[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 5807]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



       TRIBUTE TO MR. KATSUYA MIYAHIRA & MR. IHA SEIKICHI SENSEI

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MIKE ROGERS

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, April 4, 2001

  Mr. ROGERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Katsuya Miyahira 
who has had a distinguished career in martial arts. Currently, he is 
the President of the Okinawa Shorin Ryu Shido-kan and continues to 
teach children the art of karate. His teachings are in accordance with 
Master Itosu, whom he studied under as a student. The form of karate he 
was taught was of the Chibana Chosin, of which he is the successor and 
heir.
  Mr. Miyahira has lectured about the value of karate to young people 
and from the ``Seven Virtues of Martial Arts'' has said, ``Martial arts 
forbids violence, suppresses an uprising, keeps one from corruption, 
establishes honor for one, pacifies the public, makes harmony among 
people, and makes one rich. These are the seven virtues of martial 
arts.'' He continues to say that martial arts ``can be a helpful tool 
for one's life: it adds value to one's ability, secures a sure means of 
living, and even makes one rich.'' Mr. Katsuya Miyahira lives by these 
words and teaches his pupils by these words also.
  In addition to his teachings, Mr. Katsuya Miyahira has been honored 
by the Japan Martial Arts Association and is a judan I0th dan as a 
karate Hanshi (master). Furthermore, as an elder in karate he is in 
charge of the Okinawa Karate Conference while continuing to teach his 
art to others.
  I would also like to recognize Mr. Iha Seikichi Sensei, who is also 
an accomplished martial arts expert. He presently runs his own center 
in Lansing, Michigan called the Original Okinawa Karate Dojo. 
Furthermore, he is the United States Branch Chief of Okinawa shorin-ryu 
Karate-do Association.
  Iha was taught by the infamous Itosu Ankoh and is an authority of 
Shuri-te. He was chosen by Miyahira Katsuya in 1963 to teach his 
Shorin-ryu techniques at the dojo of Latino Gonzales in Manila, a 
distinguished honor. Furthermore, he continued to teach others in this 
art including United States Marines stationed in Okinawa.
  In addition to his teachings, he is recognized as the first Okinawan 
Master Instructor of Shorin-ryu to teach in California since 1927. In 
1989, he reached rank of Hanshi 9-dan certification, making him the 
highest certified Okinawan living in the United States.
  On July 26th through the 29th, 2001, there will be a celebration 
honoring the 25th anniversary of Iha bringing Shido-kan Karate to North 
America sponsored by the North American Beikoku Shido-kan Association. 
Iha is one of the top people practicing Shido-kan Karate in the world. 
The Grand Master, Miyahira Katsuya, who lives in Japan is the highest 
person participating in this type of karate.
  Therefore, I would like to personally congratulate Iha for his 
accomplishments and for teaching many people the art of Shido-kan 
Karate for the past 25 years. He has brought another form of martial 
arts to the Lansing, Michigan area and has made a significant impact on 
the lives of my constituents.

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