Tag Archives: Karate

Kiyohide Shinjo 9th-dan Uechi Ryu Karate.

Posted on May 1, 2013 by

On April 30th,  I took portraits of Kiyohide Shinjo. He is a 9th-dan Uechi Ryu karate master and a nine-time all-Okinawa kata and kumite champion. He dominated karate to such an extent he was known as the Okinawan Superman. Shinjo-sensei … Continue reading →

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Yoshiaki Gakiya Sensei & Neil Stolsmark Sensei – Matayoshi Kobudo.

Posted on April 14, 2013 by

This week I drove up to Nago to photograph a master of Okinawan Kobudo, Yoshiaki Gakiya. Kobudo is the weapons system of Okinawan martial arts. As well as being experts in unarmed combat, kobudo masters learned how to use farming … Continue reading →

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Yoshio Kuba 9th-dan Gojuryu Karate

Posted on January 12, 2013 by

67-year old Yoshio Kuba 9th-dan Gojuryu karate master, and an acupuncturist. I’m told his knowledge of pressure points allows him to be particularly effective when using many karate techniques.

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Karate Masters Portrait Project – Behind the Scenes Video

Posted on December 27, 2012 by

  Shaked Barzilay put together a short video showing James and I taking some portraits at the dojo of  Masakazu Kinjo 9th dan Uechi Ryu Karate and Ryukyu Kobudo. You can see photos from the shoot  here.   Thanks very … Continue reading →

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Karate Masters Portrait Project – Behind the Scenes

Posted on November 11, 2012 by

Thought I’d show a few behind the scenes shots from the  latest Karate Masters Portrait Project shoot with Shimabukuro-sensei. We assemble our mini studio inside the dojo of each master. I have a Profoto 7A power pack which plugs into … Continue reading →

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Seibukan Karate 10th Dan Zenpo Shimabukuro

Posted on November 9, 2012 by

Shorin-ryu Seibukan Karate 10th Dan Zenpo Shimabukuro, the latest subject of the Karate Masters Portrait Project. Shimabukuro sensei was kind enough to take an hour out of his evening for the shoot, and told us how pleased he was that … Continue reading →

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Nunchaku by the Numbers

Posted on September 12, 2012 by

Masakazu Kinjo demonstrates that there’s more to nunchaku than just swirling them around the body. Use the end to jab and break your attacker’s ribs. Trap the attacker’s wrist between the two shafts of the nunchaku. Use your forearm to … Continue reading →

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Karate Masters Portrait Project – Satoshi Kinjo & Kenta Kinjo

Posted on September 9, 2012 by

Satoshi  and Kenta Kinjo, sons of master Masakazu Kinjo, and already highly respected karate experts.

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Shorinryu Karate and Ryukyu Kobudo Master Hiroshi Akamine

Posted on May 30, 2012 by

Hiroshi Akamine a master in both Shorinryu Karate (no weapons) and Ryukyu Kobudo (a whole range of weapons). Lovely man based out of a new dojo in Tomigusku. On the wall of Akamine’s dojo there was an old black and … Continue reading →

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Uechiryu Karate 9th dan Takehiro Gaja

Posted on May 12, 2012 by

Gaja-sensei, a lovely Okinawan man in his late 60′s, who after years of conditioning, has become both the unstoppable force and the immovable object. Uechiryu Karate is in my opinion the toughest of the karate styles. It is based around … Continue reading →

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