My older brother and I have studied a few martial arts over the years, and recently we were discussing why some martial arts flourish and others do not. One style that we both studied while we were in Oklahoma was Ryu Te（ç‰æ‰‹ï¼‰, a somewhat obscure version of Okinawan Karate. Having seen Master Oyata （親田）demostrate his techniques at several seminars and summer camps, even to this day I still consider him to be one of the most technically proficient martial artists in the world. If that is so, then why is his style still quite obscure? Wouldn’t it be better known if he were that good?
I remarked that one advantage that Aikido, which we are both currently studying, has over Ryu Te is that Ueshiba was able to train many students to a very high level of proficiency before he passed away, so there was still a solid foundation after he was gone. Of course inevitably there has been branching and fractionation within Aikido ( The Ki Society, Seidokan, etc.) but they all still ‘pay homage’ to the world headquarters in Shinjuku, Tokyo, and acknowledge Moriteru Ueshiba, Morihei Ueshiba’s grandson, as the Doshu or heir. Having a centralized organization and clear succession has enabled Aikido to stay intact, instead of all the students forming their own organizations when the founder dies, as usually happens.
This kind of organization is something that I’m afraid Master Oyata lacks. He came to the U.S. in 1976, at the bequest of several of his top American students. He had had some kind of a falling-out with the board of directors at the dojo he had been training at, and so he decided to try his luck promoting his style in the U.S. He founded his organization and based his headquarters in Independance, MO. He attracted quite a bit of attention in the early 80’s when he was featured in Black Belt Magazine, mostly due to his specialty in striking pressure points to instantly render an opponent unconscious. Due to this notoriety he attracted a fairly large following, and his style flourished in the central states area. Through the next several decades (until the present) though, he seems to have been plagued by insubordinate students. All of his students that were the closest to him at some point did something to offend Master Oyata, and they summarily found themselves booted out of the organization. This even happened to his closest two students, Shiro Shintaku and Jonny Tanaka, during the 6 years that I studied Ryu Te. I suppose insubordination is something that a strict sensei has to deal with, but when you look through the years, what is the common thread? I don’t think it’s insubordinate disciples, but Master Oyata’s short temper. The problem is that when all of your most gifted students are gone, who is left to continue the organization for you after you pass away?
My brother summed up our conversation by saying that in order to promote your martial art well, you have to have 3 qualities. 1) Have superb technique. 2) Be a skilled teacher. 3) Have leadership qualities necessary to create a strong organization. It is this third quality that I fear Master Oyata may lack. Also I believe Aikido’s current widespread success is due to the fact that Ueshiba posessed all three of these traits. 1) Very few people doubt the effectiveness of Ueshiba’s technique. (It may have the steepest learning curve in the world, but once you master them they are quite effective) 2) Ueshiba’s students were all also very proficient and effective, and 3) The current stability of the International Aikido Federation shows Ueshiba’s ability to organize a stable, centralized body that would endure after he had passed away.
This is really a sad thing Mr. Oyata is a very skilled martil artist, and so are many of his Shodans even, it is a great style, but I am afraid when Mr. Oyata does pass away the Ryu Te Rengokai will crubmle and most of the style will pass with him, his senior student Jim Logue is only and 8th Dan, the highest under oyata in the org currently, though Taika Oyata may have given alot of his knowledge out, I belive that many people including those no longer in the assosiation would all have to work together to peice this puzzle together, hopefully somday that may be possible, all I can say really is that this is a great style and an extrordinary teacher and it is a sad thing.
Thanks for your comment. So Jim Logue is now Taika’s top student? I hope he doesn’t have a falling-out with Taika like everyone before him has. I guess that means that Logue Sensei teaches the Shin Shu Ho katas now? Back when I went to summer camp in ’95, Shiro Shintaku was the only person authorized to teach Shin Shu Ho in Taika’s place. Everyone thought it was a real shame when he left the organization. (Anyone know what happened to him? Did he go back to Japan? Still in the States?) Taika does have a son that I’m sure he’s trying to teach everything that he can, but he can’t be over 20 by now. He still needs several decades to be able to learn everything, and it’s doubtful that Taika will live that long. I suppose he’s in his mid-seventies by now?
Hi Derek. I agree with your post. And I can see Oyata having a short temper as well. From the stories I have heard he was Shigeru Nakamura’s enforcer and a bouncer at a tough club in Okinawa not to mention an all Okinawan full contact champion.
