Kiyohide Shinjo (新城 清秀), was born November 3, 1951, Ie Island, is a nine-time all-Okinawa kata and kumite champion, and a master (10th dan) of Uechi Ryū karate. One of his most memorable moments was his 3 second KO with a high toe kick. Master Shinjo's unparalleled success in Okinawan karate competition earned him the nickname "Okinawa's Superman".

Kiyohide Shinjo is the son and student of Seiyu Shinjo. Shinjo earned his shodan at his father's school at age 16. After his father's death in 1981, Shinjo retired undefeated from karate competition and founded the Kenyukai fraternity within the Uechi Ryū Association. "Ken" means "fist", "yu" is derived from Seiyu Shinjo's name, and "kai" means "group", so "Kenyukai" means "Seiyu Shinjo's strong fist group". At that time he also took over his father's dojo in Kadena, Okinawa.

Shinjo has served on the Okinawa Karate Federation Board of Directors since 1980. He was elected chairman of that board for periods spanning 1991 through 1994, and he was the youngest person ever elected to that position.

In 2004, Shinjo moved his dojo to Toguchi in Yomitan, Okinawa. He has senior students all over the world.

Today there exist a number of organizations and associations which practice Uechi Ryui karate. One of these organizations was founded by the Shinjo family, and is known as Kenyukai.

Seiryo Shinjo, living and working in Japan, befriended Kanbun Uechi and became his closest friend and student in the Shataku Dojo. He remained a student of Kanbun for 10 years. Seiryo Shinjo’s son, Seiyu, was born in Japan in 1929. Seiyu Shinjo became a student of Kanbun when he was 10 years old.

Kiyohide Shinjo Hanshi 10th dan Uechi-Ryu

In 1946, when Kanbun Uechi returned to Okinawa, three of his students Seiryo and Seiyu Shinjo and Seiko Toyama, returned to Okinawa with him. In 1951, Seiyu Shinjo’s first son, Kiyohide Shinjo, was born. Seiyu moved to Naha City, Okinawa in 1953, where he continued to train under Kanei Uechi.

In 1960, Seiyu Shinjo and his family moved to Kadena City in Okinawa to join his father, Seiryo, where they opened the Kadena Shubukan. Seiyu Shinjo’s second son, Narahiro Shinjo, was born that year. Kiyohide Shinjo also began training in 1960. It was in this dojo, the Kadena Shubukan, that grandfather, father, and son all taught Uechi Ryu (at one time or another) until the dojo was closed down due to city redevelopment in September 2004.

Kiyohide Shinjo was promoted to Shodan (first degree black belt) in 1968. In 1970, Kiyohide Shinjo won 1st place in both kata and kumite (sparring) in the 3rd annual Okinawa Championship Tournament. He continued to do so for a record nine years straight. Between 1981 and 2004, Narahiro Shinjo placed 1st in kata in 6 of the annual all Okinawan Championship Tournaments.

In 1976, Seiryo Shinjo, Kiyohide’s grandfather, died. Kiyhohide Shinjo was inducted to the Board of Directors of the All Okinawan Karate Federation in 1981. He was the Chairman of the Board from 1991 through 1994, and he still serves on this Board today.

Following the death of Seiyu Shinjo, Kiyohide Shinjo took over as the chief instructor at the Kadena Shubukan. After the closing of the Kadena Shubukan in 2004, Kiyohide Shinjo opened a new dojo in Zakimi City, Okinawa.

Courtesy of OKDKarate

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