Kempo

Robert Trias, Founder Of The First U.S. Karate School

With today’s post I am continuing my sporadic series of all-time “First …”.

Yesterday, we had “James Cagney, First Martial Artist To Star In A Movie” and just about 3 weeks ago “First U.S. American Judo Brown Belt And 26th U.S. President“, remember?

Well, today I would like to honor a gentleman who was truly a trailblazer. He is considered the “Father of American Karate”.

His name: Robert Trias.

While stationed on the British Solomon Islands in 1942 (and remember that these were truly world-changing times after the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941), U.S. Navy serviceman and middleweight boxing champion Robert Trias was getting ready for an upcoming boxing match.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t believe in coincidences anymore.

Why do I say that?

While preparing for his match, Rober Trias made the acquaintance of a Chinese missionary on the island.

The missionary just happened to be a master in Hsing-Yi, which Trias wasn’t aware of.

Well, anyway, the missionary, Master T’ung Geee Hsing offered Trias Hsing-Yi lessons in exchange for some boxing.

But according to reports, at first Trias wasn’t very inclined or better, was more pissed off by this dude ruining his concentration during his training.

Finally, he gave in to the missionary’s request with the intention to teach him a lesson the boxing ring.

But things didn’t go according to plan, because Trias didn’t land one punch!

This was a turning point in the life and fighting career of Robert Trias, because from then on he would pursue Master Hsing’s art and thus Karate would become his life.

After being transferred to Singapore, Mr. Trias continued his martial arts training with a different instructor who had been taught Kempo Ju-Jitsu in Japan by Master Fukuda.

The electic style that Grandmaster Trias would later develop is known as Shorei-Goju Ryu, Shorei-ryu and Shuri-ryu and many organizations claim to trace their roots to him and the USKA.

The shorei-ryu system is a blend of the Chinese arts of mo-kempo and pakua and the ancient Okinawan art of Naha-te.

It is a style which is noted for its low stances, powerful moves and circular motions.

After returning from his military service in the Pacific Theater during WWII, Grandmaster Robert Trias founded his school in 1946 in Phoenix, Arizona.

Through his pioneering efforts in Karate, Grandmaster Robert Trias became the United States’ liaison with Korea, Japan, China, and Okinawa for many years.

He was instrumental in promoting the first world karate tournament in 1963 in Chicago.

His rules for tournament competition are still used today with slight variation.

Trias died in 1989 of cancer leaving the Shuri-ryu system to his daughter Roberta Trias-Kelley (10th Dan), inheritor of Shuri-Ryu and Menkyo Kaiden.