As for most senior students I am not sure. One student that seems to not get credit is Albert Geraldi (Hachidan). From what I have read and heard from his association he is/was Oyata’s most senior student. He was an Okinawan full contact champion himself and one of the people who brought him back to the US. When Oyata’s son died (not the one mentioned in your second post) he went back to Okinawa. Geraldi was one of the people responsible for convincing Oyata to come back to the US. Jim Logue and Albert Geraldi trained in the Manchiminato dojo together. But I believe Albert Geraldi was Oyata’s most senior student. Like your article he had a falling out with Oyata (the reasons I hear vary but I don’t have the guts to ask Geraldi personally) about 10 – 15 years ago.
My best,
Raul
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Doshu Shiro Shintaku is still here in the US. His system/organization’s name is Ten Shin Ichi Ryu. He’s affiliated with Kaicho Allan Amor and his United Ryukyu Kempo Alliance. I’ve seen Mr. Shintaku a couple of times down at Kaicho Amor’s dojo in Oak Grove, MO.
As a former student of Oyata Sensei and current practitioner of Ryukyu Kempo, I would like to commend you on the accurate and well researched version of the political history of Ryu-te. As Oyata Sensei developed his art here in the United States the complexion of his Organizations has changed however as mentioned in your synopsis of his development as a martial arts abilities he is second to none. As Oyata Sensei passes his art through the Ryu-te organization he is faced with the uncertainty of the leadership he leaves it to. Logue Hanshi is a very capable and honorable man and martial artist. He also possesses the ability to lead in a manner commensurate of Oyata Sensei’s teachings. I am impressed with your accurate accounting of the general history of The Ryukyu Kempo Association,Zenkoku Ryukyu Kempo Kobudo Rengo Kai, Oyata Shin Shu Ho Ryu and the current Ryu-Te organization.
While it is true that many talented people have left the Taika Oyata’s organization, it doesn’t mean that he is not leaving someone in charge. There are numberous mentions of “top” students, but you discount those that have remained with Taika Oyata for many years. I am Taika Oyata’s senior student. I began my training with him in Okinawa and have been with him over 35 years. Does this mean I don’t know anything?
I believe that I am fully capable of leading the RyuTe organization into the future and have done much to promote Ryute i by participating in many camps and seminars in the Southeast. Mr. Shintaku was introduced to RyuTe through my student, Gary Shull. Because of some changes in Mr. Shintakus personal life, Taika Oyata invited him to Independence to help him .
Because Mr. Shintaku is Japanese and lived in the US for many years, he was able to help Taika Oyata translate the ideas and concepts that he wished to teach. Taika Oyata chose many people at his independence dojo to specialize in certain aspects of his art so that it could be more easily taught to the organization as a whole. Unfortunately the misconception that those that were “chosen” were the “top” students and therefore were the inhereters of Taika’s art.
I”m not putting down any of these people, they were all talented and gifted and did much to help the organization grow. The falling out is always a two way street and I’m not going to get into any details about that. That’s a matter between each person.
The analogy about the sustainablilty of Aikido due to Ueshiba’s influence and RyuTe. This is not a fair comparison, Ueshiba is the founder of Modern Aikido, so naturally everyone will give his credit even thought there are many diffrent styles of orginizations. Taika Oyata did not found Karate, he practices a particular branch. Although he doesn’t have thousand of people clamoring to join his orginzation, he has influenced many other branches of karate that give him credit for opening their eyes.
It was good to see Jim Logue post here. I hope that he is correct and that Ryu Te will be able to continue on and grow over the years.
I would like to add my opinion about what Mr. Logue said about Aikido. While Ueshiba did found what is called “Aikido”, he did not invent a new art.
There are many styles of Aikido that all trace their lineage back to Ueshiba Sensei. These styles vary significantly, but are all called Aikido because of their lineage.
There are arts, such as Daito-Ryu Aiki Jujutsu, that come to us through Sokaku Takeda, Ueshiba’s primary teacher, but not through Ueshiba. If he didn’t know better, an Aikido praticioner seeing some of this Aiki Jujutsu could easily assume that it was just another style of Aikido. Some syles of Aikido are a lot closer to Daito-Ryu than they are to other styles of Aikido, even though all Aikdio comes through Ueshiba.
