December 23, 1953
Masaaki Ikemiyagi, future Sensei and famous traditional Okinawan karate master, was born in Naha town in Okinawa.

June 1, 1968
Fifteen year old Masaaki started to study karate from Meitoku Yagi in his dojo. Later Yagi Sensei has become not only his first and most respected teacher, but also his spiritual advisor who would pass the secrets of Goju-ryu tradition on to Ikemiyagi.

January 28, 1973
First demonstration performance by Masaaki Ikemiyagi Sensei at a tournament held by the All Okinawa Karate-do Federation.

March, 1975
Masaaki Ikemiyagi graduated from Okinawa University majoring in Law and Economics (Department of Economics).

November 12, 1978
Masaaki Ikemiyagi was awarded with the honorable title of Shihan, instructor, in the Goju-ryu Meibukan Headquarters.

Masaaki Ikemiyagi 9th dan Hanshi

April, 1977 — February, 1978
The master spent ten months teaching karate in Brazil. It was the first foreign trip for the Master. And after that Ikemiyagi Sensei continued to travel and teach seminars spreading traditional Okinawan karate in other countries: China, Taiwan, Indonesia, Brazil, Australia, Russia, India, Georgia, European countries, and USA, including Hawaii.

July 1, 1980
Masaaki Ikemiyagi opened his own dojo on the third floor of his house in Okinawa. Up to 50 students could train at the same time there. Soon followers of the Sensei from all over the world started to come to this dojo.

August 23, 1981
Ikemiyagi Sensei participated in the demonstration performance to commemorate the seventh year to the memory of Saeko Fukuchi Sensei.

July 17, 1983
Masaaki Ikemiyagi’s performance at a demonstration contest in honor of the founder of the style, Chōjun Miyagi. The event was held by the All Japan Goju-ryu Society.

February 23, 1987
Masaaki Ikemiyagi gave a demonstration performance at the First Australian Championship held by the Australian Branch of Meibukan. Later the Master annually gave performances and held seminars at this event.

Year 1987
Masaaki Ikemiyagi accepted the challenge from Shiza Takeshi, Japan champion in shootboxing in two weight classes, and fought him.

January 25, 1991
Masaaki Ikemiyagi was an invited guest and gave a demonstration performance at the First International Contest in Chinese Martial Arts held by the Chinese Martial Arts Society.

April 1, 1991
Ikemiyagi Sensei was appointed the Director of Okinawa Goju-ryu Karate-do Society. He served 2 terms (for years) in the position.

April 1, 1995
Ikemiyagi Sensei became the Director of All Okinawa Karate-do Federation.

May 24, 1997
Masaaki Ikemiyagi held his first seminar in New Mexico at a tournament organized by the USA Okinawan Meibukan Branch. He also continued to participate in the events, till June 17, 2016.

April 11, 1999
The Sensei was appointed the Deputy Chairman of Okinawa Goju-ryu Karate-do Society. He served 4 years in the position.

Masaaki Ikemiyagi 9th dan Hanshi

2002
The Discovery Channel released a series of films about martial arts «Way of the Warrior». A separate issue is dedicated to Masaaki Ikemiyagi, Grandmaster of the Okinawan Goju-Ryu martial arts.

October 22, 2005
The Master participated in the commemorative demonstration tournament to honor the twenty fifth year of Okinawa Meibukan Headquarters.

March 21, 2006
The Master participated in the demonstration tournament to honor the third year to the memory of Meitoku Yagi Sensei. The event was hosted by the International Okinawan Goju-ryu Karate-do Federation.

April 23, 2006
Okinawa Goju-ryu Karate-do Society and its Chairman, Katsuyuki Kishimoto, awarded Masaaki Ikemiyagi with the Hanshi title and 9th dan.

October 8, 2006
The Master participated in a demonstration tournament to honor the fiftieth year of the founding of the Okinawa Goju-ryu Karate-do Society.

April 1, 2007
Masaaki Ikemiyagi was appointed as the Director of All Okinawa Karate-do Federation. He served two terms in the position.

March 22, 2009
The Master participated in the demonstration performance to honor the seventh year to the memory of Meitoku Yagi Sensei. The event was hosted by the Goju-ryu Meibukan Headquarters.

November 4–13, 2009
The Sensei travelled to Moscow and taught as an instructor at the Russian International Seminar held by the Okinawa Karate and Kobudo Federation of Russia.

March 23, 2011
The Administration of Okinawa held a symposium on the culture of the prefecture and the Sensei participated with a demonstration of his skills.

April 1, 2011
Masaaki Ikemiyagi was appointed as the Chairman of the Okinawa Goju-ryu Karate-do Society. He served 2 terms (4 years) in the position.

February 14, 2012
The Okinawa Karate Promotion Association (Okinawa Dentō Karatedō Shinkōkai) was founded, Masaaki Ikemiyagi was appointed its Deputy Director.

May 15, 2012
The Sensei showed a demonstration to honor the fortieth year of Okinawa reunion with Japan. The event was held by the Okinawa Prefecture Administration.

February 2–7, 2013
Masaaki Ikemiyagi Sensei was an instructor at an international seminar in France. The trip was sponsored by the Okinawa Prefecture Administration.

March 24, 2013
The Master held a demonstration at an event organized by the Uechi-ryu Association.

September 9, 2013
The Sensei taught as an instructor at the First International Seminar of Traditional Okinawa Karate-do held by the Okinawa Prefecture Administration. It would become a tradition and the Master would regularly participate in the event.

