1

Kozo Kuniba:A Living Link to Budo History

James Herndon

In busy, modern times we often do not pause to ponder the importance of the

events and people that have shaped our lives. This is true in all walks of life; it certainly

has no exception in the case of the martial arts of Japan (Budo). All too often, we forget

just how we got where we are, who went before us, and who made it all possible. History

is a reflective activity; we look back when necessity demands or luxury allows. What we

see is usually a story soon forgotten unless kept alive by those who cherish its value. In

this article, we will consider the life and lineage of a person who embodies the bloodline

and holds the repository of knowledge unique to one style of martial arts – Motobu-ha

Shito-ryu Karate-do. That person is Kozo Kuniba.

KUNIBA Kozo(Photo on web site www.kunibakai.org)

2

The Beginnings

Let’s begin this story with a couple of legendary figures. In the early part of the

19th Century (using the Western calendar), there was a famed Tode (Karate) teacher in

Okinawa named Anko Itosu (1831-1915). Some historians actually consider him the

true father of Karate, as opposed to Gichin Funakoshi, because it was Itosu who

introduced Kata into Okinawan schools long before Funakoshi did likewise in the

Japanese school system. Be that as it may, Itosu taught many individuals who would go

on to become teachers of other great teachers. One of Itosu’s most renowned students

was Choki Motobu (1870-1944). Motobu developed a reputation (justified or not) as a

street fighter, someone who never walked away from a challenge. During his day, it was

not uncommon for someone to enter a Dojo and challenge the teacher. That’s how styles

were tested. Over time, Motobu refined his fighting (Kumite) style based upon what

worked and what didn’t. It was to be known in years to come as Ryukyu Karate Motobu-

ha.

MOTOBU Choki Sensei(Photo hanging in Seishin-Kai Dojo, Osaka)

3

A junior student of Itosu (for only a year or less) who went on to follow Motobu

was Kosei Kokuba (1900-1959). Kokuba began training at age 14; but, Itosu died a year

later at the advanced age of 84. It is fair to say then, by that time, Motobu was more a

teacher of Kokuba than was Itosu. Nevertheless, it was Itosu’s influence being passed

along.

KOKUBA Kosei Sensei(Photo hanging in Seishin-Kai Dojo, Osaka)

History has done a number on Kosei Kokuba’s name, literally. The Okinawan

family name KOKU BA can be read in Japanese as KUNI BA (Country Place). But, for

most of his life, Kosei went by the older pronunciation. However, when he moved to

Japan during the mid 1920s, people there would see and say his name as Kuniba. So,

Kosei Kokuba and Kosei Kuniba were one and the same. But, it gets even more

confusing from an historical perspective. Kosei can also be translated as Yukimori. Thus,

Kosei Kokuba can be read as Yukimori Kuniba. Because of this confusion, one source

erroneously lists Kosei Kokuba as the father of Yukimori Kuniba! And, one more

4

wrinkle that has confounded some researchers: Kosei took a nickname – “Shogo” – that

meant brave warrior. But, as we’ll see, he wasn’t the only Shogo Kuniba.

Kosei Kuniba was married to a woman who could not bear children. However, he

had an older brother who was blessed with many children. One of those children was

Kosho Kuniba, born in 1935 in Fujiyoshida-shi, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan.. As was

not uncommon in those days, children of large families were sent to live with relatives

who had smaller and/or no families. Kosho Kuniba was sent to Osaka from his birthplace

near Tokyo to live with his uncle Kosei. In time, Kosei was considered his father (his

real/biological father died shortly after WW II). So, from 1940 onward, young Kosho

grew up and trained under the tutelage of his uncle/adoptive father as the only son of a

noted Osaka Karate teacher. Now, the teachings of Itosu – Motobu – Kokuba had an heir.

By 1946, Kosei Kuniba had firmly established the Seishin-kan Dojo in Nishinari-ku; in

time this single Dojo grew into Seishin-kai, with 57 Dojo in Japan and dozens more

around the world. When Kosei Kuniba died in 1959, young Kosho was recognized as the

next (actually, third or San-dai) family head (Soke) of Ryukyu Karate Motobu-ha.

