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News: Congratulations to Paul Sexton of Gima-Ha Canada for being nominated for Gima-Ha Americas Technical Advisor!

March 2023 Gima-Ha Seminar attendees

History of Gima-Ha

Gima-Ha Shotokan-ryu Karatedo Kyokai is named for Makoto Gima, whom as a student and associate of Gichin Funakoshi, was instrumental in the modern development of Karate.

Makoto Gima was the person who originally assisted Funakoshi Sensei at various demonstrations around Japan to spread modern day karate. Gima Sensei would perform the Kata Tekki Shodan and Funakoshi Sensei would perform Kanku-Dai.

As the first Shodan grade holder of Funakoshi Sensei, Gima Sensei, who at that time was a student of Tokyo Shodai University, (now Hitotsubashi University) grew up in Okinawa near Funakoshi Sensei. He became the President of Okinawa Karate Association and later honorary President of Japanese Karate Do Shiseikai Union and the Japanese Karate Do Rengokai Technical Adviser. At the time he was All Japan Karate Do Renmei consultant, He wrote the book Modern Karate Do in collaboration with Mr. Fujiwara Ryozo. He died at 93 in 1989．

His legacy of Gima-Ha Traditional Shotokan Karate is carried on by four modern Masters — Ikuo Higuchi, Mitsunori Kobayashi, Hidetada Narumi and Takayuki Sameshima.

Ikuo Higuchi Hanshi, Kudan, is the Gima-Ha Shotokan Chief Instructor and Dojo Cho at Hombu Dojo. He was formerly the Karate instructor at Senshu University Karate Club and Chief instructor at the Japan Karate Association (JKA) Johoku Dojo under Masatoshi Nakayama Sensei. He was the former President of the Seibu-Sangyo Co. Ltd and currently serves as executive Vice-President of the International Martial Arts Federation, continuing a strong tradition of service to Budo. Higuchi Sensei overseas the USA branch.

In order to preserve Gima Shihans long achievements and maintain the propagation and future prosperity of Gima-ha Shotokan Karate School, Gima-Ha Shotokan Dojos can be found in the following areas in Japan, the Tokyo district, Niigata district, Hokkaido district, Iwate district and Fukui Branch. Dojos can also be found Internationally in Canada, Germany, England, Norway, France, Hungary and the United States.

Gima Ha Americas is led by Jose Juan Cruz Sensei in North Carolina and Sabastian Velilla Sensei in Florida.

The Hombu Dojo is located at Nakano-Ku Tokyo 165-0031 Japan. Contact GIMA-HA USA for more information.