Fumio Demura

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Template:Short description Template:Infobox martial artist

Script error: No such module "Nihongo". was a Japanese karateka and kobudoka, based in the United States since the mid-1960s.[1][2] A 9th dan in Shitō-ryū karate,[2] he was Pat Morita's martial arts stunt double in the first, third and fourth Karate Kid films, and was one of the inspirations for the character Mr. Miyagi.[3]

Biography

Early years

Demura was born on September 15, 1938, in Yokohama, Japan.[2] At the age of 9 (1947/48), he began training in karate and kendo under an instructor named Asano.[2] At the age of 12 (1950/51) he started training under Ryusho Sakagami in Itosu-kai karate.[2] Demura received his 1st dan black belt in 1956,[2] and won the East Japan Championships in 1957.[2]

In 1959, he began training in kobudo, a style of traditional Okinawan weapons training, under the direction of Taira Shinken.[2][1] In 1963, he became acquainted with Kōga-ryū ninjutsu master Seiko Fujita. Demura met martial arts scholar Donn Draeger, who introduced him to Dan Ivan, who would eventually bring him to the United States as a karate instructor.[3]

United States

In 1965, Demura came to the United States, representing the Japan Karate-do Itosu-kai.[2] From his base in southern California, he became well known for his karate and kobudo skills.[3] In 1971, he was ranked 5th dan,[4] and he remained at that rank until at least 1982.[5] Through the 1970s and 1980s, Demura wrote several martial arts books, including: Shito-Ryu Karate (1971),[6] Advanced nunchaku (1976, co-authored),[7] Tonfa: Karate weapon of self-defense (1982),[8] Nunchaku: Karate weapon of self-defense (1986),[9] Bo: Karate weapon of self-defense (1987),[10] and Sai: Karate weapon of self-defense (1974).[11]

In 1986, Demura was promoted to 7th dan in Shito-ryū karate.[2] In 2005, he was promoted to 9th dan.[2] On July 13, 2022 he was promoted to 10th dan in traditional Karatedo by a collective group of senseis that represented the World Karate Association. He resided in Santa Ana, California, until his death.[12]

Karate Kid films

In the 1980s, Demura became involved in the Karate Kid series of films.[3] He was the stunt double for Pat Morita, who played Mr. Miyagi.[3] The Karate Kid screenwriter Robert Mark Kamen stated that Mr. Miyagi was named after Chōjun Miyagi, the founder of the Goju-ryu karate style,[13] and that Fumio Demura was one of the inspirations for the character.[14]

Demura appeared in several films and documentaries, including: The Warrior within (1976),[15] The Island of Dr. Moreau (1977), The Karate Kid (1984), The Karate Kid Part III (1989),[16] Shootfighter: Fight to the death (1992),[17] Rising Sun (1993),[18] The Next Karate Kid (1994),[19] Masters of the martial arts (1998, presented by Wesley Snipes),[20] Mystic origins of the martial arts (1998),[21] Modern Warriors (2002),[22] XMA: Xtreme Martial Arts (2003),[23] and Ninja (2009).[24]

Later years and death

Demura was the subject of the 2015 documentary The Real Miyagi.[25]

He died on April 24, 2023, at the age of 84.[26]

References

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External links

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  1. ↑ a b Clayton, B. D., Horowitz, R., & Pollard, E. (2004): Shotokan's secret: The hidden truth behind Karate's fighting origins (p. 108). Black Belt Books. (Template:ISBN)
  2. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k Japan Karate-Do Genbu-Kai International: Sensei Demura at a glance ... Template:Webarchive (c. 2007). Retrieved on March 3, 2010.
  3. ↑ a b c d e USA Dojo: Shihan Fumio Demura Template:Webarchive (c. 2009). Retrieved on March 3, 2010.
  4. ↑ Demura, F. (1971): Shito-Ryu Karate (p. 4). Burbank, CA: Ohara. (Template:ISBN)
  5. ↑ Demura, F. (1982): Tonfa: Karate weapon of self-defense (p. 5). Burbank, CA: Ohara. (Template:ISBN)
  6. ↑ Demura, F. (1971): Shito-Ryu Karate. Burbank, CA: Ohara. (Template:ISBN)
  7. ↑ Demura, F., & Ivan, D. (1976): Advanced nunchaku. Burbank, CA: Ohara. (Template:ISBN)
  8. ↑ Demura, F. (1982): Tonfa: Karate weapon of self-defense. Burbank, CA: Ohara. (Template:ISBN)
  9. ↑ Demura, F. (1986): Nunchaku: Karate weapon of self-defense. Burbank, CA: Ohara. (Template:ISBN)
  10. ↑ Demura, F. (1987): Bo: Karate weapon of self-defense. Burbank, CA: Ohara. (Template:ISBN)
  11. ↑ Demura, F. (1974): Sai: Karate weapon of self-defense. Burbank, CA: Ohara. (Template:ISBN)
  12. ↑ Demura, F. (2006): Fumio Demura resume Template:Webarchive (June 6, 2006). Retrieved on March 3, 2010.
  13. ↑ Template:Cite magazine
  14. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  15. ↑ IMDb: The Warrior within (1976) – Full cast and crew Retrieved on March 4, 2010.
  16. ↑ IMDb: The Karate Kid Part III (1989) – Full cast and crew Retrieved on March 3, 2010.
  17. ↑ IMDb: Shootfighter – Fight to the death (1992) – Full cast and crew Retrieved on March 4, 2010.
  18. ↑ IMDb: Rising Sun (1993) – Full cast and crew Retrieved on March 4, 2010.
  19. ↑ IMDb: The next Karate Kid (1994) – Full cast and crew Retrieved on March 4, 2010.
  20. ↑ IMDb: Masters of the martial arts (1998) Retrieved on March 4, 2010.
  21. ↑ IMDb: Mystic origins of the martial arts (1998) Retrieved on March 4, 2010.
  22. ↑ IMDb: Modern warriors (2002) Retrieved on March 4, 2010.
  23. ↑ IMDb: XMA – Xtreme Martial Arts (2003) Retrieved on March 4, 2010.
  24. ↑ IMDb: Ninja (2009) – Full cast and crew Retrieved on March 4, 2010.
  25. ↑ Template:Trim/ Template:Trim at IMDbTemplate:EditAtWikidataScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Template:WikidataCheck
  26. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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