Shimabukuro Sensei

Yukinobu Shimabukuro (島袋幸信) Sensei was born in Okinawa in 1942.
Like all children of his generation, his early years were marked by World War II and the subsequent American occupation.

After practicing Kendo, the young Yukinobu, then 20 years old, began studying karate under Seiko Toyama (當山清幸) from 1962 to 1967.
Toyama Sensei was one of Kanbun Uechi’s students, teaching the original Uechi-Ryu style developed by Kanbun.
Today, this lineage is carried on by his American students from Okinawa, who continued the Uechi-Ryu Zankai after his death.

Shimabukuro Sensei then moved to Tokyo for work, where he continued his training under Komesu Kiyoshi (Fujisawa – Kanagawa).

Departure to Martinique

In early 1971, Kanei Uechi asked him to travel to Martinique to teach his art.
Shimabukuro Sensei stayed there for two years. During this time, he taught karate and met a young Frenchwoman, whom he married in August 1972.
The newlyweds then spent a few years in France before returning to Tokyo with their two children.
While in Tokyo, Shimabukuro Sensei continued his training under Master Uehara Saburo, a student of Kanbun Uechi who contributed to the creation of the kata Seichin.

Return to France

Upon returning to France, Shimabukuro began developing Uechi-Ryu Karate under the French Karate Federation.
A few years later, Uechi-Ryu Karate was officially recognized in France.

Uechi-Ryu Karate-Do Europe

In parallel with the development of Uechi-Ryu Karate in France, Shimabukuro Sensei actively worked to expand his school across the rest of Europe.
He soon founded the Association Uechi-Ryu Karate-Do Europe, bringing together France, Belgium, Spain, Portugal, Romania, and later Russia.

In 2007, he was recognized as Hanshi by Kanmei Uechi (Sōke), who awarded him his ninth dan and appointed him the official representative of the Uechi-Ryu Karate-Do Association of Okinawa for Europe and Russia.

National Federal Expert

Due to his dedication to the development of Uechi-Ryu Karate within the French Karate Federation (FFK), Shimabukuro Sensei was recognized as a federal expert.
Now over 80 years old, he continues to work tirelessly for the growth of his school. He is the author of the book Uechi-Ryu Karate-Do, published in French and Japanese, and contributed to the creation of a DVD on Uechi-Ryu Karate with Lionel Froidure.

Affectionately called “Shima” by his students, Shimabukuro Sensei is a man of great character who has dedicated his life to fulfilling the mission entrusted to him by his Okinawan masters: to popularize and gain recognition for Uechi-Ryu Karate.
If we can practice Uechi-Ryu in Europe today, it is primarily thanks to him!