GRANDMASTERS

SATO SENSEI

Grandmaster Tanemura Tsunehisa Shoto Sensei met Grandmaster Sato Kinbei (Kiyoaki) Sensei for the first time at the University in Japan when he was 19 years old. Grandmaster Sato Kinbei Sensei was born on 5 January 1925 in Fukushima Prefecture and graduated at Tohoku National University as a Doctor/Professor. He had his own hospital in Tokyo were he worked as a Doctor. His martial arts name was Jushinsai (Lilac Heart Man).

He started training at 11 years old and had many Menkyo Kaiden Grandmasterships in: Daiwa Ryu (his family art), Takeda Ryu, Araki Shin Ryu, Yagyu Shingan Ryu, Tenjin Shinyo Ryu, Asayama Ichiden Ryu, Daito Ryu, Hakko Ryu and Isshin Ryu. Grandmaster Takamatsu Toshitsugu Sensei gave Sato Kinbei Sensei 13th generation Grandmastership in Gikan Ryu Koppo-Jutsu (because Akimoto Fumio Sensei, who held Menkyo Kaiden in Gikan Ryu Koppo-Jutsu, died before he had the next generation made up) and Menkyo Kaiden (Grandmastership) in Hontai Kukishin Ryu and Hontai Yoshin Takagi Ryu Ju-Jutsu (Ishitani line).

He started learning Chinese martial arts in 1956 and was the first Japanese who became 4th generation Grandmaster (Denjin) in the Chinese martial art Hakkesho (Pa-Kua). He taught arrest techniques to police officers at the Japan Police College since 1954. He opened his own Dojo in Itabashi, Tokyo in 1958.

He was President of the All Japan Chinese Kenpo Federation and Director of the Japanese Classical Budo Federation (Kobudo Shinkokai). He was a well known excellent martial artist in Japan and was self-defense adviser at the Police University. He was a personal student of Pa-Kua Grandmaster Li Zu Ming Sensei, who passed away on 23 January 1993 at the age of 91.

It was Grandmaster Sato Kinbei Sensei who introduced Grandmaster Ueno Takashi Sensei to Grandmaster Takamatsu Toshitsugu Sensei. He passed away on 21 January 1999. He died in the hospital due to pneumonia at the age of 73.