Located in southern Okinawa Sashiki Town, the dojo of Seihan Shiroma sensei is established facing the Nakagusuku Bay. Adjacent to the dojo is a beautiful garden, Shiroma sensei’s creation.

Born in 1942 and a former senior high school teacher, Shiroma sensei who had an interest for weaponry met the grand master Seikichi Uehara sensei at 27 years old and started training with him right away.

Seikichi Uehara sensei (1904-2004) learned the Ryukyu royal court martial art “Motobu Udun Di” from the 11th descendant of the Motobu family, Choyu Motobu sensei. Choyu sensei’s brother was the famous Choki Motobu sensei, also known as “Motobu zaru”, or Motobu the monkey. Uehara sensei helped preserved this unique art until his death.

While studying with Uehara sensei, Shiroma sensei was also involved with sport karate as he was a school teacher. But he points out “Udun Di is not karate! In the art that Uehara sensei taught me, there are no kata. The reason why is so that the body doesn’t absorb bad habits.”

Another specificity in Udun Di is that students don’t train blocks. “If needed, we are trained to take the first step in a confrontation” explains Shiroma sensei.

12 years ago, Shiroma sensei returned to his homeland of Sashiki to open his dojo under the name “Motobu ryu Gassen Tuite”. And finally in 2006, he opened his brand new dojo that is truly beautiful. In a bountiful nature surrounded dojo, students practice the wide repertory of Motobu ryu in a convivial atmosphere that is at the image of Shiroma sensei. Next to karate like techniques, students practice the Japanese sword and kobudo weapon among which some have a Chinese origin.

“Human beings are unique individuals. Therefore after learning the basics, we train to develop techniques that suit our body, developing personal sensations” explains Shiroma sensei. And when training ends, students gathered in the dojo to fraternize around tea like Shiroma was taught by his master, Uehara Seikichi sensei.