A Master of the art of Okinawan Kobudo

Sensei Hidemi Tamayose, 9th Dan, Hanshi,

Kaicho, of the Ryukyu Kobudo Tesshinkan

 

One of the finest teachers in the world today who regularly travels abroad from Okinawa to teach authentic Okinawan kobudo is, Sensei Hidemi Tamayose, Kyoshi, 9th Dan, Founder and President of the Ryukyu Kobudo Tesshinkan.

 

Sensei Tamayose was born into a large family on Ikema Jima island on the 14th of July 1949. At the age of sixteen he moved to the island of Okinawa where he still lives today with his wife Masako, in the city of Ozato. Both he and Masako are highly respected school teachers, as are other members of Sensei Tamayose's family.

 

While studying Kobayashi Shorin-Ryu karate under Sensei Seiyu Nakamura he was introduced to Ryukyu Kobudo and the associated kihon, kata, and kumite. In 1982 he began to study directly under the legendary kobudo master, Sensei Eisuke Akamine, at the Ryukyu Kobudo Hozon Shinko Kai, which was founded by the great kobudo master, Taira Shinken.

 

As one of the senior students in the organization Sensei Tamayose was awarded the kobudo ranked Nana Dan (7th Dan) by Sensei Akamine, and the rank of Hachi Dan (8th Dan) by the Okinawa Ken Karate Do Rengo Kai. Sensei Tamayose served as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Ryukyu Kobudo Hozon Shinko Kai until the death of Sensei Akamine in 1999.

 

Sensei Tamayose with eku

 

On the 22nd of May 1999, with the express purpose of continuing to perpetuate the art of Ryukyu kobudo in precisely the same manner as he had been taught by his teacher, Sensei Eisuke Akamine, Sensei Tamayose formally established his own organization which he has called, Ryukyu Kobudo Tesshinkan.

 

During the G8 Summit which was held on Okinawa in 2000, Sensei Tamayose was one of four Okinawan Masters who had the privilege of demonstrating karate and kobudo in front of the assembled world leaders. Today when ever possible Sensei Tamayose travels to his affiliated dojos in Canada, the USA, and Europe, tirelessly promoting authentic Okinawan kobudo.

 

 

Sensei Hidemi Tamayose is awarded the rank of 9th Dan

by the Ken Kobudo Renmei

 

Ken Kobudo Renmei

Sensei Tamayose, seated on the far right hand side of the front row, was awarded the rank of 9th Dan by the Ken Kobudo Renmei in October of 2004. This organization was inaugurated with the express purpose of spreading traditional Okinawan kobudo and this was the first time that high ranks had been handed out by the organization.

 

The official ceremony was carried out on October 30, 2004 at which time Chairman Mashiro Nakamoto, of the Ken Kobudo Alliance, was awarded the highest rank, 10th Dan. Appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors, was Shiroma Seiji, Hanshi, 10th Dan, appointed Office Director, was Hidemi Tamayose, Hanshi, 9th Dan, and appointed Vice-President, was Sensei Shimabukuro, Hanshi, 9th Dan.

 

A prepared statement was read outlining the goal of the Ken Kobudo Renmei that stated,

 

"Our kobudo will develop as we develop it through out the world. We hope to design a structure like that of a university, but one where we can teach within the prefecture in a new superbly built dojo. Our desire is to bring kobudo up to a level which karate stands at. With our traditional values, kobudo can purify and help in human development. We can pass these virtues on to the rest of the world through our kobudo."

 

This is a worthy goal indeed, and one that I am sure that all the member of the Ryukyu Kobudo Tesshinkan both in Okinawa, and throughout the world, will uphold today and in the years to come.

 

My thanks to Sensei Martin Nicholson, Yon Dan, Ryukyu Kobudo Tesshinkan, for generously supplying many of the photographs on this web site.

 

Part the clouds - see the way.

 

"The objective of kobudo is to contribute to the evolution

of the human spirit through physical and mental training."

Sensei Peter Lindsay

©1995-2010 Peter Lindsay - All rights reserved.