Today, Gomez Shihan continues to play an active role in the martial arts world as a dedicated member of the AAU Karate Program. He has served as one of the coaches for the U.S. National Karate Team and was the chief instructor of the UC San Diego Collegiate Karate Team.
Even after decades of training and teaching, Shihan Gomez remains committed to developing both new and experienced students at UCSD. Over the years, his leadership and guidance have produced numerous collegiate and national champions, continuing his legacy of excellence in karate education.
Ryu Ryu Ko was the Chief Instructor of the Qing Dynasty’s Military Training School. During the onset of the Opium War, many members of the school, including young martial artists, were purged, forcing Ryu Ryu Ko to go into hiding.
Out of respect for the first instructor who taught Norisato Nakaima, Ryu Ryu Ko is recognized as the 1st generation Soke (宗家) of Ryuei-ryu.
Starting at a young age, Kenkō was trained rigorously by Kenchu, and was conferred a full mastership of Ryuei Ryu when he was 37 years old. Kenkō also studied Kendō while attending Okinawa Prefecture Teacher Training School (Okinawa ken Shihan Gakkō), and eventually earned a rank of 7th Dan Kyōshi.
Tsugo Sakumoto is An extraordinary martial artist who, starting with winning the championship at WKF8 Championship in the Netherlands at 37-years old, conquered three WKF championships titles, two World Games championships, and two World Cup championship all the while serving as the president of Okinawa-Ken-Ritsu Geijutu Daigaku (Okinawa Prefectural University of Arts).
He was a martial artist as well as an educator, serving as the school principal for elementary and middle schools. Kenkō frequently said that “One becomes a martial artist by first understanding what it means to be a person.” He also discussed the importance of commitment to courtesy, and on the nature of humanity.
Nakaima Kenji is the fifth Soke of the Nakaima family and the Ryuei Ryu style of Karate. His father, Nakaima Kenko, was the first of the Nakaima family to teach the style to students other than those of direct family lineage. Kenji, like his predecessor, is a Martial Artist and an educator. He has served as a professor at University Of the Ryukyus (Ryukyu Daigaku) and at other universities. He has attained 7th Dan Kyōshi in Iadiō as well as 7th Dan in Jōdō.
Kenji recalls when he was a young student, Kenkō correcting his posture, and only his posture, during his martial arts training; Kenkō would instruct by saying "Do not break your posture." With Kenji, Kenkō didn’t focus too much on technicalities but very strict concerning Kamae (stances) and posture.
Today, Kenji philosophizes on how an Art (Karate) that was originally intended for fighting people, can be transformed into something that can reinvigorate people and contribute to society. Kenji wishes for Ryuei Ryu to embody this philosophical
Alfonso Gomez began his martial arts journey in the summer of 1969, starting with judo. After years of dedicated training, he earned his shodan (first-degree black belt) in 1974. His passion for martial arts later led him to begin karate training in 1976, which became his lifelong pursuit.
His commitment to teaching and sharing karate eventually brought him to the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), where he officially founded the UCSD Karate Club in 1986. In 1992, Gomez Shihan became affiliated with Ryuei Ryu Karate under the guidance of Arashiro Hanshi, marking a new chapter in his martial arts career. Since then, he has been an integral member and respected instructor within the Ryuei Ryu community.
kenchu nakaima was rather small man, standing less than 160 cm high (about 5 ft 4 in tall), it was said that his physique was like that of an animal’s hide wrapped around a skeleton made of steel rebar. He was known to be both courageous and fierce. Until about the age of 30, he had an extremely bold streak. Once After accepting a challenge from a famous Kama (sickle) master, a young Kenchu wrapped his Bo (staff) in a think sheet-metal before heading off to the match.
Tomohiro Arashiro was born in Nago City, Okinawa, Japan, and began his karate training in 1968 under Nakaima Kenko, the grandson of Nakaima Norisato, founder of Ryuei Ryu Karate-Do.
As a junior high school student, Arashiro trained alongside his close friend Takeshi Matsuda (now also a highly ranked instructor within the organization). The two would visit Nakaima Sensei’s home twice a week, training for two-hour sessions that focused on the traditional techniques and philosophy of Ryuei Ryu.
