Sensei Zenryo Shimabukuro
 

Founder of Seibukan Karate-Do & Founding Member of Chubu Shorin-Ryu Association Okinawa, Japan. 10th Dan Red Belt.

"KARATE IS A LIFE TIME PRACTICE FOR A PERSON.  KARATE TRAINING IS A COMPARABLE TO THE BOILING OF WATER OVER A FIRE."

Seibukan is a style of Shorin-Ryu Karate developed by Grand master Zenryo Shimabukuro, 10th Dan Red Belt, the foremost disciple of Sensei Chotoku Kyan. Sensei Zenryo Shimabukuro a baker by trader, was only 5 ft 2 inches tall, but he was a very strong man.

After completing 10 years of karate as a private student under the great Chotoku Kyan, he began teaching, during world war two all karate instruction ceased. With the end of the war he resumed active teaching. Early in his career as a karate teacher Shimabukuro Sensei had no Dojo (training hall).

All his instruction was conducted outside his home, with a handful of students, such as his son Zenpo Shimabukuro (presently Supreme Sensei of this Style) and his nephew Zenji Shimabukuro.

In 1962 he built his own Dojo and named it Seibukan (Holy Art School). The name Seibukan radiates Sensei Shimabukuro’s Philosophy of Karate. He was a very highly respected member of his Community and he received many certificates of appreciation from city officials for his work and for the betterment of the Okinawan people.

In 1964 he was awarded the highest rank in Karate by the All Japan Karate-Do Federation, the 10th Dan Red Belt. Zenryo Sensei developed Karate to a very high level in Okinawa. He was also one of the founding members of the Chubu Shorin-Ryu, which was a very strong association

During the American occupation of Okinawa, he was persuaded to teach American service man, stationed in Okinawa and such spreading the noble art to the states and many other countries. A small man ,but a giant to the world of Karate, Zenryo Shimabukuro died in 1969 at the age of 61, of appendicitis.

Today his son Zenpo Shimabukuro carries on the job where his father left off.