About Demura-Ha Shito-Ryu Karate-Do Genbu-Kai

 Karate-style fighting has been traced to the monks and priests of China, India, and Tibet. These men took time to refine and codify ways of self-defense into a skillful and efficient Art. From China, it crossed to Okinawa where it was known as ''Te" and consisted mainly of hand movements. In 1922, Masters Mabuni and Funakoshi introduced "Okinawa Te" to Japan. Many of our servicemen stationed throughout the world, especially in Japan and other Far East nations, brought back many different systems to the United States. The largest of these systems is the Japanese system. 

 The Shito-Ryu System was passed on from Mr. ltosu and Mr. Hjgaonna. In Kanji, the first two letters in their names spell "Shi" and "To". Mr. Mabuni combined them to name and form our style as it was handed down to him. Born in 1893, Mr. Mabuni was the 17th generation son of a famous samurai named Onigusuki. In 1929, he moved to Osaka and instructed many students, among them Ruysho Sakagami, who, in tum taught new generations including Mr. Fumio Demura. Today Shihan Demura is the chief instructor of the Shito-Ryu Karate-Do GenbuKai Organization.

Besides teaching Karate, Mr. Demura was the stuntman for Pat Morita in Karate Kid I, II, Ill, and O'Hara. Other films include, Island of Dr. Moreau, Bring 'Em back Alive, and most recently, Rising Sun, Mortal Kombat. These are just a few of the numerous films in which Mr. Demura has performed. For years he has featured al Japanese Village and al Las Vegas. Today he spends the brief time away that he takes from his Dojo to demonstrate at Tournaments and Charity events, and visit GenbuKai schools throughout the USA and the world. 

 Of all of the traditional Japanese karate styles, Shito-Ryu tends to be the most obscure, remaining little understood outside of its own schools. Shito-Ryu is most often described as a combination of Shotokan, a style of linear movements, and Goju-Ryu, a style of more rounded movements. It is also generally known that its teachers utilize formal exercises (kata) from many Okinawan sources. Unfortunately, such explanations fail to adequately describe just what Shito-Ryu really is.

There were four traditional styles of karate formed in Japan: Shito-Ryu, Shotokan, Goju-Ryu, and Wado-Ryu.
• The name Shito-Ryu was created by combining the names of the two masters responsible for the beginnings of the Shito-Ryu style. Shito-Ryu was developed and passed on from Master Ankoh Itosu and Master Kanryo Higaonna. In Kanji, the first two letters in their names spell "Shi" and "To" which are the parts of the name Shito-Ryu. Later, Master Kenwa Mabuni combined them to create the name Shito-Ryu, and formed our style. Born in 1893, Master. Mabuni was the 17th generation son of a famous samurai named Onigusuki. In 1929, he moved to Osaka and instructed many students, among them Ruysho Sakagami, who, in turn taught new generations including Shihan Demura. 

 Genbu-Kai logo In approximately 1999, Shihan Demura created Shito-Ryu Karate-Do Genbu-Kai International. The name Genbu-Kai has specific meaning. "Gen" means professional, and also original or beginning; "Bu" means martial art. "Kai" is organization.

The Genbu-Kai organization has schools teaching Shito-Ryu karate throughout the United States, and in more than 30 countries around the world.

Shihan Demura was the lead of the organization as its Chief Instructor and President up until his death in 2023. 

Until his passing, Shihan Demura spent much of his time traveling to all parts of the world demonstrating and promoting karate-do, kobudo, and batto-do at special events, tournaments, charity events, and to other Genbu-Kai dojos.

Shihan Demura also has done a great deal to develop Batto-Do (sword) and Okinawan Kobudo (weapons) organizations, training methods, and competition opportunities within his own organization and around the world.