Masayuki Shimabukuro Hidenobu 21st Soshihan MJER (1948 -2012)
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 had 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 was 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 was also a direct student of Kenzo Mabuni, the deceased Grandmaster of Shito-Ryu Karate do Kai.
Masayuki Shimabukuro received the rank 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 represented the DNBK International for teaching the art of swordsmanship and budo outside of Japan.
Summary Timeline of Achievements and Rankings
1963 – Began training in Judo and Shorinji Kempo
1965 – Began training in Shito-Ryu Japan Karate-do
1975 – Began training in Muso Jikiden Eishin-Ryu Iaijutsu under Miura Takeyuki , 20th grandmaster of Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu
1975 – Began training in Shindo Muso-Ryu Jojutsu under Miura Takeyuki Hidefusa
1990 – Appointed Nippon Kobudo Jikishin-Kai, Intl. Chairman by Miura Takeyuki Hidefusa
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
2007 – Establishes Kokusai Nippon Budo Kai (KNBK), 1st acting Chairman of KNBK and 21st SoShihan of MJER
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
2013 – March 23rd, Inducted into the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai Intl. Hall of Fame (Posthumously)
Author of the following:
Flashing Steel
Samurai Swordsmanship; The Batto, Kenjutsu and Tameshigiri of Eishin Ryu
Living Karate
