Biography of Sensei Edward M. Takae Hanshi-Judan

Sensei Edward Takae was born on February 28th, 1926 in Honuapo, Hawaii. His father was a chemist and bookkeeper that lived on a Hawaiian sugar plantation in 1926. He started Kendo training when he was eight years old, after which he went on to study Judo. To this day, Sensei Takae gives credit to the training he received in Kendo for his later success in Karate tournaments.

It was not until he was stationed in Okinawa in the early 60’s that Sensei Takae continued his training in the martial arts. He was in his early 30’s when he started training under Sensei Zenryo Shimabukuro. Historically Karate Senseis were very selective in who they would take into their dojo as new students, Sensei Shimabukuro was no different. His training consisted of vigorous training seven days a week, and at times he would train twice and sometimes three times a day with Sensei Shimabukuro.

Very few if any students were taken in as Sensei Takae was by Sensei Shimabukuro. Zenryo Sensei was most impressed by his dedication, power and character so much so that in 1965, Sensei Takae was chosen to receive a “Shihan Menjo” or “Masters License” from Sensei Shimabukuro.

A Menjo is given to an exceptional student by a Sensei. Generally the Menjo is given only once in a lifetime by a Sensei and sometimes never. The receiving of a Menjo is the highest honor that a Sensei can bestow on a student. To our knowledge, Sensei Takae is the only one to receive the honor of a “Shihan Menjo” from this great Sensei.

While under the direct training of Sensei Shimabukuro, Sensei Takae, who was a member of the United States Army 1st Special Forces Group stationed at Kadena Airbase, became known for his exceptional fighting ability. During a tournament on May 17, 1964 Sensei Takae, who was a Nidan at the time, defeated all contending black belts to take the All Okinawan Karate Championship. Amazingly none of the other competitors were able to score a single point on the champion, a feat unheard of then or today.

Keeping with a request made by Sensei Shimabukuro, Sensei Takae preserved and upheld the teaching of the late Sensei. Sensei Takae was instrumental in the birth of the International Seibukan Karate- Do Association.

This Association was established in West Chester, Pennsylvania on October 8, 1978. Previous students of Sensei Zenryo Shimabukuro and their students were united in the formation of this Association.

Sensei Takae, being the senior Sensei in the United States, accepted the position of President and Zenpo Shimabukuro, the late Sensei Zenryo’s son, was named Supreme Sensei of this Association.

In 1990, due to the rapid growth, it made it necessary to divide the Association into five Branches with Sensei Takae assuming Supreme Sensei/President of the North American Branch. Sensei Zenpo became Chairman of the International Seibukan Karate-Do Association and its five Branches, and Supreme Sensei and President of the remaining four Branches.

On March 1, 2002, the North American Branch of the International Seibukan Karate-Do Association under the leadership of Sensei Takae resolved to separate and form a new Association that would continue the teachings of the late Sensei Shimabukuro. This Association became known as:

“JUNSUI SEIBUKAN KARATE-DO ASSOCIATION”

Thinking of the name of the late Sensei Zenryo, Sensei Takae remembered back to his days of training with the venerable Sensei. On one occasion he remembered asking his Sensei why do all the family names start with “ZEN” (Zenryo, Zenpo, Zenji). He was told that “ZEN” meant something “good”, something “whole”. Thinking along this line, something that is good and whole would be something that is “Pure”. Upon translating the word “pure” to Japanese, it came to be “JUNSUI”, pure, genuine, real, unmixed. This is what Sensei Takae was looking for to describe what our new name would stand for.

It was chosen to reflect the foundation of our Association and to continue the teachings of Sensei Zenryo Shimabukuro as they were taught to Sensei Takae, and how they are to be passed on to the future generations of Sensei.

Sensei Takae is currently living in Tampa, Florida teaching a select group of Sensei with the intent of having them continue the unchanged, traditional Sukunaihayashi style of Sensei Zenryo Shimabukuro as they were taught to him.