Roy Y. Suenaka

United States
Born 1940-06-25, Honolulu
Died 2020-02-08

Also known as

Roy Yukio Suenaka

Description

American martial arts practitioner and author (1940-2020), 1st generation student of aikido founder Morihei Ueshiba and student of Hohan Soken in Matsumura Seito Hakutsuru Shorin-ryu; founder of Wadokai Aikido in 1975.

Teachers (5)

  • Ueshiba Morihei
    sports_martial_artsAikidō Confirmed
    Confirmed
    EN Wikipedia states Suenaka was a 1st generation student of aikido founder Morihei Ueshiba and studied directly under him at the Hombu dojo in Tokyo from 1961; his official biography confirms menkyo kaiden from Ueshiba in 1961
    The evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.
    Uchi-deshi (1961–1969)
    fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
    Frederico Muñoz
    Researcher, Martialis
    2 sources expand_more
    fact_check
    EN Wikipedia states Suenaka was a 1st generation student of aikido founder Morihei Ueshiba and studied directly under him at the Hombu dojo in Tokyo from 1961; his official biography confirms menkyo kaiden from Ueshiba in 1961
    “At his request, he was transferred in 1961 to Tachikawa Air Base in Japan, which enabled him to study directly under Morihei Ueshiba at the Hombu dojo in Tokyo [...] Suenaka was a 1st generation student of aikido founder Morihei Ueshiba.”
    — Roy Y. Suenaka - Wikipedia (EN). Wikipedia (English)link history info
    visibilityFirst-hand
    “Suenaka Sensei began his aikido study upon Koichi Tohei's 1953 visit to Hawaii, and continued his study directly under Founder Morihei Ueshiba O'Sensei at the Aikikai Hombu for eight years, beginning in 1961.”
    — Biography of Roy Y. Suenaka, founder of Wadokai Aikidolink history info
  • Soken Hōhan
    sports_martial_artsShorin-ryu Confirmed
    Confirmed
    EN Wikipedia states Suenaka was awarded rokudan in Matsumura Seito Hakutsuru Shorin Ryu by its founder Hokan Soken in 1972; his official biography records 11 years of private study with Soken (1961-1972); the Soken EN Wikipedia article lists Suenaka among his senior students
    The evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.
    (1961–1972)
    fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
    Frederico Muñoz
    Researcher, Martialis
    3 sources expand_more
    fact_check
    EN Wikipedia states Suenaka was awarded rokudan in Matsumura Seito Hakutsuru Shorin Ryu by its founder Hokan Soken in 1972; his official biography records 11 years of private study with Soken (1961-1972); the Soken EN Wikipedia article lists Suenaka among his senior students
    “Rokudan (6th degree black belt) in Matsumura Seito Hakutsuru Shorin Ryu Karatedo & Kobudo, awarded by Hakutsuru Shorin Ryu founder Hokan Soken, in 1972”
    — Roy Y. Suenaka - Wikipedia (EN). Wikipedia (English)link history info
    visibilityFirst-hand
    “He also commenced 11 years of private study with renowned Matsumura Seito and Hakutsuru Shorin-ryu Karate-do Grandmaster Hohan Soken, receiving from him the rank of rokudan (6th degree black belt).”
    — Biography of Roy Y. Suenaka, founder of Wadokai Aikidolink history info
    “His senior students included Seiki Arakaki, Mitsuo Inoue, Hideo Nakazato, Kohama, Kohatsu, Yonashiro Masaya Kyan, Nishihira Kosei, Isao Toma, Yoshimatsu Akamine, Seijun Kina, Seizen Kinjo, Yuichi Kuda, Fusei Kise, Takaya Yabiku, Roy Suenaka, James Coffman, Thomas Hunnicutt, Vincent C.Wiegand, Ted Lange, Rick Rose, David Lukasiak, Charles Garrett, David Mauk, Gary Bunk, and Norman Small”
    — Hohan Sōken - Wikipedia (EN). Wikipedia (English) link history info
  • Miyazato Eiichi
    sports_martial_artsGoju-ryu Probable
    Probable
    Suenaka's official biography lists Goju-ryu karate training under Eiichi Miyazato, 1967-1972
    The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.
    (1967–1972)
    fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
    Frederico Muñoz
    Researcher, Martialis
    1 source expand_more
    fact_check
    Suenaka's official biography lists Goju-ryu karate training under Eiichi Miyazato, 1967-1972
    visibilityFirst-hand
    “1967-1972 Eiichi Miyazato: Goju Ryu Karate”
    — Biography of Roy Y. Suenaka, founder of Wadokai Aikidolink history info
  • Mas Oyama
    sports_martial_artsKyokushin Probable
    Probable
    Suenaka's official biography lists Kyokushinkai karate training under Masutatsu Oyama, 1961-1963
    The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.
    (1961–1963)
    fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
    Frederico Muñoz
    Researcher, Martialis
    1 source expand_more
    fact_check
    Suenaka's official biography lists Kyokushinkai karate training under Masutatsu Oyama, 1961-1963
    visibilityFirst-hand
    “1961-1963 Masutatsu Oyama, founder: Kyokushinkai Karate”
    — Biography of Roy Y. Suenaka, founder of Wadokai Aikidolink history info
  • Chibana Chōshin
    sports_martial_artsKobayashi Shorin-ryu Probable
    Probable
    Suenaka's official biography lists Kobayashi karate training under Chosin Chibana in 1962
    The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.
    (1962)
    fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
    Frederico Muñoz
    Researcher, Martialis
    1 source expand_more
    fact_check
    Suenaka's official biography lists Kobayashi karate training under Chosin Chibana in 1962
    visibilityFirst-hand
    “1962-1962 Chosin Chibana: Kobayashi Karate”
    — Biography of Roy Y. Suenaka, founder of Wadokai Aikidolink history info

