History Of Yoshu-Kai

As Told By Sensei Rayburn Nichols

 

Helping Hand

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Approximately a year after I moved to Alabama, I received a call from Yuki Koda saying he could not make a living in Florida. He wanted to know if I could help him with a job if he came to Alabama. I called Mike Foster who was responsible for Mr. Koda while he was in the United States and told him that Mr. Koda had called and wanted to come to Alabama. He said okay.
When Mr. Koda arrived in Alabama with his family, I made arrangements for him to work in the iron-working business and to help me teach at my two karate schools. Later, in 1973 or 1974, Mr. Koda and I opened a dojo on 5th Avenue in Birmingham. It was during that time that Mr. Koda was able to purchase a house in Birmingham, Alabama.
There was another Japanese man named Hatchi Mutakami living in Florida at that time that was having the same financial difficulties as Yuki Koda. When Mr. Koda came to Alabama around 1972, Mr. Mutakami followed suit. Mr. Mutakami did iron work with Mr. Koda and myself.
During the next year or so, Yuki Koda opened a dojo in 5 Points West in Birmingham, Alabama. Mike Foster continued his dojo in Daytona Beach, Florida while I continued teaching at my dojos in Trussville, and Birmingham, Alabama.
It was during the early 1970’s that such karate notables as Mike Sadler, Mr. Toyama, and Mike Culbert came onto the Yoshu-Kai scene. It would be remiss of me to overlook their contributions to Yoshu-Kai karate in the United States.

 

Branching Out

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It was around 1975 or 1976 that the American Yoshu-Kai family tree started to branch out. Mr. Yuki Koda started his United States Yoshu-Kai Association. Mr. Mike Foster had his branch with Yoshu-Kai International Karate. And, I had my branch with International Karate. Even though we went our separate ways, we never lost our commitment to teaching and expanding Yoshu-Kai karate in the United States.

 

Epilogue

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There will be people that read this account of our history and say that I left out things. I do not doubt that I have not included every word that was spoken or every event that took place. But, I sifted through the memories and memorabilia and found the true and positive facts about how Yoshu-Kai karate came to the United States.
Some people may ask if things were always "happy and positive". I might ask if anything comes without at least a little strife? But, the struggle did not totally define our karate or our relationship. It is true that throughout the years there have been times that we, the founders of Yoshu-Kai karate in America, have disagreed - such is human nature. But, before Yuki Koda's death, we concluded that we should always be the deepest of friends