Because his father, Norisato, depleted the family fortune, Kenchu was unable to receive an education. He worked diligently from dawn to dusk to earn a living to support his household, all the while training in Norisato’s martial arts. Kenchu trained his son Kenkō rigorously, often telling him that, “All that was left for me is Ryuei Ryu Karate and its techniques. I am unable to leave an inheritance for you. All I can do is to keep and protect the skills that our ancestor brought back from China.”
In 1979, after earning a degree in Physical Education from Chukyo University in Nagoya City, Aichi, Japan, Arashiro Sensei—together with his friend Kuniyoshi Tsutomu—immigrated to the United States to introduce Ryuei Ryu Karate and Kobudo to a wider audience. What began as informal training sessions in a San Diego park soon grew into regular classes at local recreation centers and VFW halls, eventually leading to the establishment of a formal dojo in 1984.
Today, Arashiro Sensei continues to oversee numerous affiliate dojos across the United States, Mexico, Argentina, and Chile, helping to preserve and spread the authentic teachings of Ryuei Ryu Karate-Do. He also regularly returns to Okinawa to continue his own training under Sakumoto Sensei, remaining deeply connected to the roots of the tradition.
Norisato nakaima that brought back “Ryu no Waza” (Techniques of Ryu Ryu Ko) from China. Born to a wealthy family in Naha City, Kume Mura. Norisato excelled in Martial Arts and education also studied both Chinese and English. However, he became engrossed in martial arts and poured all of the family’s fortune into the pursuit of it.
During the “Senkotsu” ceremony that took place 10-years after Norisato’s death, his bones indicated that he was over 180cm (6-ft tall) and was very gallant.
Unfortunately, no photographs of Norisato remain today..
Today, he is the current President of the Ryuei Ryu organization (Ryuei Ryu Ryuhou Kai). he has been award the title of Doto Gosei (道統五世): head of style, 5th generation. he trains the new World Champions while tirelessly working to hone his mastery of Karate.
During their high school years, while training on school grounds, Arashiro and Matsuda caught the attention of their teacher Sakumoto Tsuguo, who was inspired to join them in studying under Nakaima Sensei. Sakumoto Sensei, now President of the Ryuei Ryu organization, became a key figure in the art’s continued development.
As the group of students grew, Ryuei Ryu Karate-Do was officially made public by Nakaima Kenko Sensei in 1971, marking the first time the closely held family style was shared outside the Nakaima household.
Born and raised in San Diego, California, Chris Do began his karate journey in 1986 at the age of five. He started training at the City Heights Recreation Center under Arashiro Sensei and Kuniyoshi Sensei, two respected instructors who laid the foundation for his lifelong dedication to martial arts.
Chris earned his black belt in 1995 and continued to grow in skill and knowledge, achieving the rank of 4th-degree black belt (Yondan) in Ryuei Ryu in 2024. Alongside his martial arts accomplishments, he is a certified AAU National Coach and USANKF Coach, with additional training from the U.S. Center for SafeSport and the Positive Coaching Alliance.
Throughout his competitive career, Chris has represented his dojo and country at major tournaments across the United States and around the world, medaling in multiple categories — kata, kumite, kobudo, and team kata. His notable appearances include the Okinawan World Championships, AAU Nationals, USANKF Nationals, AAU Junior Olympics, and the Pan American Okinawan Championships.
From 1997 to 2007, Chris taught karate at UC San Diego, helping to build one of the region’s most respected collegiate martial arts programs. He later assisted in teaching at the Ryuei Ryu Poway Dojo, and in August 2022, he officially took over as head instructor.
Today, Sensei Chris Do continues to guide and mentor students of all ages, coaching numerous junior and adult athletes who have gone on to become champions at national and international levels. His passion for karate, commitment to excellence, and dedication to his students continue to inspire the next generation of martial artists.
12245 Poway Road Unit B Poway CA 92064, USA | 1-858-883-4156 | contact@ryukyujapankarate.com
Soke (宗家) refers to the head of a family or the direct descendant in a traditional lineage.
In the 1970s, Kenkō broke with the tradition of one-child-conference and accepted students. This action was not taken out of disrespect for family’s oath, but from an understanding that such customs of secrecy was no longer relevant in the present-day society.