Kosho Kuniba & Kosei Kokuba(photo from Kuniba archives)

5

Formative Years

Kosho Kuniba was a rare individual, in the martial arts sense. Being brought up

by a noted Karate instructor who had taken the mantle of Motobu-ha from Motobu

himself, the life of young Kosho was carefully choreographed so as to expose him to a

variety of masters and prepare him to become the next Soke in line. Thus, he learned not

only from Kokuba (his uncle/adoptive father), he also learned from other visiting

instructors who passed through the Seishin-kan Dojo. Chief among them was Kenwa

Mabuni (1889-1952), a peer and friend of Kosei Kokuba. While young Kosho received

some instruction from Mabuni, most of his Shito-Ryu techniques came from Ryusei

Tomoyori (1909-1977), a direct follower of Mabuni and founder of Kenyu-ryu. By the

mid 1950s, Kosho Kuniba had also traveled to Okinawa to learn Shorin-ryu from

Shoshin Nagamine (1907-1997) and had acquired Kobudo skills from Shinken Taira

(1897-1970), Mugai-ryu Iaido technique from Ishii Gogetsu (dates unknown), and

Aikido knowledge from Gozo Shioda (1915-1994). Other influences included Kenko

Nakaima (1911-1989) of Ryuei-ryu and Judo acquired from Asakichi Ito (dates

unknown). Truly, Kosho Kuniba was a well-rounded martial artist. Based upon

information gained from several interviews, it can be firmly stated that Kosho Kuniba

founded Motobu-ha Shito-ryu Karate-do by blending the teachings of his father (the

Motobu legacy) with the teachings of the Mabuni line of Shito-ryu. In so doing, he

became the first (Sho-dai) Soke of that new style.

In the early 1960s, Kosho Kuniba (who had by then become known as the second

“Shogo” Kuniba) was teaching at the old Hombu Dojo in Osaka, and had tentacle classes

on nearby military bases (e.g., Camp Zama) and at Osaka Prefectural University. Many

of the Seishin-kai future leaders were being groomed during that time; among the names -

6

Hashimoto, Hayashi, Yamanaka, Yamada, Yoneda, Kotaka, Kobayashi, Tatsuno,

Minamide and others. With young Kosho as Soke, most of these soon-to-be famous

Shihan were his direct students, though some went on to claim that they were students of

Kosei Kokuba and even the notable founder of Shito Ryu, Kenwa Mabuni. History has a

way of reshaping itself over time to suit the teller.

Shogo Kuniba (1969)(photo from Kuniba archives)

Teruo Hayashi (1920-2004), who began Karate at around age 30, studied at the

Seishin-kan Dojo. His primary teacher was the younger Shogo Kuniba; yet, Hayashi

always cited the senior Kosho Kokuba as his teacher and even pointed to Kenwa Mabuni

(who died in 1952) as a major influence. Because Hayashi was older than Kuniba when

Kokuba died in 1959, he was appointed Kaicho of Seishin-kai and served until 1968,

when he left to form his own organization, Hayashi-ha Shito-ryu Kai. Throughout the

years, Hayashi and Kuniba maintained a friendly rivalry, appearing together in

Encyclopedia Japonica in 1964 and in documentary videos such as Eien Naru Budo

(1978).

7

Kuniba and Hayashi(Scene from Eien Naru Budo)

The influence of Kenwa Mabuni on Kosho (“Shogo” the 2nd) Kuniba and others

(e.g., Hayashi) cannot be underestimated; but, it shouldn’t be exaggerated, either. Kosei

Kokuba and Kenwa Mabuni were friends. Shogo Kuniba was quite adamant in stating

that his father was not a student of Kenwa Mabuni. Yet, historical accounts persist in

claiming that Kokuba was one of Mabuni’s followers. Perhaps the problem was that

there were two Shogo Kuniba. While the first (Kosei Kokuba/Kuniba) was a friend of

Mabuni; the second (Kosho Kuniba) was a student briefly of Mabuni and a follower of

Mabuni’s student Ryusei Tomoyori. Remember, Mabuni died in 1952 and Kokuba died

in 1959. Shogo Kuniba’s last promotion in Shito-ryu came in 1955, three years after

Mabuni died. Hayashi began training around 1950, only two years before Mabuni died.

Dates tell it all, despite tales to the contrary.