Lineage

Ranks (6)

  • sports_martial_artsAikidō
    receipt_longMenkyo Kaiden Probable
    Probable
    Suenaka's official biography states he received an aikido menkyo kaiden (teaching license) from Morihei Ueshiba in 1961
    The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.
    Menkyo Licence System (1961)
    granted by Ueshiba Morihei
    fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
    Frederico Muñoz
    Researcher, Martialis
    1 source expand_more
    fact_check
    Suenaka's official biography states he received an aikido menkyo kaiden (teaching license) from Morihei Ueshiba in 1961
    visibilityFirst-hand
    “That same year, Suenaka Sensei received an aikido menkyo kaiden (master-level proficiency) teaching certificate from O'Sensei”
    — Biography of Roy Y. Suenaka, founder of Wadokai Aikidolink history info
    military_tech8 dan Probable
    Probable
    EN Wikipedia states Suenaka was awarded hachidan (8th degree black belt) in aikido in 1977
    The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.
    Dan-Kyu System (1977)
    fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
    Frederico Muñoz
    Researcher, Martialis
    1 source expand_more
    fact_check
    EN Wikipedia states Suenaka was awarded hachidan (8th degree black belt) in aikido in 1977
    “Hachidan (8th degree black belt) in Aikido awarded 1977”
    — Roy Y. Suenaka - Wikipedia (EN). Wikipedia (English)link history info
  • sports_martial_artsShorin-ryu
    military_tech8 dan Probable
    Probable
    EN Wikipedia states Suenaka was awarded hachidan (8th degree black belt) in Matsumura Seito Hakutsuru Shorin Ryu karatedo and kobudo in 1977
    The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.
    Dan-Kyu System (1977)
    fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
    Frederico Muñoz
    Researcher, Martialis
    1 source expand_more
    fact_check
    EN Wikipedia states Suenaka was awarded hachidan (8th degree black belt) in Matsumura Seito Hakutsuru Shorin Ryu karatedo and kobudo in 1977
    “Hachidan (8th degree black belt) in Matsumura Seito Hakutsuru Shorin Ryu Karatedo & Kobudo awarded 1977”
    — Roy Y. Suenaka - Wikipedia (EN). Wikipedia (English)link history info
    military_tech6 dan Probable
    Probable
    EN Wikipedia states Suenaka was awarded rokudan in Matsumura Seito Hakutsuru Shorin Ryu by founder Hokan Soken in 1972
    The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.
    Dan-Kyu System (1972)
    granted by Soken Hōhan
    fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
    Frederico Muñoz
    Researcher, Martialis
    1 source expand_more
    fact_check
