OKINAWA GOSHUKAN-RYU FOUNDER

沖縄五首館流空手古武道初代

Takamiyagi Hiroshi, Hanshi 10-Dan  (1940-2019)

高宮城宏 範士十段

Okinawa Goshukan-Ryu Zen-Okinawa So Honbu Kaicho 沖縄五首館流全沖全米総本部会著

Okinawa Goshukan-Ryu Karate-Do All Okinawa & World Headquarters Chairman Chatan-Cho, Okinawa-Japan

Experience: 60 years training, 50 years Teaching

Takamiyagi Sensei was the Senior Advisor for the the IOGKA Goshukan-Ryu USA Honbu (Columbus Dojo) and the Chairman of Okinawa Goshukan-Ryu Karate Kobudo Kyoukai in Okinawa, Japan until his passing in 2019.

Hanshi Takamiyagi Hiroshi is the pioneer of Wu Zu Quan in Okinawa, and the founder and Chairman of Okinawa Goshukan-Ryu, with extensive experience and profound skill in the classical martial arts of Okinawa Shuri-Te Karate, and Nan Shaolin Wu Zu Quan/Five Ancestor Kenpo, and Ryukyu Kobudo.

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Our Licensed instructors at the Columbus Dojo have graduated a systemized professional Instructor program of varying and progressive levels. Each Instructor has been certified by the International Okinawa Goshukan-Ryu Karate Association™, and the International Okinawa Budo Kai.

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DIRECTOR & CHIEF INSTRUCTOR 

国際会著

Garry Parker, Kyoshi 8-Dan

Beikoku Goshukan-Ryu Karate Kobudo

5th generation Wu Zu He Yang Quan    Founder: Kyuden Bugeikan Kobujutsu 

ゲァリ パルカ 教士八段

Okinawa Goshukan-Ryu Zen-Bei So Honbu Kaicho 沖縄五首館流全米総本部著

Okinawa Goshukan-Ryu North American Headquarters Director
Experience: 41 years training, 30 years Teaching

Qualifications:

Kyoshi License – IOGKA,

Shihan License – IOGKA.                          Renshi License – IOGKA. 

 Garry Parker  is the senior first-generation disciple of Takamiyagi Hiroshi (Hanshi) Founder of Goshukan-Ryu outside of Okinawa. His primary duty as Director is to oversee the development of instructors and blackbelts in the Honbu dojo and branch dojo throughout the United States.

He began his martial arts training as a high school student learning Kodokan Judo in 1984. After enlisting in  the USAF, Mr. Parker received assignment to Kadena Air Base Okinawa-Japan in 1990, where he began training in Okinawa Goshukan-Ryu Karate at the Hamagawa Dojo Hanshi Takamiyagi Hiroshi. Mr. Parker separated from Active Duty, acquired a visa from the government of Japan, and remained in Okinawa to continue training with Takamiyagi Hanshi at the Hamagawa Dojo. In March 1995, Mr. Parker began assisting with the teaching of the children’s class at the Honbu dojo in Sunabe-Chatan, Okinawa.

Sensei Parker returned to the USA in September 1996 and opened the Columbus Dojo in March 1999.  Mr. Parker has the distinction of being the first American promoted to Black belt by the founder of Okinawa Goshukan-Ryu Karate, as well as being the first person authorized to teach and open a Branch Dojo outside of Okinawa. Kyoshi Parker occasionally travels to Okinawa to train at the Goshukan-Ryu Honbu, and hosted Hanshi Takamiyagi’s Annual visits to the USA prior to his passing.

Kyoshi Parker is the senior American disciple of Takamiyagi Hiroshi, and the pioneer of Okinawa Goshukan-Ryu Karate in the United States.  Sensei Parker travels occasionally to teach seminars in an effort to help spread the principles and benefits of Dento (Classical) Okinawan Karate and Wu Zu Quan.

