Honoring the life and accomplishments of
Hanshi Masayuki Shimabukuro
March 27,1948 – September 7,2012
As chairman of both the Jikishin-Kai International and the Nippon Kobudo Jikishin-Kai, Masayuki Shimabukuro Hanshi holds a great deal of personal responsibility for passing on the ancient traditions of Japanese martial arts to the modern world. Masayuki Hidenobu Shimabukuro Hanshi was born in March 1948 in Osaka, Japan. 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 is the senior-most student of Miura Takeyuki Hanshi and is presently the highest ranked member of the Nippon Kobudo Jikishin-kai under Miura Sensei in the world. He is also a direct student of Kenzo Mabuni, the deceased Grandmaster of Shito-Ryu Karate do Kai.
Masayuki Shimabukuro is presently ranked 8th dan in Muso Jikiden Eishin-Ryu Iaido (Iaijutsu), 8th dan Shito-ryu Karate-do, 7th dan in Shindo Muso-Ryu Jojutsu and holds the coveted title of Hanshi in both Iaido and Karate-do. Hanshi is the highest title one can achieve in the Traditional Japanese Martial Arts.
Shimabukuro Hanshi has also received the official appointment by the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai as the International Director & Coordinator for DNBK Iai-do and Batto-do divisions. He has also been awarded both Hachidan and Hanshi in Iai-do by the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai and is now representing the DNBK International for teaching the art of swordsmanship and budo
Summary Timeline of Acheivements and Rankings
- 1963 – Began training in Martial Arts
- 1965 – Starts training in Shito-Ryu Japan Karate-do
- 1975 – Starts training in Muso Jikiden Eishin-Ryu Iaijutsu
- 1975 – Starts training in Shindo Muso-Ryu Jojutsu
- 1990 – Appointed Nippon Kobudo Jikishin-Kai USA Chairman
- 1995 – Establishes Jikishin-Kai International
- 1999 – Receives Shindo Muso-Ryu Jo-Jutsu 7th dan rank
- 1999 – Receives Nippon Karate-do-Kai 7th dan rank
- 2000 – Receives Muso Jikiden Eishin-Ryu Iaijutsu 8th dan rank
- 2002 – Receives Muso Jikiden Eishin-Ryu Iaijutsu Hanshi title
- 2006 – Black Belt Hall of Fame, “Weapons Instructor of the Year”
- 2007 – Receives Dai Nippon Butoku Kai Karate-do 8th dan rank
- 2007 – Receives Dai Nippon Butoku Kai Karate-Do Hanshi title
- 2008 – Establishes Kokusai Nippon Budo Kai (KNBK)
- 2008 – Receives Dai Nippon Butoku Kai Iai-Do 8th dan rank
- 2008 – Receives Dai Nippon Butoku Kai Iai-Do Hanshi title
- 2008 – Receives DNBK appointment as Iai-do International Division Representative
- 2008 – Appointed Dai Nippon Butoku Kai California State Representative