About Taika Oyata

taika.gif (23124 bytes) Taika Seiyu Oyata, founder and head of RyuTe^Ž Renmei and Oyata Shin Shu Ho Ryu^Ž is responsible for introducing Tuite and Kyusho Jitsu to the United States.

He is a descendent of Zana Oyakata, a high ranking official of the Shuri Government before the Satsuma invasion of Okinawa in the early 1600's. Due to his heritage, Taika Oyata received instruction from a direct descendent of the Okinawan Warrior class, Uhugushuku No-Tan-Mei. The Uhugushuku family were retainers of the Okinawan Monarchy serving as guardians for the Shuri Kingdom, a relationship dating back before the 14th Century. Uhugushuku was known as a "hidden warrior", meaning he did not teach "public" karate and reserved his teachings to warrior class descendents.

Under Uhugushuku's tutelage, Taika Oyata learned the principles of weapons fighting, weapons kata and theory of technique. Uhugushuku introduced Taika Oyata to Wakinaguri a descendent from the ancient Chinese families sent to Okinawa as emissaries. Wakinaguri continued to instruct Taika Oyata in the principles of ancient martial arts. After the deaths of Uhugushuku and Wakinaguri, Taika Oyata trained with Shigeru Nakamura and other famous Okinawan Martial Arts Instructors.

In Okinawa, Taika Oyata's dojo was located in Makiminato, Urasoe where many US servicemen trained. In 1968 his visited the United States for a short period and returned in 1977 where he established his organization in Independence, Mo. There are RyuTe dojo's in 26 states, Japan, Israel and Poland. Taika Oyata is best known for introducing Tuite and Kyusho Jitsu to the United States and travels through the US and the world presenting seminars and clinics.