Stories abound about how Kosei Kokuba hosted itinerant masters to teach in his

Seishin-kan Dojo in Osaka during the pre- and post- World War II years. This he did as a

service in the name of Budo. His home was open to them. That should not be taken to

8

mean he was their student; he was friend and host. His home served as a place where

noted instructors passing through Osaka could exchange teaching for a few nights room

and board. This was done in the spirit of Budo brotherhood and Okinawan friendship.

Friends- Kosei Kokuba and Kenwa Mabuni(photo from Kuniba archives)

Gathering at the Kokuba HouseKokuba, far left; Ryusho Sakagami, center

(photo from Kuniba archives)

9

The Next Generation

Kosho Kuniba had two sons, Kosuke (b. 1958) and Kozo (b. 1960). The family

lineage is shown below. Note that the real father of Kosei Kokuba, Koyou Kokuba (not

shown below) was not a martial artist, as some have speculated.

Descendants of Kosei Kokuba

KoseiKokuba

1900 - 1959

TsurukoFurugen

KayoTerada1935 -

KoshoKuniba

1935 - 1992

Judy FullerMolinary

1947 -

KosukeKuniba1958 -

KozoKuniba1960 -

MidoriAsai

1962 -

ToshioKuniba1994 -

SetsukiKuniba1996 -

Parents of Kozo Kuniba(Photo: Kuniba Archives)

10

Although both sons had an early immersion in the arts of their father, it was the

younger Kozo who showed the most technical promise. Kozo began his Karate training

in 1965 under Masao Tateishi in Motobu-ha Shito-ryu at the Seishin-kai Hombu Dojo.

Young Kozo (brown belt) Leads Tomari Bassai Kata(Photo: Kuniba Archives)

A Shodan (1st degree black belt) by age 12, he was already a champion in Japan.

He was so good, that by age 14 he had retired from competition. He received his Nidan

(2nd degree black belt) in 1974, and Sandan (3rd degree black belt) in 1978. Then, as is

true of many teenagers in modern Japan, Kozo pursued other interests. He discovered

American rock & roll, dressed in all black clothing, and became a charmer with the girls.

When the author trained at the Hombu Dojo in Japan in 1980, Kozo was only seen

coming and going in the wee hours of the night. At that time, he became a stranger to the

Dojo floor. His father was chagrined. There was, however, no shortage of other skilled

black belts in Seishin-kan Dojo who were eager and ready to take over the reigns

someday from Shogo Kuniba. Competition was fierce and, if Kozo was not to be next in

line, many others were willing to take his place.

11

Transitions

Shogo Kuniba had begun making frequent extended visits to the USA as early as

1971. Then, in 1974, 1978, 1979, 1980, and 1982 he made return visits. By 1983, Shogo

Kuniba had become a permanent Resident Alien, obtaining his green card, social security

number and driver license. He even divorced his longtime Japanese wife (Kayo) and

married an American girl!

Shogo Kuniba’s First USA VisitMobile. AL 1971

[The author is directly behind Kuniba]

Kozo Kuniba became familiar with America when he visited his father in the late

1980s. During several years, Kozo stayed in the USA for months at a time in order to

resume training with his father at the Portsmouth Hombu Dojo. It was during those visits

that Shogo Kuniba began to realize that Kozo may become his successor. As Shogo

Kuniba’s health began to fail, his attention to Kozo’s development intensified. The

intense scrutiny caused Shogo Kuniba to actually demote his son from Sandan (3rd degree

black belt), a rank earned in 1978 and verified by the Japan Karate-do Federation (JKF),

12

to white belt as a way of making him work harder and be more self-critical. This strategy

apparently worked well, because Kozo literally knuckled down and took his father’s

instruction to heart. Training along side Mike Doyle and Mark Boyette (both former

students of the author at Old Dominion University Karate Club and Kensei Kan Dojo),

Darren Myers (who was introduced to Shogo Kuniba by the author in 1980 during a

tournament at the Chesapeake Recreation Center) and Lewis Estes (who began his

training in 1982 at the author’s Dojo), Kozo was in good company. Mike and Mark

helped Shogo Kuniba develop the first Goshin Do kata in 1988-89. Darren and Lewis

took on leadership roles in Seishin-kai in years to come.

