- EISUKE
AKAMINE
- (May
1, 1925 - January 14, 1999)
-
- History
tells us that Sensei Eisuke Akamine was born on the
island of Okinawa, in a village called Kazaku, in the
district of Tomigusuku on the First day of May in 1925.
-
- He
came to martial arts late in life when he was
approximately twenty-three years of age, I suspect little
knowing what a great influence he would ultimately have
on so many others, as a result of his pursuing what would
ultimately become, a life long passion for the art of
kobudo.
-
- As
a student he trained with many great masters of the day
including Sensei Sanru Chinen, Sensei Yohei Akamine,
Sensei Seichiro Higa, and Sensei Jinsaburo Higa. His
greatest influence however, was undoubtedly Sensei Taira
Shinken, the founder of the "Ryukyu Kobudo Hozon
Shinko Kai" or as it translates into English "The
Association for the Promotion and Preservation of Ryukyu
Kobudo" with whom he studied form 1955 until Sensei
Shinken's passing in 1970.
-
- Just
prior to his passing in September of 1970, Sensei Shinken
passed onto Sensei Akamine the title of President of the
Ryukyu Kobudo Hozon Shinko Kai, thus insuring for the
future the preservation of this ancient art.
-
- Under
Sensei Akamine's leadership the art of Okinawan kobudo
was to spread to many countries where it continues to
flourish today. Here in Victoria, B.C. Canada, we follow
in the footsteps of this great master with the guidance
of one of his most senior student, Sensei Hidemi
Tamayose, 9th Dan, Hanshi, Kaicho of the Ryu Kyu Kobudo
Tesshinkan, who studied directly under Sensei Akamine for
many years, and who today continues to spread of Okinawan
kobudo through out the world.
-
- The
past sets the stage for the future, and the present is
the stepping stone that links them both together,
Okinawan kobudo lives today because of the dedication of
those who came before us, our task is to make sure their
efforts were not in vain.
