International Kung Fu, Tai Chi Chuan & Karate Do Research Society

28/07/2023

The grandmasters of Okinawan Karate are revered figures in the martial arts world. They have made significant contributions to the development and promotion of Okinawan Karate, shaping its techniques, philosophies, and teachings.

The grandmasters, along with many others, have left a lasting impact on Okinawan Karate and have inspired countless practitioners around the world. Their dedication, expertise, and passion continue to shape the practice and philosophy of this traditional martial art.

23/07/2023

Chinte or Chintei - “Rare Hands” or “Unusual Hands” or “Extraordinary Hands” is a very beautiful, technically rich and involving kata with circular movements in techniques originating from China.
The techniques in this Kata are based on the schools of Chinese White Crane, Tiger and Snake Boxing. Chinese/Chintei is practised in Okinawan Shorin Ryu, Sh*to-Ryu and Shotokan.
A Chinese of Fujian from Anan, who was shipwrecked on Okinawa, taught Chinte to Kosaku Matsumora and Kokan Oyadomari. The kata stayed for 30 years within the Tomari village.
Gusukuma from the Tomari village passed the kata to Ankoh Itosu who later taught it to some of his students, including Kenwa Mabuni, Chosin Chibana and Gichin Funakoshi.

25/04/2023

The Legend, Sensei Fumio Demura, holder of the 9th Dan in Sh*to-Ryu Karate, was a renowned figure in the world of Karate. He was born on the 15th of September 1938 in Yokohama, Japan and began practising Karate at the young age of nine. Over the years, he became one of the most respected and skilled Karate practitioners in the world, known for his precision, speed, and power.

Sensei Fumio Demura is best known for his extensive contributions to the martial arts community, particularly his work in popularising Karate in the United States. Demura Sensei moved to the US in the 1960s and went on to teach thousands of students across the country. His martial arts skills and teachings have been featured in numerous movies, including The Karate Kid series, where he is the actual instructor behind Mr Miyagi. He was Pat Morita’s martial arts stunt double in the first, third and fourth Karate Kid films and the inspiration of Mr Miyagi.

On April 24, 2023, Sensei Fumio Demura passed away, leaving behind a legacy that will continue to inspire generations of martial artists. His students, fans, and loved ones are mourning his loss and remembering his contributions to the world of Karate.

Sensei Fumio Demura contributed a great deal to the world of Karate, both in terms of specific techniques and broader teachings. Some of his most notable contributions include his mastery of the nunchaku, which he popularized through his demonstrations and instructional videos. Bruce Lee got the opportunity to learn Nunchaku and high Karate kicks from him. His contributions have been monumental in popularising one of the major schools of Karate, known as Sh*to-ryu, which blends elements of all traditional Okinawan Karate styles.

In addition to his technical contributions, Sensei Fumio Demura was also known for his emphasis on discipline, respect, and humility in training. He believed that martial arts were not just about physical strength, but also about developing mental and emotional fortitude. His teachings emphasized the importance of perseverance, focus, and self-control in all areas of life.

Overall, Sensei Fumio Demira's contributions to the world of Karate were wide-ranging and highly influential. His legacy will continue to inspire and guide martial artists around the world for years to come. Osu!

Sensei Fumio Demira has been one of my favourite masters of Karate. It's very sad to suffer such a big loss. I pray his soul attains peace and moksha. My sincere condolences and deepest sympathy to his bereaved family and close ones.

15/01/2023

The beautiful beach of Flic en Flac was the perfect setting for the early morning practice of the ancient classical Eight Brocade Qi Gong exercises, Ba Duan Jin, of the Shaolin Temple. The scenery was idyllic, with the sun slowly rising in the sky, its warm light illuminating the horizon. The sound of waves lapping against the shore was a calming accompaniment to the practice.

The Ba Duan Jin is an ancient classical Qi Gong exercise associated with the Shaolin Temple for centuries. This particular exercise consists primarily of stretching, breathing and energy circulation techniques which bring enormous benefits to our body. It consists of eight movements that focus on improving physical strength and flexibility, as well as calming and balancing an individual's energy. Practising these exercises regularly can be extremely beneficial for both physical and mental health. It promotes health and relieves stress and fatigue.

I could feel my body becoming more relaxed and energized after performing these exercises at the beach. I am grateful for this unique experience and the opportunity to practice these ancient health-restoring exercises.

01/02/2022

Happy Tiger’s Chinese New Year to you!
May this year bring you health, happiness, and many beautiful moments in your life.
Kung Shi Fat Choy 🙏

21/11/2021

Time is your most precious commodity.
Yet, most of us live our lives as if we have all the time in the world.
The real secret to getting control of your life is to restore a sense of focus in your days.

18/10/2021

The Saipa Karate Kata is also known as Seiyunchin in Okinawa and as Seienchin in mainland Japan. This Kata was taught to Grandmaster Kanryo Higaonna by his Chinese master. It is actually in the curriculum of the Goju Ryu and Sh*to Ryu schools and it’s practiced by some other schools too.

29/08/2021

Unshu, the "Cloud Hands", is an advanced Karate Kenpo kata from Okinawa. It is fascinating and mind-blowing with a combination of unique fighting techniques. The Kata Unshu was created by Master Seisho Aragaki (1840-1918) based on his broad knowledge of Kung Fu acquired from his training in several Chinese Boxing schools, like the Yongchun White Crane Boxing, Jiangnan Dragon Boxing, and Praying Mantis Boxing joined with Fuzhou Luohan Quan and a Tiger Boxing technique from Hung Gar Kuen.
The original version of the Unshu kata remains unchanged in the Sh*to-Ryu School of Master Kenwa Mabuni. In contrast, Master Gigo Funakoshi has considerably changed the original version of Unshu to give us the Shotokan version, Unsu.

20/08/2021

Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations. And remember, there are no shortcuts in life. The one who bears challenges also reaps the fruits.

28/05/2021

We all travel different ways to our ultimate destinations. Sometimes, the path is rocky, sometimes smooth. However, no one reaches the destination without facing some adversity. We need to feel the pain and savor the happiness. If you have never visited the valleys, the view from the mountain top is not as breathtaking. There are no real failures in life; there are only results. There are no true tragedies; there are only lessons. There really are no problems, there are only opportunities leading to solutions.

06/05/2021

Karate is one great art!
Arouse your Chi and let it flow harmoniously throughout your body!
Practice Karate not only for self-defense but also to develop your body, mind and spirit!

04/05/2021

BRUCE LEE: I DO NOT BELIEVE IN STYLES ANYMORE!
The martial arts icon and legend, Bruce Lee is absolutely right in what he is saying in this short video clip. Let's listen to him and get the essence of his message.
"Styles in martial arts tend to limit one's abilities to fight only in a specific way and no other way at all. Nowadays, there so many schools and styles of martial arts like Karate and Kung Fu that one gets lost among them trying to learn which ones are the best or which ones would fit you the best. There are lineages and there are Dan gradings that tend to further make the fighting systems and fighting abilities more rigid and less helpful to practitioners in regard to practical fighting - self-defense. Everybody can't fight in the same way!"
Pretidev Ramdawon

Bruce Lee explains how he does not believe in styles anymore. Style is a crystallization that is difficult to change. Being style-less is the way to go. Inco...