April 25, 1915 - 1977
Hawaii Karate Seinenkai
Thomas Shigeru Miyashiro was born in Waimanalo, Hawaii, on April 25, 1915. Both of his parents had immigrated from Okinawa. Like many nisei, he was known as "Shigeru" to his Okinawan friends and "Thomas" to others. Miyashiro practiced martial arts from a very young age and was fortunate to have had the opportunity to train under visiting Karate instructors Kentsu Yabu, Choki Motobu, Mizuho Mutsu, Kamesuke Higashionna, and Chojun Miyagi, as well as other Karate instructors who resided in Hawaii such as Seishin Uehara. In 1933, Miyashiro was one of the founding instructors of the Hawaii Karate Seinenkai.Miyashiro lived in the Ft. Street area of Honolulu growing up. In later life, he lived at the Wahiawa Botanical Gardens. Four of his students there were Takamasa Bingo, Robert Kato, Raymond Higa, and Eddie Ueshiro.
From his early twenties, Miyashiro suffered from a chronic heart condition. Many people would have given up Karate training, but he never did. He devoted his life to preserving and speading the art of Karate. Through the dedication of this family, Miyashiro's remarkable role in the early history of Karate has been preserved. Prior to the reestablishment of the Hawaii Karate Seinenkai, Mrs. Miyashiro's permission was requested and generously given. The Seinenkai wishes to thank the Miyashiro family for its support and salutes the life and accomplishments of a truly great man, Thomas Shigeru Miyashiro.
Books by Miyashiro:
Books and Articles about Miyashiro:
- Miyashiro is not believed to have written any books.
- Miyashiro is discussed in Karate's History and Traditions, by Bruce A. Haines. Charles E. Tuttle Company, 1968.
- Miyashiro is discussed in Karate and Its Development in Hawaii to 1959, by Bruce A. Haines. University of Hawaii, 1962.
- Thomas Shigeru Miyashiro: Hawaii's First Nisei Karate Sensei, by Charles C. Goodin. Dragon Times, Volume 17, 2000. See Dragon Times Online.
- Hawaii's First Nisei Karate Sensei (Thomas Shigeru Miyashiro), by Charles C. Goodin. Hawaii Pacific Press, September 1, 1999.
- Miyashiro is discussed in The Roots of Okinawan Karate in Hawaii, by Charles C. Goodin. Okinawan Mixed Plate: Generous Servings of Culture, Customs and Cuisine, Hui O Laulima, August 2000.
- The Roots of Okinawan Karate in Hawaii, by Charles C. Goodin. Hawaii Pacific Press, August 1, 1999.
- The Roots of Karate in Hawaii, by Charles C. Goodin. Pacific Citizen Holiday Issue, Japanese American Citizens League, December 1999.
- The Roots of Okinawan Karate in Hawaii, by Charles C. Goodin. Masters of Combat, July 2000.
The spirit of Karate is the Aloha spirit
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