THE TORCH IS PASSED

The Legacy of Akamine Eisuke's Commitment to Ryukyu Kobudo

by Douglas Daulton

continued from page 3

Dometrich Yoshiko (b. May 2, 1951)

Devorah Yoshiko Dometrich was born in Covington, Kentucky; U.S.A. As a teenager, she was adopted by William and Barbara Dometrich. Mr. Dometrich is the founder of the United States Chito Kai and the head of Chito Ryu karate in the United States. So, his adopted daughter began her martial arts study with Chito Ryu karate at the age of fourteen. By the time she began her Air Force career, she was a nidan (second degree black belt). In 1974, she was stationed on Okinawa and looking for a dojo. Her father asked Dr. Chitose to help her find a dojo.

In turn, Dr. Chitose contacted Inomoto Masaru, by now a student of Akamine's. Inomoto introduced her to Akamine in 1974. Eventually, she was accepted as his seventh student. On February 7, 1977, Dometrich was appointed as Head of Ryukyu Kobudo Hozon Shinkokai in the United States of America. She is currently kyoshi nanadan in Ryukyu Kobudo. A retired police officer, she travels the US and Canada teaching Ryukyu Kobudo. To this day, she remains Akamine's only American student and the first woman promoted to kyoshi nanadan in Okinawan kobudo or karate. (Jansak & Daulton, 1999)

Conclusion

In 1977, Akamine received a Living Legend award at the Okinawan World Tournament and a Special Appreciation Award form the Zen Nihon Karate Renmei. In 1998, Ryukyu Shinpo, the Okinawan newspaper, conferred their Appreciation Award on for his work in preserving the cultural heritage of the Ryukyu Islands. Like Taira before him, Akamine remained actively involved in ensuring the future of Ryukyu Kobudo Hozon Shinkokai and instilled this sense of responsibility in his students.

Inomoto, Dometrich and Takara are committed to remaining in close contact. Since 1995, Inomoto and Takara have each traveled twice to the United States to visit and train with Dometrich. Sharing a close bond with her teacher, Dometrich regularly traveled to Tomigusuku Village to visit with and learn from Akamine. In the spring of 1999, Dometrich had planned to take with her a contingent of her senior students to meet the man who passed the torch to her and her peers. Sadly, Akamine passed away before this dream could be realized.

Like many Okinawans, Akamine suffered great personal loss when many of his family were killed in the battle of Okinawa during the waning days of World War II. Through it all, he continued his training and found in it a peace. In 1973, he put aside the feelings of mistrust his loss created when he accepted Inomoto Masaru, a Japanese soldier, as his student. He repeated this act of forgiveness when he opened his doors and his heart to Devorah Yoshiko Dometrich, a young service woman from the United States. Today, these two acts are bearing fruit across the world and stand as a testament to a man who, while surely flawed as are all human beings, found a deeper purpose and meaning in the pursuit of his art. And, in preserving a piece of his culture, he has in no small way helped heal the culture of the larger world.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

In 1983, Doug Daulton began training in Matsubayashi Shorin-ryu karate under Bill George in Harrison, Ohio. In 1990, he attained the rank of shodan (first degree black belt). He continued his studies under Frank Grant and attained nidan in 1994. In 1990, he began his study of Ryukyu Kobudo Hozon Shinkokai under Devorah Yoshiko Dometrich and attained shodan in 1995. Currently, he co-owns The River Dojo of Cincinnati, Ohio with close friends, Bruce Helwig and John Daley. He also studies Shinto Muso Ryu Jojutsu.
Email: ddaulton@ryukyu-kobudo.org

For more information on Ryukyu Kobudo Hozon Shinkokai, please contact:

Devorah Yoshiko Dometrich
Ryukyu Kobudo Hozon Shinkokai
Beikoku So Hombu
690 Huff Road
Dry Ridge, Kentucky 41011
Phone/Fax: (606) 824-3792
Email: ydometrich@ryukyu-kobudo.org
Web: http://www.ryukyu-kobudo.org

Bibliography

Bishop, M. (1996). Zen Kobudo: Mysteries of Okinawan Kobudo and Ti.
Tokyo, Japan: Charles E. Tuttle Co.

Jansak, W. & Daulton, D. (1999). Muchimi: A Brief Biography of Devorah Yoshiko Dometrich
Bugeisha, #7 54-60

Radulovich, S (1999) Higa Yuchoku. http://www.kenkyujo.com/yuchokuhiga.htm.
Ottowa, Ontario: To-de Communications

Sansom, G. (1963) A History of Japan: 1615 - 1867.
Stanford, California: Stanford University Press.

Silvan, J. (1998) Oral Traditions of Okinawan karate.
Journal of Asian Martial Arts, 7 (3): 73 - 95

This article is reprinted with the kind permission of
Mr. Angel Lemus, Editor, Bugeisha.net