My point here is that Aikido was not some new art developed by Ueshiba Sensei. Yes, he added his own touch to it and was not afriad to change it, but what he taught could have been easily ended up being called Daito-Ryu if it hadn’t been because of personal conflict between Ueshiba and Takeda.
Ueshiba added to his art was his own peaceful (in fact, pretty hippie-like) philosophy and created a stable organization that has survived generations. In addition, he was an excellent teacher, and left behind many students that could continue Aikido on their own in various parts of the world. I agree with Derek his ability to teach and keep his top students over the decades was a key to why Aikido has grown and spread throughout the world.
Either way,Taika Oyata is a martial arts legend, Ryu Te ™ i.e RYuKyu Kempo is a wonderfull art, I believe that many people do not flock to Ryu Te because it is a complex art, lifestyle if you will, I do not have much to say about Aikido, but Doshu Shiro Shintaku (http://www.tenshinichiryu.com) utilizes aikido concepts in Go Shin Do I beleive, Lets just hope that Ryu Te will be here for a long time to come as well as Taika Oyata, and by the way I belive he is 76 ;)
Sincerly,
Josh Paszkiewicz
I started in goju in 1979. For the past 9 years I’ve studied Ryu Te. I have 14 blackbelts in my school of various ranks. As a testamonial to Taika, most of us were high ranking in our respective styles. We thought we knew KARATE until we met Taika. It is an intricate system. Most Americans want instant gratification. Do the math. As for the gossip about the politics, can’t comment wasn’t there. I guess that’s one thing we have in common. I know Taika to be quite an honorable man. And as Jim Logue is concerned, not only would he be a more than fine leader based upon character but as a practioner his skill level is as superior as I’ve seen. He would have my total support and that of many. Guaranteed.
I have nothing but total respect for Louge-Tashi, I have had quite a few conversations throughout the last few years, and he has always been respectful, refined, and dignified.
I have not doubt that he would do wel inleading the Ryu Te, after close examination and conversations with others who were close to Taika and knew Tashi.
–Josh
I just happened to run across this page while looking for something else. Lucky me since it seems very interesting.
Here are just a few of my observations about “What does it take to be a good Sensei†and some of the comments made about my teacher (Taika Oyata) and his organization.
1. People leaving Taika’s Organization/short temper:
Yup, some people have left some have been booted. The one’s that left of their own accord have done so for various reasons. Some of those reasons have been due to the following, lack of time to train, family issues, no time to run a dojo and have a fulltime job, and so on. Some have been booted for what I would call “morals violationsâ€. I won’t go into specifics about who, what and where. Suffice it to say it was enough to get them removed from the organization. I would add that Mr. Oyata is an EXTREMELY forgiving individual and does give someone the “axe†without giving them a chance, at least as far as I have seen. I have also never known him to have a short temper. I think some folks confuse what seems to be having a short temper with not being as fluent in English as he would like. Having studied several foreign languages myself I understand his frustration at not always being able to communicate the nuance that you want.
2. Taika’s Organization:
Taika’s Org. is not huge like some Aikido groups like Aikikai, or Yoshinkan. From what I understand he doesn’t want them to be huge like that. Mr. Logue if I am wrong about this please correct me. With big organizations come big problems. It seems the bigger the group the more the problems. A lot of it seems to come from too many chiefs and not enough Indians if you know what I mean. Having lived in Japan for a few years I have seen this first hand in Japanese arts like Aikido and JKA/Shotokan. When I came to Japan there was only one JKA/Shotokan. Now I know of two and there might be 3 splinter groups from the original JKA. Kyokushin is another example. When Oyama was alive there was only one. About 30 seconds after he passed away there were two, now I think there are two main groups and 2~3 smaller ones.
Taika seems to prefer having his organization to be more like family rather than “businessâ€. In this respect he is VERY Okinawan. Okinawans and Japanese differ greatly in their ideology of social structure. Japanese tend to be a vertical society with upper and lower ranks. Okinawans tend to be more horizontal in nature and think everyone is equally of value in their own field. I could write a whole book on this but that’s the short version.
I think this concept can be seen in what Mr. Logue wrote below:
“Because Mr. Shintaku is Japanese and lived in the US for many years, he was able to help Taika Oyata translate the ideas and concepts that he wished to teach. Taika Oyata chose many people at his independence dojo to specialize in certain aspects of his art so that it could be more easily taught to the organization as a whole. Unfortunately the misconception that those that were “chosen†were the “top†students and therefore were the inhereters of Taika’s art.”
