Instructors
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Director of Seiwa Kai: Hanshi
Shuji Tasaki - 8th dan (Japan)
January 20th 1933
- present |
Born in Tokyo, Shuji Tasaki Hanshi was
one of the head Shihan in the early years of the All Japan Karatedo Gojukai
Yamaguchi-ha. See the following outline for his specific Biography /
Curriculum Vitae:
1974 - Continues teaching Gojuryu Karatedo at his Dojo in Oshiage Tokyo
Japan.
1986 - Acquired the grade JKF Gojukai 8th Dan
1986 - Acquires the Shihan license of Hanshi
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Chief Instructor of Seiwa Kai:
Shihan Seichi Fujiwara - 8th dan(Japan) |
Born in Yokote City Japan, Seichi
Fujiwara Shihan is the 8th Dan [as of this writing] in the JKF Gojukai.
Fujiwara Sensei has had a pivotal role in guiding Goju Ryu Karatedo outside
of Japan, having taught in more than 20 countries over the past 10 years and
continuing his time away from family and home several times per year
annually. See the following outline for his specific Biography / Curriculum
Vitae:
Japan Karatedo Federation Gojukai; 8th Dan
Seiwkai Gojuryu Karatedo; 8th Dan
Japan Karatedo Federation; 7th Dan
Vice President; Seiwakai Gojuryu Karatedo
Former; National Champion Kata and Kumite
Director and Coach; Akita Karate-Do Federation Goju-Kai
Senior member; Oversees Committee for National Karate-Do Federation Goju-kai
Appointed; Executive Director of the JKF Gojukai
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President & Chief Instructor:
Sensei Vassie Naidoo - 6th
Dan (USA)
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Sensei Vassie has over 40 years of experience in the art of
Goju Ryu where he began training in South Africa, then moved to Thailand, Hong Kong, Japan and
finally settled in Santa Monica, California. He received his Shodan and Nidan
from Goshi Yamaguchi and Sandan from Gogen Yamaguchi in 1978. Sensei Vassie has
been a student of Shihan Leo Lipinski (highest ranked JKF Goju Kai and Seiwa Kai
Member outside Japan ) since 1966.
He travels to Japan annually representing the United States to receive
instruction by the world's highest instructors. He also travel yearly,
internationally, to Mexico, Columbia, South Africa, and India to hold seminars.
Within the United States he travels quarterly to Chicago, San Francisco and San
Diego.
In 1975 he held the first multiracial karate tournament with Stuart Booth in a
soccer stadium in Durban, South Africa in 1975 when apartheid was at it's
highest point. During his earlier years he was a kata and kumite competitor
protective gear was never worn (hand pads, mouthpieces, or groin protectors).
He was recently inducted into the South Africa Hall of Fame in 2004 as a
prominent and promising martial artist.
- One of the highest ranked JKF GojuKai membesr in the USA (JKF (Japan Karatedo
Federation) is the only karate recognized by the Japanese government, not
all dojos in the world are recognized by JKF)
- JKF GojuRyu Seiwa Kai 6th Dan
- President and Chief Instructor of
Goju Ryu Seiwa Kai USA
- Vice President of California JKF Goju Ryu
Association and USA JKF Goju Ryu Association
- Member of USA JKF Goju Ryu Testing Panel
- C.E.O of K.I.C.K. (Karate for Inner City Kids) a non profit
organization, helping kids keep off the streets, drugs, and gangs
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Vice President:
Sensei Desmond Tuck - 6th Dan |
Sensei Des began his martial arts training in 1964 at the age of 10, by
joining a Judo club in Durban, South Africa. In 1970, he joined the
International Karate-do Goju Kai under Leo Lipinski Shihan. Between 1973 and
1976, he also trained under Stuart Booth, Shihan, head of Goju Ryu Kenwa
Kai, South Africa. He was awarded his IKGA Shodan in 1974 and received his
Nidan in 1976 directly from Goshi Yamaguchi Shihan.
Sensei Des
emigrated to the USA in 1978 and attended night law school in San Francisco,
graduating in 1983. He was admitted to the California Bar and practices law
in San Mateo, handling general civil litigation matters, as well as
adoptions and guardianships. He is "AV rated" by Martindale Hubbell, and in
2005, he was named a "Northern California Superlawyer" by San Francisco
Magazine."
When Lipinski Shihan left the IKGA, Sensei Des followed his instructor to
Goju Ryu Karate-do Seiwa Kai, and together with Vassie Naidoo Shihan, formed
the US branch of that organization in 1992. Sensei Des has been the
President of Goju Ryu Seiwa Kai USA since then.
Sensei Des has participated in many high level seminars in UK, USA, South
Africa, Japan, Portugal, Hungary, Slovakia, and Austria. He represented the
USA in the Pan American Maccabi Games in Venezuela in 1987 and in the World
Maccabi Games in Israel in 1993.
In 2001, he obtained his JKF Goju Kai 5th Dan in Tokyo, Japan while
suffering from severe arthritis in his hips. In 2001 and 2003, he underwent
bilateral hip resurfacing surgery and in 2005, won bronze medals at the USA
National Karate Federation championships in both kata and kumite. He was
inducted into the South African Martial Arts Hall of Fame in 2004.
In 2007, he obtained his JKF Goju Kai 6th Dan in Osaka, Japan. He was the
first person in the world to test under the JKF Goju Kai after having undergone
bilateral hip resurfacing.
He lives in Menlo Park, California and runs a small dojo catering to
teenagers in Palo Alto.
- Goju Ryu Seiwa Kai and JKF Goju Kai 6th Dan
- President of California JKF Goju Ryu
Association and USA JKF Goju Ryu Association.
- Vice President of Goju Ryu Seiwa Kai USA
- Member of USA JKF Goju Ryu Association Testing Panel; Holder of JKF
Goju Kai Renshi license
- Coach of JCC Maccabi Karate team since 1992, representing
California.
- Practicing attorney in California, 1984 - present
- Completed San Francisco Golden Gate Marathon 1983
Assistant Instructors:
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Godan
5th degree |
Yondan
4th
degree |
Sandan
3rd degree |
Nidan
2nd degree |
Shodan
1st degree |
Jim Pounds
(Austin, TX) |
James Daly |
Andrew Davids
(Santa Cruz) |
Dominic
Naidoo |
Maria Sabater
(San
Jose, CA) |
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Johnpaul
Williams
(San Francisco, CA) |
Andrea Daly |
Hershal
Sabater
(San Jose, CA) |
Romy Olea |
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Jeffery Alexander |
Edison Valante |
Hannalisa
Savolainen |
Oanh Mandal |
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Brian Lerner |
Alexander
Ivanov
(Boston, MA) |
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Sanjit Mandal |
Krishan
Narayan |
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Melinda
Meijaos |
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