|
Grandmaster
Robert Trias was an American karate pioneer, instructor, author, and
administrator. Known as the father of American karate, he
opened the first karate school in the United States in 1946 in
Phoenix, Ariz., and founded the U.S. Karate Association two years
later.
While
stationed in the British Solomon Islands during World War II, he met
T'ung Gee Hsing, with whom he trained and received his first
instructor's degree. Later, during the war, he trained with
Hoy Yuan Ping, master in Kempo and Jujitsu, in Singapore.
Master
Trias's first style was Shuri Karate Kempo, which was later called
Shorei-ryu. In 1964 he incorporated some of the Goju-ryu katas
into the Shorei-ryu style and founded the Shorei-goju ryu
system.
In 1948 he
founded the U.S.K.A., which was the first karate organization in the
United States, and it became one of the largest in the nation, with
almost every early top karate instructor in its
membership.
Trias was
instrumental in promoting the World Karate Tournament in 1963.
Held in Chicago, it was the largest U.S. tournament up to that
time. He headed the Okinawan Shuri-ryu system and held a 10th
Dan. Trias is the author of several books including: Karate is
my Life, The Hand is my Sword, and The Pinnacle of Karate.
|
