The Kodokai Dojo offers you authentic martial arts rarely seen in the west. Our first-hand knowledge comes straight from the source.
These are the people who taught us.
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.
Takamiyagi sensei runs the Gudokan Dojo. Here are some photos of his visit to Kodokai September 2010.
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. Taira sensei was a senior student of Uechi sensei, of Uechi-ryu karate, before abandoning karate and switching to Motobu Udundi.
During the Vietnam era, Taira sensei owned several businesses 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 "hands on" martial arts practice. He developed a no- nonsense approach to fighting and training. While other masters, especially masters of karate, expressed pride in never getting in a fight, Taira sensei offered us instruction based upon extensive experience.
He was our primary Motobu Udundi instructor and we miss him a great deal. His gave us a new way of thinking and brought our self-defense capabilities light years forward.
Seikichi Odo was both a karate master and a weapons master. He was one of the first to fully integrate karate with a complete weapons system. 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.
Master Odo was known around the world for his old style karate and his impressive weapons skills. I received my 1st through 8th degree black belts from Odo sensei, over a twenty-four year period.
(401) 762-2201 175 Eddie Dowling Hwy. (Rt. 146A, Park Square) North Smithfield, RI 02895
