Hanshi Zenpo Shimabukuro, 10th dan Black Belt and Supreme Instructor of the International Seibukan Shorin Ryu Karate Association, was born in Chatan Cho, Okinawa, on October 11, 1943. He was the fourth of five children of Master Zenryo Shimabukuro, a student of the legendary Chotoku Kyan.
Born during the buildup to World War II, Zenpo Shimabukuro’s early years were marked by the hardships of war. His family lost everything they owned and were forced to evacuate to northern Okinawa. After the war, his father, Zenryo Shimabukuro, resumed work as a baker and government official before founding the Seibukan Shorin Ryu (Sukunaihayashi) school in July 1962. Hanshi Zenpo assisted his father in teaching and in the physical construction of the Seibukan Dojo in Jagaru.
In September 1963, at his father's request, Zenpo Shimabukuro moved to the United States to teach Sukunaihayashi Karate-do. Settling in Philadelphia, he became one of the first Okinawan instructors to teach in America. He was also a formidable competitor, winning the Jhoon Rhee International Tournament and the Canadian National Championships in 1964.
In 1966, he returned to Okinawa to assist with the Honbu Dojo. Following his father’s passing in 1969, he became the Supreme Instructor of the Seibukan system. In 1975, he formally organized the International Seibukan Karate-do Association, traveling extensively to standardize techniques for students in the US, Japan, Germany, Poland, and beyond.
His international influence continued for decades, including a historic demonstration at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, followed by seminars that unified various Okinawan disciplines to spread the art worldwide.
Outside the dojo, Hanshi Shimabukuro is a successful real estate developer and businessman. He remains deeply involved in community service, serving on the board of the Nago Crippled Children's Home and encouraging individuals of all physical abilities to practice Karate-do. Today, his association spans sixteen foreign countries, continuing his father’s legacy and the preservation of Seibukan Karate-do.
Originally from Seibukan Shorin-Ryu
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