Parker has written numerous articles, and published four books, including the highly acclaimed      

Chanpuru – Reflections and Lessons from the Dojo (2015 1st edition, 2025 2nd edition)

Goshukan-Ryu Student Training Manual: Level 1 (2004 1st edition, 2023 3rd edition)

Goshukan-Ryu Yudansha Training Manual: Level 2  (2026 1st edition)       

Bilingual translation of Takamiyagi Hiroshi Sensei’s                                      

Five Ancestor Kenpo Memorandum (2024 1st edition)                                       

Kyuden Bugeikan Kobujutsu Basic Guide (2025 1st edition)                                                                        

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CERTIFICATIONS AND POSITIONS:

Okinawa Goshukan-Ryu Karate-Do Kyokai: (OKINAWA)

Kaicho (Executive Director) – United States Honbu (headquarters) Dojo

Kyoshi (Master Instructor) License

Shihan (Master Instructor) License

Renshi (Polished Instructor) License

AFFILIATIONS/MEMBERSHIPS:

Okinawa Goshukan-Ryu Karate-Do Kyokai ™(Okinawa Honbu)

• Georgia Branch Representative/ Georgia Shibu-Cho (1999-2003)
• United States Branch Director (2003-2014)
• Executive Director – North America Headquarters/ Kaicho -Zen Bei So-Honbu (2014-)

International Okinawa Goshukan-Ryu Karate Association™ (USA)

• Executive Director (2020-)
• President and Chief Examiner (2004-2014)

Zen Okinawa Goshukan-Ryu Karate Kobudo Renmei™ (OKINAWA)

• Executive Chairman/Kaicho (2020-)
• Vice-Chairman and International Examiner (2014-2019)

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SENIOR INSTRUCTOR:

市販

Izumi Shimabukuro-Parker, Renshi

5-Dan – Goshukan-Ryu IOGKA, 5-Dan IOBK

島袋-パルか。泉 練士 五段

Experience: 26 years training, 20 years teaching.

Qualifications: Renshi Instructor License – IOGKA, IOBK

Sensei Izumi Shimabukuro-Parker  is a native of Okinawa, Japan and has lived  in the United States since 1996. Renshi Parker began training at the Columbus Dojo in 1999, and has the distinction of being the first female promoted to Blackbelt in Okinawa Goshukan-Ryu Karate in 2004.  Sensei Izumi received her Assistant Instructor certification in Dec. 2004, and she received her Instructor certification in Mar. 2006, was promoted to 2-Dan in 2009. Sensei Izumi was promoted to 3-dan and received her Shidoin License in October 2012, and received her Renshi License in October 2020.

Sensei Izumi is our full-time Instructor for Junior children’s class (7-12 yrs.) As a grandmother and mother of five children ranging in age from 21-35 years, Sensei Izumi possesses the unique patience that is necessary to effectively guide and teach the junior students. Sensei Izumi also shares teaching duties with the Teen/Adult classes as required and serves as a member of the IOGKA Senior Instructor Testing Board.

CERTIFICATION & POSITIONS

Zen Okinawa Goshukan-Ryu Karate Association:

IOGKA Alabama State Director: 2016 – 2017

IOGKA Executive Secretary: 2009-present

Assistant Instructor Certification: 2004

Instructor Certification: 2006

Shidoin (Instructor) License: 2012

Renshi (Instructor) License: 2020

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Kenji Parker, Shidoin

4-Dan – Goshukan-Ryu IOGKA, 4-Dan IOBK

Experience: 17 years training, 5 years teaching

Qualifications: Shidoin Certification – IOGKA, IOBK

Sensei Kenji is the Instructor for Beginner and Intermediate students: he is also the senior Instructor for conditioning, flexibility, and strengthening.

Sensei Kenji is currently a Biology Major at Columbus State University in Columbus< Georgia.

Shidoin, 4-Dan (Instructor 4th Degree)

Goshukan-Ryu Karate since 2008

GOSHUKAN-RYU LICENSED & CERTIFIED INSTRUCTORS

NORTH AMERICA.

All Instructor candidates must enroll and pass a detailed Professional Instructor Training Program administered and awarded by the International Okinawa Goshukan-Ryu Karate Association. Each progressive level requires monitored and documented ‘Live Class’ Instructor hours and active participation in quarterly Goshukan-Ryu Instructors’ Professional Development Workshops to maintain the sharp skills expected of Goshukan-Ryu Instructors.

GOSHUKAN-RYU USA HONBU DOJO CERTIFIED INSTRUCTORS

RENSHI

Izumi Shimabukuro-Parker: 5-Dan Goshukan-Ryu (2020)

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SHIDOIN

Kenji Parker: 4-Dan Goshukan-Ryu (2024)

Maddie C. Parker: 3-Dan Goshukan-Ryu (2024)

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