Toshiyuki Imanishi Sensei ( 1929 – 2018)
今西俊之 先生
A Direct Post-War Student of Kaiso Kenwa Mabuni
Master Toshiyuki Imanishi Sensei, 今西俊之, belongs to the important post-war generation of Shito-ryu Karatedo masters who trained directly under Kaiso Kenwa Mabuni, the founder of Shito-ryu. His name holds a respected place in the history of Shitokai because he was one of the young students who received direct instruction from Mabuni Sensei during the final years of the founder’s life.
Imanishi Sensei entered Mabuni Sensei’s school in 1945, at the age of 14. This places him among the young post-war students who continued training during a difficult time in Japan’s history. He remained close to Mabuni Sensei for seven years, until Mabuni Sensei’s passing in 1952.
His training life was intense. He recalled training with Mabuni Sensei in the morning, attending school in the afternoon, then returning again for evening karate practice. This pattern continued through his junior high school, senior high school, and university years. Such a schedule shows the depth of his commitment and the seriousness of his study.
One of the most important parts of Imanishi Sensei’s recollection is the personal nature of his training with Mabuni Sensei. On some mornings, only two people trained together, Mabuni Sensei and Imanishi Sensei. During those private sessions, Mabuni Sensei corrected him in detail and explained techniques he had not yet mastered. After training, Imanishi Sensei listened to Mabuni Sensei’s stories and experiences, often during meals together. These moments gave him direct access to the founder’s technical knowledge, personal character, and philosophy.
Imanishi Sensei described Mabuni Sensei as a person of deep knowledge and wonderful character. This is important because his testimony does more than preserve technical history. It also preserves the human image of Mabuni Sensei as a teacher who guided students carefully and personally.
As Shito-ryu developed after Mabuni Sensei’s passing, Imanishi Sensei became one of the senior teachers connected to the preservation and transmission of Shitokai standards. Japanese sources identify him as a senior figure within the All Japan Karatedo Federation Shitokai. He served in high technical leadership roles, including Technical Vice-Head of JKF Shitokai and later Vice-Head of the organization.
His name also appears in the official JKF Shitokai kata instructional series produced for the study of Shito-ryu kata. These materials were created to explain kata fundamentals, movement, bunkai, important points, and common mistakes. His listing in these instructional materials shows his role in the standardization and technical preservation of Shitokai kata.
Imanishi Sensei’s importance rests on three main points. First, he was a direct student of Kaiso Kenwa Mabuni. Second, he trained with Mabuni Sensei during the crucial post-war period, when karate was being rebuilt in Japan. Third, he later served as a senior Shitokai technical leader, helping preserve and transmit the official Shitokai method to later generations.
His life represents a bridge between the founder’s private dojo and the organized structure of modern Shitokai. Through his memories, one sees the daily discipline of the old training method. Through his later leadership, one sees the effort to protect Shito-ryu kata and pass them forward with accuracy.
Master Toshiyuki Imanishi Sensei should be remembered as one of the important direct students of Kaiso Kenwa Mabuni and as a senior Shitokai teacher who contributed to the continuation of the founder’s technical legacy.