    EN Wikipedia states Suenaka was awarded rokudan in Matsumura Seito Hakutsuru Shorin Ryu by founder Hokan Soken in 1972
    “Rokudan (6th degree black belt) in Matsumura Seito Hakutsuru Shorin Ryu Karatedo & Kobudo, awarded by Hakutsuru Shorin Ryu founder Hokan Soken, in 1972”
    — Roy Y. Suenaka - Wikipedia (EN). Wikipedia (English)link history info
  • sports_martial_artsKōdōkan Jūdō
    military_tech3 dan Probable
    Probable
    EN Wikipedia states Suenaka held sandan in Kodokan judo and jiu jitsu, awarded by Kazuo Ito and Risei Kano in 1970
    The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.
    Dan-Kyu System (1970)
    fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
    Frederico Muñoz
    Researcher, Martialis
    1 source expand_more
    fact_check
    EN Wikipedia states Suenaka held sandan in Kodokan judo and jiu jitsu, awarded by Kazuo Ito and Risei Kano in 1970
    “Sandan (3rd degree black belt) in Kodokan Judo and Jiu Jitsu (dual certificate), awarded by Kazuo Ito and Risei Kano, son of judo founder Jigoro Kano, in 1970”
    — Roy Y. Suenaka - Wikipedia (EN). Wikipedia (English)link history info
  • sports_martial_artsKendo
    military_tech2 dan Probable
    Probable
    EN Wikipedia states Suenaka held nidan in kendo, awarded by Shuji Mikami in 1958
    The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.
    Dan-Kyu System (1958)
    fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
    Frederico Muñoz
    Researcher, Martialis
    1 source expand_more
    fact_check
    EN Wikipedia states Suenaka held nidan in kendo, awarded by Shuji Mikami in 1958
    “Nidan (2nd degree black belt) in Kendo, awarded by Shuji Mikami in 1958”
    — Roy Y. Suenaka - Wikipedia (EN). Wikipedia (English)link history info

Sources

Roy Y. Suenaka - Wikipedia (EN). Wikipedia (English)link history info
visibilityFirst-hand
Biography of Roy Y. Suenaka, founder of Wadokai Aikidolink history info
Hohan Sōken - Wikipedia (EN). Wikipedia (English)link history info

Identifiers

https://martial.is/entity/01KZBZ509FN2PBWZZQRGXGRA72
Wikidata

Cite and reuse

CC BY-SA 4.0expand_more
Plain text
Muñoz, Frederico (YEAR_PLACEHOLDER). Roy Y. Suenaka. In Martialis: Martial Arts Lineage Database. https://martial.is/entity/01KZBZ509FN2PBWZZQRGXGRA72 - CC BY-SA 4.0. Accessed ACCESSED_DATE_PLACEHOLDER.
BibTeX
@incollection{martialis_01KZBZ509FN2PBWZZQRGXGRA72, author = {Muñoz, Frederico}, title = {Roy Y. Suenaka}, booktitle = {Martialis: Martial Arts Lineage Database}, year = {YEAR_PLACEHOLDER}, url = {https://martial.is/entity/01KZBZ509FN2PBWZZQRGXGRA72}, urldate = {ACCESSED_DATE_PLACEHOLDER}, note = {CC BY-SA 4.0} }
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