|
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.
|