November 24, 2014
All Okinawa Karate-do Federation headed by the Chairman Meitetsu Yagi awarded the Sensei with the Hanshi title and ninth dan.

February 12–18, 2015
The Okinawa Prefecture Administration held an event abroad. The Sensei taught as an instructor at an international seminar in Australia.

April 1, 2015
Masaaki Ikemiyagi was appointed the Deputy Chairman of the All Okinawa Karate-do Federation.

January 26–27, 2016
The Master demonstrated his skill at the Osaka Evenings, Tokyo event to support tourism in Okinawa.

September 24, 2016
The Master participated in the demonstration tournament to honor the seventh year to the memory of Jouen Nakazato Sensei. The event was held by the All Okinawa Association for Shorinji Karate.

October 24, 2016
Masaaki Ikemiyagi Sensei gave a demonstration performance at the Bankoku Shinryokan tourist site at the meeting of Kyushu region mayors. The event was held by the Okinawa Prefecture Administration.

November 23–29, 2016
Okinawa Administration, together Okinawa Karate and Kobudo Federation of Russia, held an all-style martial arts’ seminar in Moscow. Ikemiyagi Sensei was a representative for Goju-ryu style there.

February, 2017
Tokyo Weekender published an article about Karate Master Masaaki Ikemiyagi titled «The People of Okinawa».

Masaaki Ikemiyagi 9th dan Hanshi

March 5, 2017
Okinawa Administration invited Masaaki Ikemiyagi to demonstrate his art at the meeting of Keio Mita-Kai Society meeting.

October 12–21, 2017
Masaaki Ikemiyagi Sensei held an international seminar at the Italia Meibukan Branch.

November 1–11, 2017
The Master held a demonstration performance at the event devoted to the twentieth year of Memorandum of Friendship between Okinawa and Fújiàn Province.

November 12–18, 2017
Sensei held a seminar in India. The event was organized by the Indian Okinawa Karate Association.

January 11–23, 2018
Okinawa Administration held an event abroad and the Master taught as an instructor in Tokyo, Spain, Great Britain, and Germany.

April 1, 2018
Masaaki Ikemiyagi 3rd time was re-elected executive secretary of the Okinawa Karate Promotion Association (Okinawa Dentō Karatedō Shinkōkai).

May 23-31, 2018
Sensei held an international seminar in New Mexico, USA, organized by the School’s branch in this country.

June 17-23, 2018
Ikemiyagi Sensei headed an international gashuku in Georgia. After the training sessions there was an attestation and Master awarded new ranks to the students. The event was facilitated by the Representative Branch of Ikemiyagi Dojo in Russia.

August 1, 2018
The opening ceremony of the 1st Okinawa Karate International Tournament concluded with individual performances. Only four sensei from the island of Okinawa and only one of their international students were selected to represent the main styles of karate-do and kobu-do. Goju-Ryu was represented by Kancho Masaaki Ikemiyagi and his Shibucho Dmitry Rybakov.

Masaaki Ikemiyagi 9th dan Hanshi

August 7, 2018
At the end of the 1st Okinawa Karate International Tournament, Sensei held a Goju-Ryu seminar, that attended several dozen people from all over the world.

August 18-19, 2018
Masaaki Ikemiyagi Sensei has been sent as part of the delegation of Okinawa Prefecture to China, Fuzhou, where demonstration performances have been held as part of a friendly exchange.

October 19, 2018
Ryukyu Shinpo gave the Grandmaster an award for the contribution and development of Okinawan karate-do and kobu-do. This award was established in 1993 for the 100th anniversary of the newspaper and presented every 5 years to figures who excel in the work of preserving and transmitting the heritage of traditional Okinawan karate.

November 16-18, 2018
Sensei held the 2nd International seminar in Italy, organized by the branch of the School in this country.

January 19-20, 2019
Okinawa Prefecture organized a international event. Ikemiyagi Sensei taught as an instructor at the international seminar in Portugal. This event was attended by 7 federations, more than 300 people from different countries.

June 7-9, 2019
Sensei held an international seminar in New Mexico, USA, organized by the School’s branch in this country.

January 21-26, 2020
Ikemiyagi Sensei taught as an instructor at the Okinawa Traditional Karate International Seminar organized by the Prefectural Authority on Okinawa Island.

April 1, 2020
Masaaki Ikemiyagi was re-elected the 4th time as Executive Secretary of the Okinawa Karate Promotion Association (Okinawa Dentō Karatedō Shinkōkai).

July, 2020
Anniversary of the Hombu Dojo. It has been 40 years since Masaaki Ikemiyagi Sensei opened his School in Okinawa.

August 8, 2020
Masaaki Ikemiyagi held the first international online Master Class for the heads of his branches. During the pandemic, Sensei organized a series of online seminars around the world.

October 25, 2020
Ikemiyagi Sensei participated in the organization of a large-scale online event dedicated to the Karate Day. More than 10,000 viewers watched demonstrations from around the world on live tv.

January 17, 2021
Sensei held a Okinawa Traditional Karate Seminar organized by the Japan Travel Agency.

April 1, 2021
Masaaki Ikemiyagi was elected President of the All Okinawa Karate-do Federation and appointed Vice President of the Okinawa Traditional Karate Corporate Legal Entity.

With thanks to Masaaki Ikemiyagi and ikemiyagi.com

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