Okinawa Seidokan

Master Shian Toma

Seidokan's founder, Master Shian Toma, was born on the island of Okinawa in 1929. He first studied karate at the age of 16 in the mainland Japanese city of Osaka, where he lived for a year during World War II. Upon his return to Okinawa, he began studying under Shinzato Sokishi for more than 20 years. Master Sokishi taught only four kata: Seisan, Sanchin, Chinto, and Bo. Sensei Toma readily admitted that he spent over a year learning and practicing Seisan Kata before being allowed to move on to Sanchin Kata; most of the old Okinawan masters were strict about the precise execution of kata.

During the early 1960s, Sensei Toma became affiliated with the All-Japan Karate Association, then under the guidance of Grand Master Zenryu Shimabuku. From Grand Master Shimabuku, Sensei Toma learned the majority of the kata that he would go on to practice and teach. These kata included Wansu, Ananku, Passai, Pinans 1 through 5, Nahachi, Passai-Sho, Gojushijo, Sai, Tunfa, and Kama Kata.

In the mid-1960s, Sensei Toma began studying under Grand Master Seikichi Uehara. Grand Master Uehara was the head of the Motobu-Ryu system of Bu-Jutsu. The Motobu-Ryu system is a little-known Okinawan martial art that strongly resembles the old fighting methods of the Japanese Samurai. To the untrained eye, it resembles Aikido in its unarmed methods; however, the throwing and joint-locking techniques of Motobu-Ryu are most similar to the ancient Aiki Ju-Jutsu of Japan.

In 1984, Master Toma began his own style, known as Seidokan. Seidokan is a mixture of several different karate styles, including Shorin-Ryu, Motobu-Ryu, and Goju-Ryu, along with several other influences. Shian Toma's style of Seidokan is now taught throughout Okinawa, Japan, the United States, Greece, Spain, England, and South Africa.

Shian Toma passed away on May 30, 2013, but his legacy lives on.