Kozo with Shogo at Hombu (VA)[Author standing center between the two]

Training at the Portsmouth Hombu Dojo was always rigorous. Students there got

the best of Shogo Kuniba from 1983 until 1992. Regular classes were interspersed with

special clinics and guest instructors. Combined workouts with other Dojo were common.

Truly, Motobu-ha Shito-ryu Karate-do was evolving to suit the American physique and

13

Kuniba-ha Karate-do was differentiating itself from Motobu-ha. Kozo Kuniba was a part

of this evolutionary phase.

Attending the World Karate Championships in Paris, France in 1988, Kozo

Kuniba took first place in black belt Kata competition by performing 12 different forms

for judging. Clearly, this accomplishment demonstrated his superb skill. It was

reminiscent of a feat his father had accomplished at the same event held in Paris in 1972.

Like father, like son!

Kozo, Shogo & Kosuke Kuniba in France(Photo from Kuniba Archives)

Not until 1989 was Kozo promoted to Yondan (4th degree black belt) by his father,

who himself had been promoted to Kudan (9th degree black belt) by the JKF in 1984.

After more grooming, Kozo was promoted to Godan (5th degree black belt) in 1991 and

awarded the title Shihan (Teacher). From an early beginning, through years of youthful

excellence, followed by adolescent diversions, then a serious return to his father’s way,

Kozo Kuniba had been honed to assume the mantle of leadership. Future challenges and

14

obstacles would put him to the test. If not altogether ready to assume the role of Soke,

the next few years would present him with opportunities to fulfill his destiny.

Emergence of Kuniba Kai

It is a sad fact and a huge loss to the martial arts world that Shogo Kuniba died in

1992, due to complications of stomach cancer. And, indeed, it was ironic because he

always believed that he would live longer in the U.S. than he would in Japan. But, when

he died, he was only 57 years old.

Seishin-kai had seen its ups and downs over the years since Shogo Kuniba began

preferring the U.S. lifestyle to the stress of living in Japan. When Seishin-kai was up for

grabs, several people emerged as heirs-in-waiting. Stateside, William (Bill) Price

produced a document purported to be a deathbed declaration from Shogo Kuniba that

recognized Price as the next Soke of Kuniba-ha Karate-do and Kuniba-ryu Goshin Do.

Granted, Price had recently been promoted to Hachidan (8th degree black belt) by

Kuniba-Soke in these arts and given the title Soke Daiko. Trouble was, the document

was written by Price’s lawyer (Jay Steele – a real estate attorney!) as allegedly dictated

by Shogo Kuniba (while on serious pain medication) and only witnessed by Price and the

attorney. The widow of Shogo Kuniba, Judy Fuller Kuniba (his second wife) and his

two sons by his first marriage (see chart) had doubts about the validity of the document’s

intent. Reportedly, there were at least two other draft versions of the declaration

produced. Moreover, the next-in-line in Japan, Soke Daiko Kunio Tatsuno, had

altogether different plans. Meetings were held and turf issues were discussed. Tatsuno

ultimately claimed Kaicho and Soke titles, agreeing to relinquish control after a five year

transition period and turn over the Kai and the style to Kozo Kuniba. Tatsuno offered to

15

help the then existing Seishin Kai Martial Arts (SKMA) organization in America, headed

by Price. But, Tatsuno and Price did not see eye to eye. While Kozo Kuniba was

eventually promoted to Rokudan (6th degree black belt) by Kunio Tatsuno in 1996, Bill

Price resigned from Seishi-kai to form his own Chikubu-kai (with Goichi Kobayashi as

Kaicho) and fulfill the mission he believed had been bequeathed to him.

Five years turned to seven, and there was no sign that Kunio Tatsuno was going to

relinquish control of Seishin-kai and Motobu-ha Shito-ryu. Even though Kozo Kuniba

was given responsibility for the newly established International Division of Seishin-kai in

late 1992, he still was kept in a subservient position by Tatsuno for the next several years.

Then, fate stepped in. On May 1, 1999 Kunio Tatsuno was killed in Osaka under

circumstances that surprised everyone. That tragedy sent shock waves through an

already disrupted Seishin-kai. Just a few months before in 1998, Tatsuno had formed the

International Seishin-kai Karate Union (ISKU), appointing Robert Burgermeister

international director. [ISKU continues today; but, there is no active Seishin-kai in Japan.

