Fumio Demura

Fumio Demura (出村 文男, Demura Fumio, September 15, 1938 – April 24, 2023) was a Japanese karateka and kobudoka, based in the United States since the mid-1960s.[2][3] A 9th dan in Shitō-ryū karate,[3] he was Pat Morita's martial arts stunt double in the first, third and fourth Karate Kid films, and was one of the inspirations for the character Mr. Miyagi.[4]

Fumio Demura
Demura in 2006
Born(1938-09-15)September 15, 1938
Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan
DiedApril 24, 2023(2023-04-24) (aged 84)
California, U.S.
Native name出村 文男
ResidenceSanta Ana, California, U.S.
NationalityJapanese[1]
StyleShitō-ryū karate, Okinawan kobudō
Teacher(s)Ryusho Sakagami, Taira Shinken
Rank9th dan black belt
Websitehttps://www.genbukai-hq.org/

Biography

Early years

Demura was born on September 15, 1938, in Yokohama, Japan.[3] At the age of 9 (1947/48), he began training in karate and kendo under an instructor named Asano.[3] At the age of 12 (1950/51) he started training under Ryusho Sakagami in Itosu-kai karate.[3] Demura received his 1st dan black belt in 1956,[3] and won the East Japan Championships in 1957.[3]

In 1959, he began training in kobudo, a style of traditional Okinawan weapons training, under the direction of Taira Shinken.[3][2] In 1963, he became acquainted with Kōga-ryū ninjutsu master Seiko Fujita. Demura met martial arts scholar Donn Draeger, who introduced him to Dan Ivan, who would eventually bring him to the United States as a karate instructor.[4]

United States

In 1965, Demura came to the United States, representing the Japan Karate-do Itosu-kai.[3] From his base in southern California, he became well known for his karate and kobudo skills.[4] In 1971, he was ranked 5th dan,[5] and he remained at that rank until at least 1982.[6] Through the 1970s and 1980s, Demura wrote several martial arts books, including: Shito-Ryu Karate (1971),[7] Advanced nunchaku (1976, co-authored),[8] Tonfa: Karate weapon of self-defense (1982),[9] Nunchaku: Karate weapon of self-defense (1986),[10] Bo: Karate weapon of self-defense (1987),[11] and Sai: Karate weapon of self-defense (1987).[12]

In 1986, Demura was promoted to 7th dan in Shito-ryū karate.[3] In 2005, he was promoted to 9th dan.[3] He resided in Santa Ana, California, until his death.[13]

Karate Kid films

In the 1980s, Demura became involved in the Karate Kid series of films.[4] He was the stunt double for Pat Morita, who played Mr. Miyagi.[4] The Karate Kid screenwriter Robert Mark Kamen stated that Mr. Miyagi was named after Chōjun Miyagi, the founder of the Goju-ryu karate style,[14] and that Fumio Demura was one of the inspirations for the character.[15]

Demura appeared in several films and documentaries, including: The Warrior within (1976),[16] The Island of Dr. Moreau (1977), The Karate Kid (1984), The Karate Kid Part III (1989),[17] Shootfighter: Fight to the death (1992),[18] Rising Sun (1993),[19] The Next Karate Kid (1994),[20] Masters of the martial arts (1998, presented by Wesley Snipes),[21] Mystic origins of the martial arts (1998),[22] Modern warriors (2002),[23] XMA: Xtreme Martial Arts (2003),[24] and Ninja (2009).[25]

Later years and death

Demura was the subject of the 2015 documentary The Real Miyagi.[26]

He died on April 24, 2023, at the age of 84.[27]

References
  1. "Sensei Fumio Demura". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2015-09-19.
  2. Clayton, B. D., Horowitz, R., & Pollard, E. (2004): Shotokan's secret: The hidden truth behind Karate's fighting origins (p. 108). Black Belt Books. (ISBN 978-0-8975-0144-6)
  3. Japan Karate-Do Genbu-Kai International: Sensei Demura at a glance ... Archived 2009-09-28 at the Wayback Machine (c. 2007). Retrieved on March 3, 2010.
  4. USA Dojo: Shihan Fumio Demura Archived 2010-08-08 at the Wayback Machine (c. 2009). Retrieved on March 3, 2010.
  5. Demura, F. (1971): Shito-Ryu Karate (p. 4). Burbank, CA: Ohara. (ISBN 978-0-8975-0005-0)
  6. Demura, F. (1982): Tonfa: Karate weapon of self-defense (p. 5). Burbank, CA: Ohara. (ISBN 978-0-8975-0080-7)
  7. Demura, F. (1971): Shito-Ryu Karate. Burbank, CA: Ohara. (ISBN 978-0-8975-0005-0)
  8. Demura, F., & Ivan, D. (1976): Advanced nunchaku. Burbank, CA: Ohara. (ISBN 978-0-8975-0021-0)
  9. Demura, F. (1982): Tonfa: Karate weapon of self-defense. Burbank, CA: Ohara. (ISBN 978-0-8975-0080-7)
  10. Demura, F. (1986): Nunchaku: Karate weapon of self-defense. Burbank, CA: Ohara. (ISBN 978-0-8975-0006-7)
  11. Demura, F. (1987): Bo: Karate weapon of self-defense. Burbank, CA: Ohara. (ISBN 978-0-8975-0019-7)
  12. Demura, F. (1987): Sai: Karate weapon of self-defense. Burbank, CA: Ohara. (ISBN 978-0-8975-0010-4)
  13. Demura, F. (2006): Fumio Demura resume Archived 2009-04-19 at the Wayback Machine (June 6, 2006). Retrieved on March 3, 2010.
  14. Prewitt, Alex (May 1, 2018). "The Crane Kick Is Bogus: A Karate Kid Oral History". Sports Illustrated.
  15. Yamato, Jen (August 7, 2015). "The Real Mr. Miyagi". The Daily Beast – via www.thedailybeast.com.
  16. IMDb: The Warrior within (1976) – Full cast and crew Retrieved on March 4, 2010.
  17. IMDb: The Karate Kid Part III (1989) – Full cast and crew Retrieved on March 3, 2010.
  18. IMDb: Shootfighter – Fight to the death (1992) – Full cast and crew Retrieved on March 4, 2010.
  19. IMDb: Rising Sun (1993) – Full cast and crew Retrieved on March 4, 2010.
  20. IMDb: The next Karate Kid (1994) – Full cast and crew Retrieved on March 4, 2010.
  21. IMDb: Masters of the martial arts (1998) Retrieved on March 4, 2010.
  22. IMDb: Mystic origins of the martial arts (1998) Retrieved on March 4, 2010.
  23. IMDb: Modern warriors (2002) Retrieved on March 4, 2010.
  24. IMDb: XMA – Xtreme Martial Arts (2003) Retrieved on March 4, 2010.
  25. IMDb: Ninja (2009) – Full cast and crew Retrieved on March 4, 2010.
  26. The Real Miyagi (2015) at IMDb
  27. "In Memoriam: Fumio Demura (1938–2023)". Film Combat Syndicate. 24 April 2023. Retrieved 28 April 2023.


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