As far as “top students†go I think they all know who they are and most folks know who they are as well.
“The analogy about the sustainablilty of Aikido due to Ueshiba’s influence and RyuTe. This is not a fair comparison, Ueshiba is the founder of Modern Aikido, so naturally everyone will give his credit even thought there are many diffrent styles of orginizations. Taika Oyata did not found Karate, he practices a particular branch. Although he doesn’t have thousand of people clamoring to join his orginzation, he has influenced many other branches of karate that give him credit for opening their eyes.”
This is true. I have tried to find mention of kata bunkai, tuite, and kyusho as it relates to Karate in pre-Taika American literature. I haven’t found a single decent reference or explanation. After Taika introduce these things in the 1980’s there was a boom of information and self proclaimed “experts†on the subject. Funny I never saw mention of them before. Now if you GOOGLE any of those words you will get a ton of hits. Sorry, again I will refer to my living and training in Japan. Not once have I seen anyone that has the knowledge, not to mention skill, on these subjects in any Karate org. over here. Not once.
As for the comparison to Aikido…..well there are plenty of splinter groups, squabbles, petty jealousies and conflicts in the Aikido world over here. So Aikido is not really a good example to follow.
>”Sharon also points out that my obsession with the overuse of the title “Doshu†é“主 is undeserved, since it simply means ‘founder’ in Japanese. This may just be my pet peeve then, but I feel that the martial arts culture suffers from an overuse of pretentious titles. Reading the bio page on Shintaku-sensei’s page, it still sounds overly pretentious to me, with the phrasing of Doshu this and Doshu that in 3rd person. I also feel the same about martial artists who always add titles like Shihan 師範, Kyoshi 教師, Hanshi (範師 or 範士, depending) , Master, Grand Master, or (not the most pretentious but the most annoying in my opinion) Professor after thier names.”
I agree. Most western people are clueless on this matter. It’s not their fault since it’s not their native language. The misuse of titles is enormous in the west.
Correction:
I would add that Mr. Oyata is an EXTREMELY forgiving individual and does NOT give someone the “axe†without giving them a chance, at least as far as I have seen.
I’m amazed to have found this. I study under one of Mr. Oyata’s former students in Ohio, but I will be moving soon. Does anyone know of a school of his lineage near Champaign-Urbana Illinois?
Well, I can tell you that there aren’t any official RyuTe affiliated schools there from a search at the official website http://www.ryute.com/ . The closest in Illinois seems to be in Waukegan, which is not close at all. As for not officially affiliated with Taika Oyata, that’s a lot harder. Google and http://www.e-budo.com are good places to look.
I studied with Master Taika Oyata at the age of 15, and he was teaching me how to fight Muy Thai fighters before Muy Thai was well known in the United States. Now it has become a worldwide televised sport. Many people don’t know who Taika Oyata is. I wouldn’t have either if it wasn’t for my instructor, Rocky Emily, who studied under Taika Oyata.
God bless Taika Oyata!
From Warfus Powell Jr.: 5th degree black belt, Kempo.
I love Ryu te as a martial art, but I have to say the organization leaves a lot to be desired. Oyata is a hothead. There is no way around that, but this doesn’t mean he isn’t an AMAZING martial artist. I’ve personally met some (not all) of Oyata’s students, and they were arrogant, self promoting jerks, but I’ve met an equal number who were wonderful martial artists as well as human beings.
I am glad to find this site. Jim Logue is a wonderful person and higly respected by myself. He, of course, will be an excellent sucessor to Oyata, sensei.
i am amor sensei students.He has taught what Oyata sensie taught. that a martial artist is to try to stay on the path of being a good human being. but sometimes we all straigh from the path , but we are only human. a martial artist is not perfect. but they try hardest to do what is right and stay on the path. i have met geraldi hanshi ,and mr. shintaku. they all teach oyata teaching. i am still understand the art it self. i will support oyata sensei of who ever he leaves to run ryu-te org.i will also support amor sensei and urka. we are all good poeple inside karate brings out the best in us. the dojo kun and GP are rules for us to follow. but does not mean that we wont make mistakes along the way. we are only human. it our job to help each other along way and keep each other on the path. i am just one person who is trying to a betterway with lords help and karate to become better person all around,not just kata , technique and rank. but pass on what i learn. Oyata sensei i hope u are feeling better after your surgey. u are honorable person , amor sensei and the rest of u too.