Sadatomu Harada, who briefly succeeded Tatsuno, resigned from Seishin-kai and agreed

not to use the title Soke in relation to Motobu-ha.]

Upon the death of Tatsuno, and following the observation of an appropriate

period of respect for his demise, the brothers Kuniba decided to let Seishin-kai go and

form a new organization known as the Nihon Karate-do Kuniba-kai. With the support

and backing of Teruo Hayashi (a founding member of the Japan Karate-do Rengo-kai, a

regional federation) and a big name in martial arts, Kuniba-kai not only gained Rengo-kai

approval, but also JKF recognition. The JKF pronounced that, although Seishin-kai may

have ended its nearly 60 year tenure in Japan, Kuniba-kai was the rightful home of

16

Motobu-ha Shito-ryu Karate-do, now and forever. Upon the establishment and

recognition of Kuniba-kai, Kozo Kuniba was promoted to Nanadan (7th degree black belt).

Ten years into Kuniba-kai, and with JKF concurrence, Kozo Kuniba was elevated

to Hachidan (8th degree black belt) in 2008. During the initial years, the brothers Kuniba

organized and divided roles, agreeing that the older one, Kosuke, would be referred to as

Japan Soke and the younger, Kozo, would hold the title Kaicho. In time, because of his

desire to continue the spread of Motobu-ha Shito-ryu around the world, Kozo Kuniba

took on the titles International Soke and International Kaicho. Now in more than 20

countries, Kuniba-kai is growing everyday, and former Seishin-kai members are

returning to the fold, for they realize there is only one home for the Kuniba tradition.

There will be an international summit in Osaka in June 2009, during which Kuniba Kai

leaders from around the world will gather to discuss the past and plan for the future. .

Visit the Kuniba-kai website to learn more: http://www.kunibakai.org.

Kozo Kuniba at Shurei-no-MonOkinawa 2008

17

Kozo Kuniba has made many attempts to bring the followers of his father back

together under one organization. He believes that his father would want nothing less; the

“sons” of Shogo Kuniba, biological and martial, should work together to carry on the

legacy of Motobu-ha Shito-ryu and related Kuniba-ryu arts. Making that happen is Kozo

Kuniba’s dream.

Epilogue

History must be recorded and preserved. People and events shape the written

record. As has been shown in this article, the long line from Anko Itosu to Kozo Kuniba

is unbroken, even though it may have been twisted by unforeseen and unexpected forces.

In a world filled with more than 50 million Karate practitioners, it is remarkable that one

individual, Kozo Kuniba, can trace his martial arts lineage so closely (by virtue of family

connections and blood lineage) to the masters of the past. He is a contemporary link to

old traditions. When we look back over the past two hundred years of development of

Tode/Karate, from Okinawa to Japan to America, and back to Japan, we see an unbroken

chain of people whose lives and deeds shape our practice today. Our gratitude is owed,

and we must remember them.

Sources

The Roots of Karate (Undated). Framingham, MA: Bushido-kai Budoya

Karate-do Directory (1977). Tokyo: Sozo Co., Ltd.

Personal Interviews with Shuho Yamanaka (1980). Osaka, Japan.

Personal Interviews with Shogo Kuniba (1980; 1982). Osaka, Japan.

Personal Interviews with Goichi Kobayashi (1980), Osaka, Japan

18

Personal Interview with Shogo Kuniba (1983-1989), VA, USA

Personal Interviews with Judy Kuniba (1986-1992), VA, USA

Personal Interviews with Kunio Tatsuno (1996). Osaka, Japan.

Personal Interviews with Kozo Kuniba (2007). Chesapeake, VA

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

About the Author

James Herndon was a student, follower and friend of Shogo Kuniba from 1971until 1992, when Shogo Kuniba passed away. Herndon served as the Seishin-kai USAHonbucho from 1980-1982 and his Chesapeake, VA dojo, Kensei-Kan, became theHombu Bunkan when a new hombu dojo was opened in Portsmouth, VA. Today,Herndon serves as the Information Director for Kuniba Kai International.

James Herndon & Kozo KunibaVirginia, 2007

Contents of this articleCopyright © 2009

JSH

Author can be reached for comment at johokyokucho@gmail.com