User:Aggie80/Shoei Miyazato

Shoei Miyazato (宮里 昌栄) brought Shōrin-ryū Shidōkan karate to South America.

Okinawa
Shoei Miyazato began his study of martial arts in 1941 at the age of 13. In addition to boxing, he studied Shōrin-ryū Shidōkan under Katsuya Miyahira. In 1954, he introduced his friend Seikichi Iha to Miyahira and the two trained together for five years.

He was one of those featured in the exhibitions marking the complete restoration of Shuri Castle, as well as the 1995 and the 1997 World Karate held at the Budokan.

South America
The senior student of Miyahira, he moved to Argentina in 1959. Miyazato began teaching Shidō-kan in his new hometown, Cordoba. Since his arrival in 1959, Miyazato taught thousands of students.

In 1996, Miyazato left the Shidō-kan organization to teach his own style of karate. “Miyazato Dojo” has grown to 60 dojo in 15 states (out of 24) of Argentina  and also has established branches in the countries of Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Spain, Israel, Mexico, Peru, Sweden and Uruguay. Masatoshi Miyazato has been named as his successor in running the organization.

Though separated from the main organization, Miyazato remained in contact with his former training partners. In 2006 he brought his son, Masatoshi Miyazato, and some of his students to the United States to train with Seikichi Iha for North American Beikoku Shido-kan Karate-do Association's 30th Anniversary celebration and training seminar.

Personal life
Miyazato married his wife, Yoshiko Nakasone, in 1948. They had 6 children Masao, Yuriko, Masatoshi, Suiko, Mercedes and Naomi Miyazato.

He died in his home on July 3, 2013 due to respiratory failure.