Takashi Kinjo

Takashi Kinjo ( 金城 孝) was born in 1939 in Naha (largest city of Okinawa prefecture).
His given name Takashi 孝 is also pronounced ‘Ko’ that means filial piety.
Filial piety is a virtue inherited of Confucius teaching, it means to be good to one’s parents; to take care of one’s parents; to engage in good conduct not only at home.

Karate Background

The young Takashi started to study karate when he was 16 in 1955 with Shorin Ryu style with Shoshin Nagamine (長嶺 将真) then in 1958, his willing to improve his sparring skills pushed him to join Itokazu Seiki (糸数盛喜) dojo to study Uechi-Ryu Karate.

In 1965, Itokazu sensei encouraged his talented student to open a Uechi-Ryu Dojo when Kinjo was Godan (5th degree black belt).
In 1978, Kinjo sensei followed his teacher when Itokazu sensei founded the Pangainun-Ryu (半硬軟流） broke from the Uechi Family association (Uechi-Ryu Karate-Do Kyokai 上地流空手道協会).

Kobudo Background

In parallel of his Karate study and teaching, Kinjo sensei started to study Okinawa Kobudo with Shimpo Matayoshi, head of the Matayoshi family kobudo.

Kinjo sensei was also a talented Kobudo student he became quickly a referent in the Matayoshi Kobudo and became Kobudo 9th degree black belt.

Kinjo sensei is now well know as a fantastic Kobudoka & specifically for his skills with the Oar (Eku).

Koburyu

in 2000, Kinjo sensei founded his own school called Koburyu (孝武流) teaching his way of training in Kobudo & Karate.
Even if the Koburyu Karate (孝武流空手道）is based on Uechi-Ryu Karate (上地流空手道), Kinjo sensei added his training method based on natural movement and speed.
As said by Kinjo sensei ‘the nature is my teacher’ so you need to be natural when you practice Martial Art.