R.I.P. Masayuki Shimabukuro....my Sensei

Kohai999

Kohai999

Second Degree Cutter
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Masayuki Hidenobu Shimabukuro Hanshi was born in March 1948 in Osaka, Japan, and passed away earlier this month due to cancer.

His interest in Martial Arts began as a teenager, when he studied Judo, Karate-do, Okinawan Kobudo weapons and other traditional Japanese martial arts. He achieved dan ranking in several of these arts before focusing his attention predominantly on Iaido (or Iaijutsu), the art of Samurai swordsmanship.

"Shimabukuro Hanshi began his sword training in 1975 under the direct supervision of Miura Takeyuki Hidefusa, Hanshi, 20th generation grandmaster of Muso Jikiden Eishin-Ryu in Osaka, Japan. Shimabukuro Sensei was appointed Kokusai Bucho (International Chairman) of the Nippon Kobudo Jikishin-kai by Miura Hanshi, and entrusted with dissemination of authentic Eishin-ryu Samurai swordsmanship worldwide outside of Japan. Since that appointment, Shimabukuro Sensei has traveled throughout the world teaching Muso Jikiden Eishin-ryu Iaido, Shindo Muso Ryu jojutsu and other traditional Samurai arts. He has established Jikishin-Kai International Training Groups and member schools in Europe, North America, South America, Central America, Asia and Australia.

Shimabukuro sensei was the senior-most student of Miura Takeyuki Hanshi who passed away June 19th, 2012. He was also a direct student of Kenzo Mabuni, the deceased Grandmaster of Shito-Ryu Karate do Kai.

Masayuki Shimabukuro was ranked 8th dan in Muso Jikiden Eishin-Ryu Iaido (Iaijutsu), 8th dan Shito-ryu Karate-do, 7th dan in Shindo Muso-Ryu Jojutsu and held the coveted title of Hanshi in both Iaido and Karate-do. Hanshi is the highest formal title one can achieve in the Traditional Japanese Martial Arts.

Shimabukuro Hanshi received the official appointment by the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai as the International Director & Coordinator for DNBK Iai-do and Batto-do divisions. He was awarded both Hachidan and Hanshi in Iai-do by the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai and represented the DNBK International for teaching the art of swordsmanship and budo outside of Japan."

He was a father, a husband and a superior teacher. I knew and loved him, and he reciprocated. He was the author of books and was represented many times in Black Belt Magazine. This is a great loss to the JSA community, and he will never be replaced. I started training with him in 1999, and miss him very much, and feel helpless that I was unable to say goodbye before he passed away. The last time that I saw him was about 4 months ago.

Best Regards,

Steven Garsson
 
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My condolences. Sounds like he was a truly exemplary human being, and a great sensei. Thanks for sharing a little about his life.
 
My deepest most sincere condolances. Sorry for your terrible loss and thank you for sharing his story with us.
 
I thank those of you who took a moment to share condolences, it is deeply appreciated.

Thursday nights at the dojo are devoted to Iaijutsu training. After the memorial service, three to five students have been training under the very capable tutelage of Charles Arnold, Sensei. I went last night, after 18 months of not training at the dojo, and frankly, not training at home, other than to do tameshigiri every three months or so to "blow out the cobwebs".

I hadn't picked up a sword in 4 months, and had just played around with my iaito this weekend, getting the balance, lacquering the tsuka and applying patina to the habaki, as the brass coloration always bothers me....I prefer copper first, then silver, then gold. Patinated brass is very dark, almost black and that works on this iaito.

Two fellow yudansha came down to train from Pacific Palisades, and because of this, we had 6 students training, quite weighted to advanced instruction. So instead of going through the "basics", we trained in the completely uncomfortable "chuden" waza. Chuden involves starting from tatehiza, which is an oddly seated position geared towards the wearing of armor, and fondly called the "bran muffin" waza, as all of the movement starts from having your left foot pretty much up your ass, and your right knee positioned in the middle of your chest. Suffice to say, it's really hard.....but....I pulled it off...not my best effort by any means, but I didn't have to give up and do it from standing position. I always told my instructors that if I had to train in Iai from standing position that I would quit outright. Luckily, I have not been burdened with that choice. Choice up to this point has been all mine.

Shimabukuro Sensei was so very good at instruction, small nuances revealed themselves over the evening. It was poignant, and strangely, I feel closer to what he espoused now, than I did when he was alive.

"Shima" Sensei as he preferred to be called, espoused compassion, and it was my singular failing as his student. He used to help out with Special Olympics, and I used to make very crude, yet funny jokes about mentally challenged students swinging swords. Funny that is unless you or your child is in that position. Right now, it doesn't seem too funny, and Shima Sensei would have been proud of that.

Those of you who scoff at "Traditional Japanese Martial Arts" probably have never benefited from a teacher like Masayuki Shimabukuro. He was VERY traditional, yet quite modern. All of his students have been trained how to kill, very effectively......but first and foremost, we were trained to look at all situations with a clear vision, bereft of fear, and with an eye towards avoidance of violence, rather than an attraction towards it. He trained us to lead first, how to be good people worthy of being followed, martial arts second, as a position of strength, and how to kill last, but it was all intermingled, and by the time you knew what was happening, you "got it".

Of the many yudansha involved with Shimabukuro Sensei that I have know and trained with, my tendencies have leaned to violence, along with two other students that I know, and his death, and training last night really has me examining that. A comment made by Arnold Sensei during training displayed how clearly my fellow yudansha understood that.

How can I reverse that tendency, how can I most do him the honor that he most deserved and "turn poison into medicine" as Shimabukuro Sensei was quite fond of saying?

There is no quick answer to that right now....but thanks to all who read this for following along, and it is greatly hoped that those of you who "don't do traditional" can find a great teacher to guide you in your journey down the Budo path.....because you cannot teach yourself in a static environment, in 99.9% of the situations.

Best Regards,

Steven Garsson
 
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My humble condolences.
Masayuki would not want you to grieve for only his body has died.
Rolf
 
Just saw this

I knew about this but did not know you made a post .

Deepest regards
 
Steven,

My condolences. I think you will wear a little compassion very well.

William
 
condolences- my teacher has left such a large impression and taught me so much, so i can only imagine how it must be.
 
A very insightful post STeven. I sincerely wish that this "shock" leaves permanent, your understanding, and the effects of time do not fade your insight. It seems that in passing he may have given you the most powerful of lessons, an awakening.
 
OleyFermo said:
Steven,

Heartfelt condolences. Losing a teacher who is also a friend is a difficult thing.

Jimmy
Click to expand...

Thank you all for the continuation of condolences.

Jimmy, Shima Sensei wasn't a friend per se....I'm pretty sure that those who he considered friends were not martial artists, or if they were, were on a similar level that he was(rarified). I'm not even sure what he was BESIDES my Sensei, but he was my Sensei.

There may have other teachers in my life, but Don Fogg and Masayuki Shimabukuro have been the only people who I have called Sensei. That is not likely to change. As an example, Phillip Baldwin is a friend, a close one, and he has taught me more about metal than just about any other person.....but I don't ever think of him as Sensei.

Best Regards,

Steven Garsson
 
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