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Published July 31st, 2025
The Promotion That Marked a Legacy
In 1993, on the birthday of Taika Seiyu Oyata, a defining moment in martial arts history took place at a hotel in Kansas. But this was no ordinary celebration. It was the day Taika received his 10th-degree black belt, the highest formal recognition of a lifetime devoted to Okinawan martial arts. And it never would have happened without the dedication, leadership, and humility of Hanshi Seiken Takamine.
While many know Taika as the founder of Oyata Shin Shu Ho Ryu and a master of tuite and kyusho, few realize that Hanshi Takamine, his most senior student and lifelong disciple, was the one who orchestrated every step of this historic event.
Hanshi Takamine, The Silent Force Behind the Scenes
From the beginning, Hanshi Takamine knew this moment needed to happen, and that it had to be done properly, honorably, and authentically. He personally contacted the Okinawan Kenjin Kai to obtain an official stamp of cultural and historical approval. That recognition wasn’t just ceremonial, it was the key to making the promotion valid in Taika’s homeland.
He reached out to Bob and Miko Teller, who enlisted the help of Miko’s daughter stationed in Okinawa with her Air Force husband. Together, they worked with local Okinawan monks to draft a certificate that reflected both Okinawan tradition and Western presentation. A custom New York seal was added to honor Taika’s impact in the United States.
The certificate itself became a symbol of unity between East and West, past and present, a legacy written in ink and sealed in spirit.
A Network of Loyalty and Respect
As details were finalized, Jim Logue and Greg Lindquist, senior students of Taika, provided essential biographical information. That information was sent to Katsuko Lee, who arranged for it to be published in an Okinawan newspaper, ensuring that Taika’s achievement was publicly recognized in the very place where his journey began.
What’s most remarkable is how each person involved, students, friends, family, was coordinated by Hanshi Takamine with a sense of purpose. Every call, every letter, every translation, was done out of reverence for his teacher.
This wasn’t just about a belt. It was about documenting a legacy for future generations to understand what Taika Oyata truly represented.
The Day It All Came Together
On the day of the ceremony, the hotel banquet room was filled with Taika’s senior students, peers from across the country, close friends, and admirers of his life’s work. The air was charged with emotion and respect.
Before the official promotion, Hanshi Takamine gave a moving speech, thanking every individual who contributed, and most of all, thanking Taika for his decades of leadership. Then, in a gesture that stunned many, Hanshi stepped off the floor and gave the honor of presenting the certificate to Greg and Jim.
It was a selfless act, one that exemplified the kind of humility that can only be learned through decades of true budo.
More Than a Rank, It Was a Life’s Recognition
For those in the room, it wasn’t just a celebration of Taika’s rank. It was a celebration of everything he passed down, the principles of kyusho, tuite, meotode, and real-life self-defense, carried on by students like Hanshi Takamine who never wavered in their loyalty.
The 10th-degree black belt was a symbol, but the real gift was the transmission of knowledge, the preservation of an art, and the formal recognition that Taika’s legacy had taken root far beyond Okinawa.
A Legacy That Lives On at Takamine Karate Dojo
Today, that legacy continues to live on at Takamine Karate Dojo, where Hanshi teaches the very principles he learned directly from Taika. From joint manipulation and pressure points to kata bunkai with real-life applications, students at the dojo are part of an unbroken lineage, one built on honor, loyalty, and truth.
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Call us today to schedule your first class at Takamine Karate Dojo and experience the true art of Okinawan self-defense.