Tetsuhiro Hokama was born in Taiwan in 1944 to parents of Okinawan descent. He began his martial arts journey informally in 1952 under the tutelage of his grandfather, Seiken Tokuyama.
In 1961, his formal training commenced at the Naha Commercial High School Karatedo club under the supervision of Chiyokutani Irashi. That same year, he began training with the legendary Seiko Higa (1898–1966), a direct student of Kanryo Higaonna and Chojun Miyagi. At Higa’s Dojo, he met Shinpo Matayoshi and began learning Kobudo, Hakutsuru-ken (White Crane Fist), and Kingai Ryu.
Following the death of Seiko Higa in 1966, Hanshi Hokama continued his studies with Seiko Fukuchi, Higa’s assistant instructor, while continuing his Kobudo training under Shinpo Matayoshi.
In 1974, he became the director of the Okinawan High School Karatedo Association. He was awarded the title of Shihan in 1977 and has served as a technical advisor for the All-Japan Karatedo Ken Yu Kai and secretary for the All Okinawa Karatedo Association.
One of Hanshi Hokama’s most significant accomplishments is the preservation of Karate history. In 1984, he published History of Okinawa Karate, and in January 1987, he opened the Okinawa Prefecture Karatedo and Kobudo Museum in Nishihara—the first museum of its kind in the world. He also established a monument in Okinawa commemorating the island as the birthplace of Karatedo.
Currently, Tetsuhiro Hokama is a 10th Dan Gojuryu Hanshi and President of the Okinawa Gojuryu Kenshi Kai Karatedo Kobudo Association. He is widely recognized as one of the most knowledgeable masters regarding the "Old Ways" of Karate and traditional Okinawan history.
Courtesy of Tetsuhiro Hokama
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