Also known as

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

  linkAikidō 3

  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

  Uchi deshi (1961-1969)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources

  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

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "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)linkinfo

  "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 Aikidolinkinfo
• 
  Soken Hōhan

  linkShorin-ryu 3

  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

  (1961-1972)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  3 sources

  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

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "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)linkinfo

  "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 Aikidolinkinfo

  "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) linkinfo
• 
  Miyazato Eiichi

  linkGoju-ryu 3

  Confirmed

  Suenaka's official biography lists Goju-ryu karate training under Eiichi Miyazato, 1967-1972

  (1967-1972)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  Suenaka's official biography lists Goju-ryu karate training under Eiichi Miyazato, 1967-1972

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "1967-1972 | Eiichi Miyazato: Goju Ryu Karate"

  — Biography of Roy Y. Suenaka, founder of Wadokai Aikidolinkinfo
• 
  Mas Oyama

  linkKyokushin 3

  Confirmed

  Suenaka's official biography lists Kyokushinkai karate training under Masutatsu Oyama, 1961-1963

  (1961-1963)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  Suenaka's official biography lists Kyokushinkai karate training under Masutatsu Oyama, 1961-1963

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "1961-1963 | Masutatsu Oyama, founder: Kyokushinkai Karate"

  — Biography of Roy Y. Suenaka, founder of Wadokai Aikidolinkinfo
• 
  Chibana Chōshin

  linkKobayashi Shorin-ryu 3

  Confirmed

  Suenaka's official biography lists Kobayashi karate training under Chosin Chibana in 1962

  (1962-1962)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  Suenaka's official biography lists Kobayashi karate training under Chosin Chibana in 1962

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "1962-1962 | Chosin Chibana: Kobayashi Karate"

  — Biography of Roy Y. Suenaka, founder of Wadokai Aikidolinkinfo

Ranks (6)

• linkAikidō

  receipt_longMenkyo Kaiden 3

  Confirmed

  Suenaka's official biography states he received an aikido menkyo kaiden (teaching license) from Morihei Ueshiba in 1961

  Menkyo Licence System (1961)

  granted by Ueshiba Morihei

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  Suenaka's official biography states he received an aikido menkyo kaiden (teaching license) from Morihei Ueshiba in 1961

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "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 Aikidolinkinfo

  military_tech8 dan 3

  Confirmed

  EN Wikipedia states Suenaka was awarded hachidan (8th degree black belt) in aikido in 1977

  Dan-Kyu System (1977)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  EN Wikipedia states Suenaka was awarded hachidan (8th degree black belt) in aikido in 1977

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "Hachidan (8th degree black belt) in Aikido awarded 1977"

  — Roy Y. Suenaka - Wikipedia (EN). Wikipedia (English)linkinfo
• linkShorin-ryu

  military_tech8 dan 3

  Confirmed

  EN Wikipedia states Suenaka was awarded hachidan (8th degree black belt) in Matsumura Seito Hakutsuru Shorin Ryu karatedo and kobudo in 1977

  Dan-Kyu System (1977)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  EN Wikipedia states Suenaka was awarded hachidan (8th degree black belt) in Matsumura Seito Hakutsuru Shorin Ryu karatedo and kobudo in 1977

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "Hachidan (8th degree black belt) in Matsumura Seito Hakutsuru Shorin Ryu Karatedo & Kobudo awarded 1977"

  — Roy Y. Suenaka - Wikipedia (EN). Wikipedia (English)linkinfo

  military_tech6 dan 3

  Confirmed

  EN Wikipedia states Suenaka was awarded rokudan in Matsumura Seito Hakutsuru Shorin Ryu by founder Hokan Soken in 1972

  Dan-Kyu System (1972)

  granted by Soken Hōhan

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  EN Wikipedia states Suenaka was awarded rokudan in Matsumura Seito Hakutsuru Shorin Ryu by founder Hokan Soken in 1972

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "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)linkinfo
• linkKōdōkan Jūdō

  military_tech3 dan 3

  Confirmed

  EN Wikipedia states Suenaka held sandan in Kodokan judo and jiu jitsu, awarded by Kazuo Ito and Risei Kano in 1970

  Dan-Kyu System (1970)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  EN Wikipedia states Suenaka held sandan in Kodokan judo and jiu jitsu, awarded by Kazuo Ito and Risei Kano in 1970

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "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)linkinfo
• linkKendo

  military_tech2 dan 3

  Confirmed

  EN Wikipedia states Suenaka held nidan in kendo, awarded by Shuji Mikami in 1958

  Dan-Kyu System (1958)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  EN Wikipedia states Suenaka held nidan in kendo, awarded by Shuji Mikami in 1958

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "Nidan (2nd degree black belt) in Kendo, awarded by Shuji Mikami in 1958"

  — Roy Y. Suenaka - Wikipedia (EN). Wikipedia (English)linkinfo

Sources