History Of Yoshu-Kai

As Told By Sensei Rayburn Nichols

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This account of the history of Yoshu-Kai karate in the United States is meant to be totally factual yet informal and easy to read. I felt it would be better to tell this story as if we are sitting around drinking a cup of coffee and talking about the "old days" instead of like a presentation at a business meeting. So, here goes nothing – and everything.
First, let me introduce myself. My name is Rayburn Nichols. I began my training in Shorin-Ryu karate in the late 1950’s. Under my instructor, Bernard Collins, I achieved the rank of 2nd degree black belt.

The Beginning

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In the very early 1960’s, I met Mike Foster. At that time, I believe Mr. Foster was a 3rd or 4th degree black belt in Chito-Ryu Yoshu-Kan karate. Yoshu-Kan did not evolve into Yoshu-Kai until much later. I was impressed with Mike Foster’s karate. We quickly developed a friendship and I started training with him in the Chito-Ryu Yoshu-Kan style.
From the early to mid 1960’s there were very few Yoshu-Kan schools in America. Mike Foster had a dojo in Tampa, Florida. Mr. Lee Norris had a dojo on the Orange Blossom Trail in Orlando, Florida. Bob Bunning taught in Lakeland, Florida at the Jewish Community Center. Also, had a school at Saint Leo College.
After Mike Foster closed his Tampa dojo in the early 1960’s, the only places that we had schools were Mr. Norris’ dojo in Orlando, the J.C.C. (Bob Bunning) in Lakeland, and Saint Leo College. After a very short time, Lee Norris closed his dojo in Orlando, moved to Miami, and trained for awhile with Okisawa and Camachio. Not long after moving to Miami, Mr. Norris got out of karate for a several years.
Because the Tampa and Orlando dojos closed, we sometimes would drive to Saint Leo College, Lakeland, or meet at someone’s house to train. Also, during that time, a Judo instructor named Sekita taught Judo on Robertson Street in Orlando, Florida. For many years we used Sekita’s dojo two nights a week to train in karate.

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The Arrival Of Yuki Koda

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In the early to mid 1960's, Mr. Yamamoto sent Yuki Koda to the United States to confirm that we were teaching the traditional Yoshu-Kan Katas.
During this time, Yuki Koda met and married Gewin. Not long after his marriage, Mr. Koda went back to Japan. When Mr. Koda went overseas, Mrs. Koda moved to Lincoln, Illinois.
At the time of Mr. Koda's arrival in the U.S., I, Rayburn Nichols, understood the ranking system to be: Mike Foster, Lee Norris, Bob Bunning, and Rayburn Nichols. Bob Bunning and I were told at that time that Mr. Koda out-ranked us. We easily accepted the new ranking system.
Around the same time, I went to talk with Bernard Collins, my Shorin-Ryu instructor, in Cocoa Beach, Florida where he was teaching at the National Guard Armory. He also had a school in Titisville, Florida. Mr. Collins and I talked about the differences between Yoshu-Kan and Shorin-Ryu. During our conversation, Mr. Collins asked me if I thought it would be okay if he and his students came over to Yoshu-Kan. I spoke with Mike Foster and it was agreed that Mr. Collins and all of his students would join us. Among the influx of new people were some notables such as Larry Pate and Jackie Mole.
It was close to that time, before Mike Foster and I opened the dojo on Orange Blossom Trail, which Mr. Foster wanted to bring Mr. Yamamoto to the United States. Mr. Yamamoto was the head student under Dr. Chitose and the head of Chito-Ryu Yoshu-Kan karate

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Getting Situated

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For many years Mike Foster and I trained and worked together. I got Mr. Foster into the Ironworkers Union in Orlando, Florida so he could work with me. We traveled all over the United States working.
During the time that Mr. Koda was in Japan and Mrs. Koda was in Lincoln, Mike Foster and I had a job in Bloomington, Illinois. I got Mr. Koda a job working with us when he returned from Japan. Mr. Koda started a dojo in Lincoln, Illinois while he was working with us.
When the job in Bloomington was finished, Mike Foster and I returned to Orlando, Florida. Yuki Koda and his family stayed in Lincoln. Eventually, Mr. Koda called Mike Foster and moved back to Orlando because there was no work in Lincoln.
After moving back to Orlando in 1968, I started work on the Disney World job as the foreman. Mike Foster and Yuki Koda came to work for me. During the time we were working on the Disney project, approximately 1968 to 1971, Mr. Yamamoto came to the United States numerous times. Also, another Japanese man named Tiguche came to the U.S. Mr. Tiguche started teaching karate in Titisville, Florida

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The Beginnings In Alabama

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When the Disney job was finished in 1970 or 1971, Mike Foster moved to Daytona Beach, Florida and opened a dojo while I moved to Birmingham, Alabama. Mr. Koda and his family stayed in Florida.
Upon arriving in Birmingham, Alabama, I opened a karate school in Trussville, Alabama teaching at the recreation center. Gene Henderson and his brother David were teaching karate in Sylacauga, Alabama at the recreation center. At that time, I was a fifth degree black belt and oversaw Yoshu-Kan karate schools in Alabama

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