Also known as

Description

Okinawan karateka (1932-2024), Hanshi 10th dan Shidokan karate, student of Shinpan Gusukuma and Katsuya Miyahira; senior-most Shorin-ryu practitioner in the United States, based in Lansing, Michigan.

Teachers (2)

• 
  Gusukuma Shinpan

  linkShidokan 3

  Confirmed

  Fighting Arts interview states Iha was accepted as a formal student of Shinpan Gusukuma in 1950 and trained with him for four years; the EN Wikipedia article on Gusukuma also names him as a student

  (1950-1954)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources

  fact_check

  Fighting Arts interview states Iha was accepted as a formal student of Shinpan Gusukuma in 1950 and trained with him for four years; the EN Wikipedia article on Gusukuma also names him as a student

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "in 1950 he was accepted as a formal student of Shinpan Gusukuma... Iha trained with Gusukuma for four years. After Gusukuma's death in 1954..."

  — Estrada, Ernest. Seikichi Iha - Interview by Ernest Estrada. FightingArts.comlinkinfo

  "Sensei Seikichi Iha, 10th Dan, Shidokan Karate, a student of Gusukuma's, reminds us that it is the responsibility of the dedicated student to seek out partners for the exploration of jutsu and ryaku."

  — Shinpan Gusukuma - Wikipedia (EN). Wikipedia (English)linkinfo
• 
  Miyahira Katsuya

  linkShidokan 3

  Confirmed

  Fighting Arts interview states Iha met Katsuya Miyahira in 1954, was accepted as his student shortly thereafter, and received his hanshi 9-dan certification from Miyahira on March 12, 1989

  (1954)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources

  fact_check

  Fighting Arts interview states Iha met Katsuya Miyahira in 1954, was accepted as his student shortly thereafter, and received his hanshi 9-dan certification from Miyahira on March 12, 1989

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "Iha met Katsuya Miyahira in 1954 and was accepted as a student shortly thereafter... On March 12, 1989, he received his Hanshi 9-Dan certification from Katsuya Miyahira."

  — Estrada, Ernest. Seikichi Iha - Interview by Ernest Estrada. FightingArts.comlinkinfo

  "Sensei Seikichi Iha... studied under the renowned masters, Sensei Shinpan Gusukuma, and Sensei Katsuya Miyahira."

  — Iha Bio - Grand River Karatelinkinfo

Ranks (2)

• linkShidokan

  military_tech9 dan 3

  Confirmed

  Fighting Arts interview states Iha received his hanshi 9-dan certification from Katsuya Miyahira on March 12, 1989, certified by the Okinawa Shorin-ryu Karatedo Association

  Dan-Kyu System (1989-03-12)

  granted by Miyahira Katsuya

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  Fighting Arts interview states Iha received his hanshi 9-dan certification from Katsuya Miyahira on March 12, 1989, certified by the Okinawa Shorin-ryu Karatedo Association

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "On March 12, 1989, he received his Hanshi 9-Dan certification from Katsuya Miyahira making him the highest ranking Okinawan residing in the United States. His rank is certified by the Okinawa Shorin-ryu Karatedo Association."

  — Estrada, Ernest. Seikichi Iha - Interview by Ernest Estrada. FightingArts.comlinkinfo

  military_tech10 dan 2

  Probable

  The obituary and the Grand River Karate bio give Iha's rank as Hanshi 10th dan; date unknown

  Dan-Kyu System

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources

  fact_check

  The obituary and the Grand River Karate bio give Iha's rank as Hanshi 10th dan; date unknown

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "Seikichi Iha, Hanshi 10th Dan, sensei of Original Okinawa Karate died on Aug. 3 2024."

  — Hutchcroft, John. (2024). In Memory of Seikichi Iha 1932-2024 - Okinawa Village Karate Associationlinkinfo

  "Seikichi Iha, Hanshi 10 Dan 1931-2024"

  — Iha Bio - Grand River Karatelinkinfo

Honors (3)

• receipt_longIntangible Cultural Asset (Okinawa) 3

  Confirmed

  Grand River Karate bio states Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki awarded Iha the title of Intangible Cultural Asset on May 19, 2020, the first such award to an individual living outside Okinawa

  Title (2020-05-19)

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  Grand River Karate bio states Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki awarded Iha the title of Intangible Cultural Asset on May 19, 2020, the first such award to an individual living outside Okinawa

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "On May, 19, 2020, Denny Tamaki, Governor of Okinawa, awarded Iha Sensei the title of Intangible Cultural Asset, designating Iha Sensei a national treasure. This is the first time the award has been given to an individual living outside of Okinawa."

  — Iha Bio - Grand River Karatelinkinfo
• receipt_longHanshi 9th DanHanshi 3

  Confirmed

  Fighting Arts interview states Iha received his hanshi 9-dan certification from Katsuya Miyahira on March 12, 1989, certified by the Okinawa Shorin-ryu Karatedo Association

  Title (1989-03-12)

  granted by Miyahira Katsuya

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source

  fact_check

  Fighting Arts interview states Iha received his hanshi 9-dan certification from Katsuya Miyahira on March 12, 1989, certified by the Okinawa Shorin-ryu Karatedo Association

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "On March 12, 1989, he received his Hanshi 9-Dan certification from Katsuya Miyahira making him the highest ranking Okinawan residing in the United States. His rank is certified by the Okinawa Shorin-ryu Karatedo Association."

  — Estrada, Ernest. Seikichi Iha - Interview by Ernest Estrada. FightingArts.comlinkinfo
• receipt_longHanshi 10th DanHanshi 2

  Probable

  The obituary and the Grand River Karate bio give Iha's rank as Hanshi 10th dan; date unknown

  Title

  expand_morefact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources

  fact_check

  The obituary and the Grand River Karate bio give Iha's rank as Hanshi 10th dan; date unknown

  assessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  "Seikichi Iha, Hanshi 10th Dan, sensei of Original Okinawa Karate died on Aug. 3 2024."

  — Hutchcroft, John. (2024). In Memory of Seikichi Iha 1932-2024 - Okinawa Village Karate Associationlinkinfo

  "Seikichi Iha, Hanshi 10 Dan 1931-2024"

  — Iha Bio - Grand River Karatelinkinfo

Sources