Hawaii Karate Seinenkai
The Hawaii Karate Seinenkai Salutes:
Choki Motobu
1871-1944

Choki Motobu (also known as Motobu No Saru) arrived in Hawaii in March 1932. Upon his arrival in Hawaii, Motobu encountered visa problems. He was refused admission and detained at the Honolulu immigration station for about one month before being returned to Japan. During his brief stay, Motobu instructed Thomas Shigeru Miyashiro, who had tried to assist with his visa problems. Miyashiro formed a long lasting relationship with Motobu. In fact, Mizuho Mutsu and Kamesuke Higashionna were asked by Motobu to continue Miyashiros' training when they travelled to Hawaii the next year.

Motobu had a reputation as a great fighter, with skills backed up by practical experience. Because of his tough appearance and his inablility to speak "proper" Japanese (like many people of his generation, he spoke the Okinawan dialect), Motobu was considered by some to be rather uncultured. In fact, Motobu was one earliest authors of books on Karate. As for his nickname "Monkey," this referred to his amazing agility. Although he never developed the large following of some other instructors on mainland Japan, he made great contributions to the history of the art, particularly here in Hawaii.

Chosei Motobu at the Hikari Dojo, April 25, 2001.

Motobu was succeeded by his son, Chosei Motobu (accompanied by Takeji Inaba), who visited the Hawaii Karate Seinenkai on April 25, 2001, thus fulfilling his father's desire to teach Karate in Hawaii.

The Hawaii Karate Seinenkai salutes Choki Motobu and Chosei Motobu and expresses its gratitude to them for coming to Hawaii to spread the art of Karate.

Videos About Motobu:

  • The Karate of Choki Motobu

    by Tsunami Video

    The producer of this video has stated: "This is the Motobu family system of Tode (karate) presented by Chosei Motobu and Takeji Inaba including the kumite techniques and their applications. It is the only reference work in the West on this style, and is released with the full cooperation and approval of the Motobu family and the Japan Karate Do Motobukai."


click above to order

  • Motobu-Ryu Karate-Jutsu

    by Quest Co. Ltd. Japan

    This DVD shows the Naihanchi Shodan kata as well as the Motobu Choki Juni Hon Kumite forms. A special feature of the DVD shows some of Motobu Sensei's international visits, including his visit to Hawaii in 2001.

Books by Choki Motobu:

042 046

Articles about Motobu:


The spirit of Karate is the Aloha spirit

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