Ansei Ueshiro

Who was Ansei Ueshiro?

Ansei Ueshiro was an influential Okinawan martial artist, who was the nephew of Ankichi Arakaki, the chief instructor at the original Nagamine Dojo in Okinawa and the composer of Fukyugata Sandan kata. Born in Kin, Okinawa, Ueshiro relocated to the United States in 1962 at the request of founder Shōshin Nagamine of Matsubayashi Shōrin-ryū, under whom he had studied, for the purpose of spreading the martial art. He founded Shorin-Ryu Karate USA and, according to that organization's official website, "was one of the first Oriental martial artists to bring karate" to the US.