Fumio Demura
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese master
of karate
. He is a well known master of karate and kobudo
(weaponry), and his martial arts skills featured in the Karate Kid series of films. Demura holds the rank of 9th dan
in Shitō-ryū karate.
, Japan. At the age of 9, he began training in karate and kendo
under an instructor named Asano. At the age of 12 he started training under Ryusho Sakagami in Itosu-kai karate. Demura received his 1st dan
black belt
in 1956, and won the East Japan Championships in 1957. In 1959, he began training in kobudo, a style of Okinawan weapons training, under the direction of Taira Shinken. 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.
In the 1980s, Demura became involved in the Karate Kid series of films. He was the stunt double for Pat Morita
, who played Mr. Miyagi. Demura has appeared in several films and documentaries, including: The Warrior within (1976), The Island of Dr. Moreau
(1977), The Karate Kid (1984), The Karate Kid, Part III
(1989), Shootfighter: Fight to the death (1992), Rising Sun
(1993), The next Karate Kid
(1994), Masters of the martial arts (1998, presented by Wesley Snipes
), Mystic origins of the martial arts (1998), Modern warriors (2002), XMA: Xtreme Martial Arts (2003), and Ninja (2009).
In 1986, Demura was promoted to 7th dan in Shito-ryū karate. In 2001, he was expelled from the Itosu-kai, and became the Director of Shito-ryū Karate-do Genbu-kai. In 2005, he was promoted to 9th dan. He currently resides in Santa Ana
, California.
Grandmaster (martial arts)
Grandmaster and Master are titles used to describe or address some senior or experienced martial artists. Such titles may be, to some extent, aligned to the elderly martial arts master stock character in fiction...
of karate
Karate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
. He is a well known master of karate and kobudo
Okinawan kobudo
Okinawan kobudō is a Japanese term that can be translated as "old martial way of Okinawa"...
(weaponry), and his martial arts skills featured in the Karate Kid series of films. Demura holds the rank of 9th dan
Dan (rank)
The ranking system is a Japanese mark of level, which is used in modern fine arts and martial arts. Originally invented in a Go school in the Edo period, this system was applied to martial arts by Kanō Jigorō, the founder of judo and later introduced to other East Asia countries.In the modern...
in Shitō-ryū karate.
Early life
Demura was born on September 15, 1938, in YokohamaYokohama
is the capital city of Kanagawa Prefecture and the second largest city in Japan by population after Tokyo and most populous municipality of Japan. It lies on Tokyo Bay, south of Tokyo, in the Kantō region of the main island of Honshu...
, Japan. At the age of 9, he began training in karate and kendo
Kendo
, meaning "Way of The Sword", is a modern Japanese martial art of sword-fighting based on traditional Japanese swordsmanship, or kenjutsu.Kendo is a physically and mentally challenging activity that combines strong martial arts values with sport-like physical elements.-Practitioners:Practitioners...
under an instructor named Asano. At the age of 12 he started training under Ryusho Sakagami in Itosu-kai karate. Demura received his 1st dan
Dan (rank)
The ranking system is a Japanese mark of level, which is used in modern fine arts and martial arts. Originally invented in a Go school in the Edo period, this system was applied to martial arts by Kanō Jigorō, the founder of judo and later introduced to other East Asia countries.In the modern...
black belt
Black belt (martial arts)
In martial arts, the black belt is a way to describe a graduate of a field where a practitioner's level is often marked by the color of the belt. The black belt is commonly the highest belt color used and denotes a degree of competence. It is often associated with a teaching grade though...
in 1956, and won the East Japan Championships in 1957. In 1959, he began training in kobudo, a style of Okinawan weapons training, under the direction of Taira Shinken. In 1963, Demura met martial arts scholar Donn Draeger
Donn F. Draeger
Donald 'Donn' Frederick Draeger was an expert practitioner of Asian martial arts, an author of several martial arts books, and a United States Marine...
, who introduced him to Dan Ivan, who would eventually bring him to the United States of America as a karate instructor.
United States of America
In 1965, Demura came to the United States, representing the Japan Karate-do Itosu-kai. From his base in southern California, he became well known for his karate and kobudo skills. In 1971, he was ranked 5th dan, and he remained at that rank until at least 1982. Through the 1970s and 1980s, Demura wrote several martial arts books, including: Shito-Ryu Karate (1971), Advanced nunchaku (1976, co-authored), Tonfa: Karate weapon of self-defense (1982), Nunchaku: Karate weapon of self-defense (1986), Bo: Karate weapon of self-defense (1987), and Sai: Karate weapon of self-defense (1987).In the 1980s, Demura became involved in the Karate Kid series of films. He was the stunt double for Pat Morita
Pat Morita
Noriyuki "Pat" Morita was an American actor of Japanese descent who was well-known for playing the roles of Matsuo "Arnold" Takahashi on Happy Days and Mr. Miyagi in the The Karate Kid movie series, for which he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1984.-Early life:Pat...
, who played Mr. Miyagi. Demura has appeared in several films and documentaries, including: The Warrior within (1976), The Island of Dr. Moreau
The Island of Dr. Moreau (1977 film)
The Island of Dr. Moreau is the second movie version of the H. G. Wells science fiction novel about a scientist who attempts to convert animals into people, starring Burt Lancaster, Michael York, Barbara Carrera, and Richard Basehart...
(1977), The Karate Kid (1984), The Karate Kid, Part III
The Karate Kid, Part III
The Karate Kid, Part III is a 1989 martial arts film, and the second sequel to the hit motion picture The Karate Kid . The film stars Ralph Macchio, Noriyuki "Pat" Morita, Thomas Ian Griffith, Robyn Lively, and Martin Kove. Like the first two films, it was directed by John G. Avildsen and written...
(1989), Shootfighter: Fight to the death (1992), Rising Sun
Rising Sun (film)
Rising Sun is a [1993 film directed by Philip Kaufman, starring Sean Connery , Wesley Snipes, Harvey Keitel, and Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa...
(1993), The next Karate Kid
The Next Karate Kid
The Next Karate Kid is a 1994 American martial arts drama film starring Hilary Swank and Pat Morita. It is the fourth and final film in the original The Karate Kid series. It was directed by Christopher Cain, written by Mark Lee with music by Bill Conti. This is the only film in the original...
(1994), Masters of the martial arts (1998, presented by Wesley Snipes
Wesley Snipes
Wesley Trent Snipes is an American actor, film producer, and martial artist, who has starred in numerous action films, thrillers, and dramatic feature films. Snipes is known for playing the Marvel Comics character Blade in the Blade film trilogy, among various other high profile roles...
), Mystic origins of the martial arts (1998), Modern warriors (2002), XMA: Xtreme Martial Arts (2003), and Ninja (2009).
In 1986, Demura was promoted to 7th dan in Shito-ryū karate. In 2001, he was expelled from the Itosu-kai, and became the Director of Shito-ryū Karate-do Genbu-kai. In 2005, he was promoted to 9th dan. He currently resides in Santa Ana
Santa Ana, California
Santa Ana is the county seat and second most populous city in Orange County, California, and with a population of 324,528 at the 2010 census, Santa Ana is the 57th-most populous city in the United States....
, California.