A Lifelong Journey in Budo

The budo journey of So Shihan [Name] began in January 1973, when he first stepped onto the floor of the Chintokan Makurazaki Dojo in Kagoshima, Japan, under the guidance of his father, Soke Masaharu Sakimukai. At that time, the dojo was known as one of the most intense in the region. His first two years were filled with rigorous training, three classes a week, each one shaping not only his technique but also his character.

By 1975, the family moved to Kagoshima City, where Soke Sakimukai taught across multiple dojos. From 1975 to 1980, training became a daily rhythm—every evening except Sunday, rotating between Makurazaki, Kaseda, and Kagoshima. The dojo became his second home, a place where discipline and perseverance were forged into the core of his being.

In 1980, the family relocated to Newark, Delaware. The transition brought tremendous cultural challenges, but it was here that he came to truly understand the depth of Karate-Do. The lessons instilled by his father anchored him, guiding him through this new life in America.

From this foundation, his training expanded across arts and disciplines:

• 1979: Began six-shaku bo training.

• 1982: Entered the path of Shindo Muso Ryu Jodo.

• 1984–1988: Earned black belts in Karate-Do, Jodo, and Iaido, while also joining the AAU/USA Junior National Karate Team.

• 1987–1991: Began teaching, established new dojos, and received the titles of Shidoin and Shihan-dai, eventually becoming Chief Instructor of US Chintokan.

• 1992–2002: Represented Chintokan internationally, received advanced ranks in Karate-Do, Jodo, and Iaido, and expanded the reach of the organization.

• 2007–2012: Awarded the titles of Renshi in Karate-Do, Jodo, and Iaido, as well as advanced dan ranks from Soke Hosho Shiokawa, a direct inheritor of the Mabuni and Kokuba lineages.

In 2008, he was promoted to So Shihan, Chief Instructor and Examiner by his father and was entrusted to represent Soke Shiokawa in the United States. Two years later, in 2010, he received his final promotion from his father—7th Dan and Kyoshi in Okinawan Shorin Ryu Karate-Do—a moment that would forever remain a cornerstone of his martial journey.

In the years that followed, he traveled extensively to Japan, Okinawa, and India, sharing the spirit of Chintokan and introducing Jodo to new regions. In 2018, he achieved the rank of 8th Dan in Karate-Do, an honor that recognized both skill and a lifetime of perseverance. Even during the Covid pandemic, he kept the spirit of training alive through virtual instruction, proving that budo is adaptable and enduring.

He also honors the influence of his father’s peers and teachers, including Soke Shogo Kuniba, a remarkable budo-ka and close family friend whose wisdom shaped the path of many.

Today, So Shihan reflects on his journey with humility and gratitude, often imagining his father, Soke Hosho Shiokawa, and the great masters together in what he calls the “After Life Dojo”—forever training, teaching, and perfecting the art of budo. Their spirit lives on through his teaching and in every student who continues the legacy of Chintokan.

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