User:Eihachi Ota

Eihachi Ota, Born 23, May 1945 is an Okinawa karate Master. He was born on Yaeyama Island, one of the most southerly islands in the Okinawan chain. Student of Shoshin Nagamine and Masao Shima senior student of Shoshin Nagamine. Sensei Ota Hanshi 10TH DAN. PRESIDENT, SHŌRIN-RYŪ KARATE AND KOBUDO ASSOCIATION (SKKA) AND OKINAWAN BUDOKAI.

History
Ota's father was a farmer who supplemented his income by working as a carpenter. Our community, of which my father was the headman, was very small. Never more than100 people. Our island was so tiny that it was almost impossible to find a place on it from which you could not see the ocean. My father insisted that his six children have an education so when I was about 13 we moved to Naha City on Okinawa. Shortly after that I came in contact with karate.

Early Life and Karate-do
I was just exposed to karate for the first time. One of our neighbor's friends did Goju-ryu and they used an old U.S. Army kitbag for punching practise. This got me interested enough to join the high school karate club. From there I became a member of Shima Sensei's Matsubayashi Shorin ryu dojo.

Student of Shoshin Nagamine school he was recognized as of the strongest in his high school karate club and he was asked to join Shima Ha, Shima Sensei's private dojo. Sensei Ota continued training on weekends at Nagamine dojo.

In 1973 Eihachi Ota came to America and he is one of the true pioneers of Okianwan karate in the United States. Like most of his countryman he is quiet, self-effacing, and modest, and as a result, is known only to long-term students of traditional karate. Sensei Ota is an expert in empty handed Karate as well as all the traditional Okinawan weapons of self-defense, which at one time were used in the fishing and farming industries: Nunchucks, Bo, Sai, Tonfa and Kama. Ota believes that Kobudo, the study of weapons, is an integral part of karate training, and he encourages students to practice the various weapons. Ota says that weapons training presents an opportunity for students from different styles to train together because the techniques needed for weapons are the same, regardless of stylistic variations or a student’s background. Always however, the student must first learn how to take care of the weapons, because in this way they develop respect and appreciation for the weapons, and, moreover, the responsibility and control to use it. Perhaps even more than his lightning speed or the forcefulness of his techniques, what differentiates Ota from all other sensei is his mastery of distance. Ota explains that when opponents engage, they are already at a very short distance from one another.

Author
Okinawan Karate: The Teachings of Eihachi Ota. This book is to compliment and show hidden moves in Shoshin Nagamine Book Essence of Okinawan Karate-Do''.

Matsubayashi Shorin Ryu is one of the world's major Karate styles. Created and developed by Okinawan masters, this style mixes the traditions and experiences of the ancient art with a modern approach to self-defense. In this work, Master Ota shows key traditional kata and bunkai. Some of the traditional Shorin Ryu forms illustrated in this essential book have never been analyzed this way before. This work is more than a how-to manual; it explores the history and philosophy behind this dynamic and practical method of Karate-do. Containing hundreds of photo illustrations that show the forms step-by-step, this book will be a valuable reference for anyone seeking to learn and understand not only the principles and techniques of Shorin Ryu but also the cultural essence of Okinawan Karate.