching style from him. I have fond memories of pounding his rooftop makiwara on warm dark nights, sitting around with his wife and son after class and sharing tea, struggling to understand my first few kata, and, of course, kumite (sparring) with other students!