OKINAWA GOSHUKAN-RYU FOUNDER

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

Okinawa Goshukan-Ryu Zen-Okinawa So Honbu Kancho

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/Kaicho of Okinawa Goshukan-Ryu Karate Kobudo Kyoukai in Okinawa, Japan until his passing in 2019.

Hanshi Takamiyagi Hiroshi is the pioneer of WuZu 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™.

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INTERNATIONAL CHIEF INSTRUCTOR:

Garry Parker, Kyoshi 7-Dan

Okinawa Goshukan-Ryu Zen-Bei So Honbu Kaicho

Okinawa Goshukan-Ryu North American Headquarters Director
Experience: 39 years training, 28 years Teaching

 Garry Parker  is the senior first-generation student 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 in 1990, Mr. Parker received assignment to Kadena Air Base Okinawa-Japan 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 was promoted to shodan/blackbelt, and 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 American authorized to teach and open a Branch Dojo outside of Okinawa. Kyoshi Parker still 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 student 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, two books, including the highly acclaimed ‘Chanpuru – Thoughts and Reflections from the Dojo’ and has collaborated on several translations for Japanese to English publications of Okinawan Karate texts.

CERTIFICATIONS AND POSITIONS:

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

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

Kyoshi (Master Instructor) License (2019)

Shihan (Master Instructor) License (2015)

Renshi (Polished Instructor) License (2014)

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:

Izumi Shimabukuro-Parker, Renshi 5-Dan

Experience: 24 years training, 18 years teaching.

Qualifications: Renshi Instructor License – IOGKA

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.

Sensei Izumi is our full-time Instructor for Junior children’s class (7-12 yrs.) She is also the Head Instructor for the Yochien Karate Kids classes (4-6yrs). As a grandmother and mother of five children ranging in age from18-31 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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SENSEI KENJI PARKER – CERTIFIED INSTRUCTOR

14 years experience

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, 3-Dan (Certified Instructor 3rd 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: 3-Dan Goshukan-Ryu (2021)

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ASSISTANT INSTRUCTOR

Maddie C. Parker: 2-Dan Goshukan-Ryu (2021)

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