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| Sokuichi Gibu Sensei was born in Chinen Village in Southern Okinawa on December 7, 1941. He began studying Goju-Ryu at age 14 and then in 1956, he began studying with Shorin-Ryu Master Shugoro Nakazato. After years of dedicated practice, he became the first 8th dan in the history of the Shorinkan. and was the vice-president of the organization. He built his own dojo,called the Butokukan in 1979 in Urasoe City where he has taught every week.
In 1991, Gibu Sensei resigned from the Shorinkan and started his own ryuha of Butokukan. The style followed the same curriculum as his teacher, Shugoro Nakazato and was recognized by the Zen Nihon Karate-Do Renmei whose members included such karate greats as Shoshin Nagamine, Kanei Uechi, Meitoku Yagi and Yuchoku Higa.
In December of 2005, Gibu Sensei was promoted to 10th degree black belt/Judan by the Zen Nihon Karate-Do Renmei at the Butokukan Hombu dojo and a celebration of this great acheivement was held at the Ginowan ANA hotel in April of 2006. He was later also recognized and promoted to 10th dan by the Okinawa Karate Association alongside his contemporaries Morio Higaonna(Goju-Ryu) and longtime friend Naoboru Ahagon who were also promoted to 10th dan.
 
Gibu Sensei has made great efforts in his organization to return to the kata that Chibana Chosin Sensei once taught. Over time, kata begins to change from one instructor to the next but Gibu Sensei believes that it is of the utmost importance to preserve the kata in their original form. Not only has he done this with empty hand kata, but he has made sure to catalog and teach the kobudo kata in the same form that they were passed on to him over 50 years ago.
Gibu Sensei has kept his organization very small in hopes to avoid commercialization and politics. Outside of Okinawa, he has granted only membership to three shibu dojos; Argentina, South Africa and the United States.
A well-respected businessman, Gibu Sensei is also a devoted husband with a beautiful family. His son. Makato, follows in his father's footsteps by having extremely strong karate and his famous father's kind nature. Gibu Sensei is blessed with four grandchildren, two of which practice karate at the Hombu dojo and are very gifted karateka.
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Historical Pictures
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| Front Row: Nakama Sensei, unknown, (second row next) a young Sokuichi Gibu, Katsuya Miyahira, Chosen Chibana |
 Shorinkan Aja Dojo, 1969
Left of Center: Sokuichi Gibu; Shugoro Nakazato; Masaru Yonamine
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Middle Row Second from Left: Sokuichi Gibu; Tadashi Yamashita
Back Row Third from Right: Jiro Shiroma
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| Sokuichi Gibu with his teacher Shugoro Nakazato |
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| Front Row: Daigo Shimabukuro; Tsuyoshi Tamaki; Hisashi Izumi: Makato Gibu
Back Row: Unknown; Naka Sensei; Sokuichi Gibu
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(picture courtesy of Kikukawa Masanobu Sensei.Victoria Shinko-Kai)
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The Shorin-Ryu Butokukan Hombu Dojo, 1982
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(picture courtesy of Kikukawa Masanobu Sensei.Victoria Shinko-Kai)
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(picture courtesy of Kikukawa Masanobu Sensei.Victoria Shinko-Kai)
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Shuri-Jo Masters Demonstration
Back Row Third from Left: Sokuichi Gibu
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Kinjo Kempo;Gibu Sokuichi ; Nakazato Minaru, ; Nakazato Shugoro; Yonamine Masaru,; Nakaza Seii
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1991
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| Sokuichi Gibu with childhood friend, Tadashi Yamashita-1980's
Rear(left to right)Sumino Sunagawa, Hisashi Izumi, Tsuyoshi Tamaki, Rocky Stolsmark, Neil Stolsmark, Daigo Shimabukuro
Front( Sokuichi Gibu, Tadashi Yamashita)
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| Gibu Sensei with his favorite kobudo buki(tonfa) |
Gibu Sensei demonstrating kata at the annual Okinawa Tsuna Hiki(Naha Tug of War)
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Certificate of 10th dan
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10th dan Embukai April 2006
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