Tino Ceberano
Encyclopedia
Constantino 'Tino' Ceberano (born c. 1942) is a karate
master who is a key figure in Australian martial arts history. He is a direct student of Gōju Kai karate founder Gōgen Yamaguchi
(1909–1989). A native of Hawaii, Ceberano moved to Australia in 1966 at Yamaguchi's request, to establish Gōju Kai karate there.
, Hawaii, around 1942. His father was a Filipino
migrant who came to Hawaii as a professional boxer. As a youth, Ceberano studied boxing
and judo
, attaining black belt ranking
in the latter. Ceberano first learned karate, under the name of kempo, from a Korean War veteran. In a later interview, Ceberano said, "I was immediately attracted to karate's discipline, its intricate breathing methods, and the principles of mutual respect. This applied in the dojo, where the opponent or classmate was given equal respect—regardless of size, strength, or ability. And outside the dojo, the same principle was to be applied, regardless of the other man's race, color, or creed. I wasn't long in karate before I noticed all the usual physical benefits, but it was my mental improvement that really impressed me" (Brennan, 1974, pp. 42–43).
In 1958, Ceberano's family left Kauai to settle in Honolulu. Ceberano's first Gōju Kai instructors were Anton Navas and Masaichi Oshiro. Ceberano joined the United States Marine Corps
in mid-1959. Military life, and the associated travel, made continuity of training difficult, but Ceberano persisted, and attained 1st dan ranking in Gōju Kai karate under Oshiro in 1963.
in October 1966 to help establish Gōju Kai karate in Australia. Ceberano was ranked 3rd dan at the time. Ceberano subsequently established a Gōju Kai karate dojo at Monash University
. Mervyn Oakley had previously established a Gōju Kai dojo in New South Wales in 1963, and travelled to Melbourne to assist.
In 1989, following Yamaguchi's death, a meeting of senior Gōju Kai officials authorised Ceberano to form his own organisation: the International Gōju Karatedo (IGK). Another source, however, states that there was no such meeting, and Ceberano formed his own organisation without higher authorisation. Ceberano attained 7th dan ranking in February 1992. He played the role of Lau in Under the Gun (1995). Ceberano was appointed to the Australasian Sokeship Council in 2007, and currently holds the rank of 9th dan, which was awarded in 2008.
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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,...
master who is a key figure in Australian martial arts history. He is a direct student of Gōju Kai karate founder Gōgen Yamaguchi
Gogen Yamaguchi
Jitsumi Gōgen Yamaguchi Jitsumi Gōgen Yamaguchi Jitsumi Gōgen Yamaguchi (山口剛玄, Yamaguchi Gōgen; b.20 January 1909 d.20 May 1989. was a world renown Grandmaster of Japanese Karate-dō and founder of the International Karate-dō Gōjū-kai Association; he was one of the most well known of all...
(1909–1989). A native of Hawaii, Ceberano moved to Australia in 1966 at Yamaguchi's request, to establish Gōju Kai karate there.
Early life
Ceberano was born on the island of KauaiKauai
Kauai or Kauai, known as Tauai in the ancient Kaua'i dialect, is geologically the oldest of the main Hawaiian Islands. With an area of , it is the fourth largest of the main islands in the Hawaiian archipelago, and the 21st largest island in the United States. Known also as the "Garden Isle",...
, Hawaii, around 1942. His father was a Filipino
Filipino people
The Filipino people or Filipinos are an Austronesian ethnic group native to the islands of the Philippines. There are about 92 million Filipinos in the Philippines, and about 11 million living outside the Philippines ....
migrant who came to Hawaii as a professional boxer. As a youth, Ceberano studied boxing
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
and judo
Judo
is a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an...
, attaining black belt ranking
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 the latter. Ceberano first learned karate, under the name of kempo, from a Korean War veteran. In a later interview, Ceberano said, "I was immediately attracted to karate's discipline, its intricate breathing methods, and the principles of mutual respect. This applied in the dojo, where the opponent or classmate was given equal respect—regardless of size, strength, or ability. And outside the dojo, the same principle was to be applied, regardless of the other man's race, color, or creed. I wasn't long in karate before I noticed all the usual physical benefits, but it was my mental improvement that really impressed me" (Brennan, 1974, pp. 42–43).
In 1958, Ceberano's family left Kauai to settle in Honolulu. Ceberano's first Gōju Kai instructors were Anton Navas and Masaichi Oshiro. Ceberano joined the United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
in mid-1959. Military life, and the associated travel, made continuity of training difficult, but Ceberano persisted, and attained 1st dan ranking in Gōju Kai karate under Oshiro in 1963.
Life in Australia
At Yamaguchi's request, Ceberano left Hawaii and moved to MelbourneMelbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
in October 1966 to help establish Gōju Kai karate in Australia. Ceberano was ranked 3rd dan at the time. Ceberano subsequently established a Gōju Kai karate dojo at Monash University
Monash University
Monash University is a public university based in Melbourne, Victoria. It was founded in 1958 and is the second oldest university in the state. Monash is a member of Australia's Group of Eight and the ASAIHL....
. Mervyn Oakley had previously established a Gōju Kai dojo in New South Wales in 1963, and travelled to Melbourne to assist.
In 1989, following Yamaguchi's death, a meeting of senior Gōju Kai officials authorised Ceberano to form his own organisation: the International Gōju Karatedo (IGK). Another source, however, states that there was no such meeting, and Ceberano formed his own organisation without higher authorisation. Ceberano attained 7th dan ranking in February 1992. He played the role of Lau in Under the Gun (1995). Ceberano was appointed to the Australasian Sokeship Council in 2007, and currently holds the rank of 9th dan, which was awarded in 2008.
Personal life
Ceberano married Australian wife Cherie in Melbourne in 1963. Ceberano's eldest son, Paul Ceberano, now runs the Ceberano Martial Arts Academy. Another of Ceberano's sons is the guitarist Phil Ceberano. Ceberano's daughter is the singer Kate CeberanoKate Ceberano
Kate Ceberano is an Australian singer. She achieved success in the soul, jazz and pop genres as well as in her brief forays into musicals with Jesus Christ Superstar and film...
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