1962-1986 News <> חדשות

As described in the "Ueshiro Shorin-Ryu Karate USA 50th Anniversary Commemorative Journal", "At the direction of Master  Shoshin Nagamine and the heads of the other Okinawa karate styles, Master Ueshiro leaves Okinawa to bring Shorin-Ryu to the United States.  He arrives in the US under special visa from the  US Government obtained through the efforts of James Wax" [a US Marine who who began training in 1958 under Master Ueshiro in Okinawa, to become three years later the first American citizen awarded a black belt in Shorin-Ryu; awarded by Master Shoshin Nagamine].

Master Ueshiro first landed in Alaska via a Northwest Airlines plane on September 14, 1962, making his way eventually to New York City, which he considered to be the center of the universe, where Ueshiro SRKUSA Hombu [Headquarters] Dojo is still based today.  Master Ueshiro's "... most valuable possession [that he brought to the USA] was not the bo, sai, or Tonfa he had carried all the way from Okinawa.  His greatest possession -- intended as a gift to future American students --- was a kata known as "Fukyugata-San."  A kata unique to Ueshiro Shorin-Ryu USA.

As described in the "Ueshiro Shorin-Ryu Karate USA 50th Anniversary Commemorative Journal":

Master Ueshiro opens multiple dojo in lower Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn and Hempstead, Long Island.

St. James Dojo is opened in Suffolk County, Long Island, by Sensei Joe Johnson.

Shown below is a page from the 1992 History book that Master Ueshiro had requested at the time that shows the different sites, since 1962, where our Shorin-Ryu Dojo had been located. Note that this is also where Hanshi Robert Scaglione was Chief Instructor, and where both he and Kyoshi Salvatore Scaglione began their training.  

Hanshi recalls vivid memories of the late 1960s when Master Ansei Ueshiro was often a "guest instructor" at this St.James Hegashi Dojo on Long Island.  Hanshi recalls as a deshi there having their "cat stance"  "revised" by Master Ueshiro "with great emphasis on increasing their vigor, heart, mind and soul" by holding the stance for what seemed like 20 minutes, while Master Ueshiro corrected everyone's "posture, balance, speed and coordination".  Hanshi stated that the deshi's "character, attitude and intentions were  unmistakably revealed" to Master Ueshiro!

72nd Street Dojo is opened by Master Ueshiro on the west side of Manhattan.

Robert Yarnall, senior student of Master Ueshiro and James Wax in St. Louis, MO, brings Shorin-Ryu to prominence in the Midwest.

Sullivan Street Dojo opens in lower Manhattan.

At the direction of Master Ueshiro, Robert Scaglione opens "Person-toPerson Karate" in Midtown Manhattan at 861 Third Ave; becomes the Hombu Dojo of Shorin-Ryu USA.

Hombu Dojo moves to 465 Lexington Ave. at 45th Ste., Manhattan.

Master Ansei Ueshiro proudly becomes a US Citizen.