Fumio Demura

In this Japanese name, the family name is "Demura".

Fumio Demura
F. Demura, November 2006
Born	September 15, 1938 (1938-09-15) (age 73) Yokohama, Japan
Residence	Santa Ana, California, USA
Nationality	Japanese
Style	Shitō-ryū Karate
Teacher(s)	Ryusho Sakagami, Taira Shinken
Rank	9th dan karate
Website	http://www.genbu-kai-hq.com/

Fumio Demura (出村 文男, Demura Fumio^?, born September 15, 1938) is a Japanese master of karate.^[1] He is a well known master of karate and kobudo (weaponry),^[2] and his martial arts skills featured in the Karate Kid series of films.^[3] Demura holds the rank of 9th dan in Shitō-ryū karate.^[1]

Early life

Demura was born on September 15, 1938, in Yokohama, Japan.^[1] At the age of 9, he began training in karate and kendo under an instructor named Asano.^[1] At the age of 12 he started training under Ryusho Sakagami in Itosu-kai karate.^[1] Demura received his 1st dan black belt in 1956,^[1] and won the East Japan Championships in 1957.^[1] In 1959, he began training in kobudo, a style of Okinawan weapons training, under the direction of Taira Shinken.^[1][2] In 1963, Demura met martial arts scholar Donn Draeger, who introduced him to Dan Ivan, who would eventually bring him to the United States of America as a karate instructor.^[3]

United States of America

In 1965, Demura came to the United States, representing the Japan Karate-do Itosu-kai.^[1] From his base in southern California, he became well known for his karate and kobudo skills.^[3] In 1971, he was ranked 5th dan,^[4] and he remained at that rank until at least 1982.^[5] Through the 1970s and 1980s, Demura wrote several martial arts books, including: Shito-Ryu Karate (1971),^[6] Advanced nunchaku (1976, co-authored),^[7] Tonfa: Karate weapon of self-defense (1982),^[8] Nunchaku: Karate weapon of self-defense (1986),^[9] Bo: Karate weapon of self-defense (1987),^[10] and Sai: Karate weapon of self-defense (1987).^[11]

In the 1980s, Demura became involved in the Karate Kid series of films.^[3] He was the stunt double for Pat Morita, who played Mr. Miyagi.^[3] Demura has appeared in several films and documentaries, including: The Warrior within (1976),^[12] The Island of Dr. Moreau (1977), The Karate Kid (1984), The Karate Kid, Part III (1989),^[13] Shootfighter: Fight to the death (1992),^[14] Rising Sun (1993),^[15] The next Karate Kid (1994),^[16] Masters of the martial arts (1998, presented by Wesley Snipes),^[17] Mystic origins of the martial arts (1998),^[18] Modern warriors (2002),^[19] XMA: Xtreme Martial Arts (2003),^[20] and Ninja (2009).^[21]

In 1986, Demura was promoted to 7th dan in Shito-ryū karate.^[1] In 2001, he was expelled from the Itosu-kai,^[22] and became the Director of Shito-ryū Karate-do Genbu-kai.^[1] In 2005, he was promoted to 9th dan.^[1] He currently resides in Santa Ana, California.^[23]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j k l} Japan Karate-Do Genbu-Kai International: Sensei Demura at a glance ... (c. 2007). Retrieved on March 3, 2010.
2. ^ ^{a b} Clayton, B. D., Horowitz, R., & Pollard, E. (2004): Shotokan's secret: The hidden truth behind Karate's fighting origins (p. 108). Black Belt Books. (ISBN 978-0-8975-0144-6)
3. ^ ^{a b c d e} USA Dojo: Shihan Fumio Demura (c. 2009). Retrieved on March 3, 2010.
4. ^ Demura, F. (1971): Shito-Ryu Karate (p. 4). Burbank, CA: Ohara. (ISBN 978-0-8975-0005-0)
5. ^ Demura, F. (1982): Tonfa: Karate weapon of self-defense (p. 5). Burbank, CA: Ohara. (ISBN 978-0-8975-0080-7)
6. ^ Demura, F. (1971): Shito-Ryu Karate. Burbank, CA: Ohara. (ISBN 978-0-8975-0005-0)
7. ^ Demura, F., & Ivan, D. (1976): Advanced nunchaku. Burbank, CA: Ohara. (ISBN 978-0-8975-0021-0)
8. ^ Demura, F. (1982): Tonfa: Karate weapon of self-defense. Burbank, CA: Ohara. (ISBN 978-0-8975-0080-7)
9. ^ Demura, F. (1986): Nunchaku: Karate weapon of self-defense. Burbank, CA: Ohara. (ISBN 978-0-8975-0006-7)
10. ^ Demura, F. (1987): Bo: Karate weapon of self-defense. Burbank, CA: Ohara. (ISBN 978-0-8975-0019-7)
11. ^ Demura, F. (1987): Sai: Karate weapon of self-defense. Burbank, CA: Ohara. (ISBN 978-0-8975-0010-4)
12. ^ IMDb: The Warrior within (1976) – Full cast and crew Retrieved on March 4, 2010.
13. ^ IMDb: The Karate Kid, Part III (1989) – Full cast and crew Retrieved on March 3, 2010.
14. ^ IMDb: Shootfighter – Fight to the death (1992) – Full cast and crew Retrieved on March 4, 2010.
15. ^ IMDb: Rising Sun (1993) – Full cast and crew Retrieved on March 4, 2010.
16. ^ IMDb: The next Karate Kid (1994) – Full cast and crew Retrieved on March 4, 2010.
17. ^ IMDb: Masters of the martial arts (1998) Retrieved on March 4, 2010.
18. ^ IMDb: Mystic origins of the martial arts (1998) Retrieved on March 4, 2010.
19. ^ IMDb: Modern warriors (2002) Retrieved on March 4, 2010.
20. ^ IMDb: XMA – Xtreme Martial Arts (2003) Retrieved on March 4, 2010.
21. ^ IMDb: Ninja (2009) – Full cast and crew Retrieved on March 4, 2010.
22. ^ Karate World: Fumio Demura expelled from Itosu-kai (November 1, 2001). Retrieved on March 3, 2010.
23. ^ Demura, F. (2006): Fumio Demura resume (June 6, 2006). Retrieved on March 3, 2010.

External links

• Fumio Demura at the Internet Movie Database

Persondata
Name	Demura, Fumio
Alternative names
Short description	Martial artist
Date of birth	September 15, 1938
Place of birth	Yokohama, Japan
Date of death
Place of death