Roy Yukio Suenaka (1940-2020) - Christopher Caile's Fighting Arts

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Roy Yukio Suenaka

Roy Yukio Suenaka Sensei was an American of Japanese heritage with over 7 decades of experience in a wide variety of martial arts.

was a teacher and author, and founder of Wadokai Aikido. He was also the most western senior student of Shorin-Ryu’s Hohan Soken and taught Soken’s Matsumura Seito Hakutsuru Shorin-ryu Karate-do.

Suenaka Sensei’s martial instruction began under his father, Warren Kenji Suenaka, who taught his son budo basics and carefully selected his primary martial tutors. These teachers included such legends as (1) Okazaki-ryu Kodenkan Jiu-jitsu founder Henry Seishiro Okazaki, (2) Kosho-ryu Kempo’s legendary James Masayoshi Mitose, (3) judoka (and later, aikidoka) Yukiso Yamamoto, and (4) celebrated kendoka Shuji Mikami, from whom Suenaka Sensei received a nidan (2nd degree black belt). In his youth he also received private instruction in (5) Lua (Kalama), the ancient Hawaiian martial art of bone braking and joint locks.

While stationed in Hawaii in the US armed forces after WWII, Suenaka Sensei was a direct in-house student for 11 years of karate Grandmaster Hohan Soken, receiving from him the rank of rokudan (6th degree black belt). In addition, while in Japan Suenaka Sensei continued his judo and jiu-jitsu education at the Kodokan under famed Meijin Kazuo Ito, who personally sponsored Suenaka Sensei’s promotion to sandan (3rd degree black belt) in judo and jiu-jitsu.

Suenaka Sensei began his aikido study with Koichi Tohei’s 1953 visit to Hawaii, and continued his study directly under aikido’s Founder Morihei Ueshiba O’Sensei at the Aikikai Hombu for eight years, beginning in 1961. From O’Sensei he received an aikido menkyo kaiden (master-level proficiency) teaching certificate and was the first person to open a successful aikido dojo in Okinawa.

In 1972, Suenaka Sensei relocated to Charleston, South Carolina where he served as the Southeastern U.S. director for Koichi Tohei’s International Ki Society, In 1975 Suenaka Sensei resigned to form the American International Ki Development and Philosophical Society (AIKDPS). His Charleston SC Suenaka Martial Arts School served as headquarters for his Suenaka-ha Tetsugaku-ho Wadokai Aikido with branches across the US, and in China. Branch chiefs often also offering instruction in Sensei Suenaka’s Hohan Sokens Matsumura Seito Hakutsuru Shorin-ryu Karate-do.

In his frequent Aikido seminars, summer and winter camps, Suenaka also often included karate segments including Soken’s aikido-like Hakusuru (Soken’s White Crane karate), Tuidi (Soken’s grappling, seizing and joint manipulation techniques) as well as Lua (grappling and bone braking methods).

Suenaka is also the author of the best-selling book Complete Aikido, and his articles on Aikido have appeared in a variety of martial arts publications including The Journal of Asian Martial Arts (JAMA).

Training and Instructors:

1944-1958	Warren Suenaka (father): judo, jiu-jutsu, kenjutsu, kempo and boxing
1948-1952	Henry Seishiro Okazaki, founder: Kodenkan Jiu-Jutsu and Judo
1949-1953	James Masayoshi Mitose, founder: Kosho Ryu Kempo
1950-1953	Higami, Matsumoto and Yukiso Yamamoto: Kodokan Judo
1951-1952	Kalama: lua
1951-1951	Leong: kung fu
1953-1976	Koichi Tohei: aikido
1954-1958	Amateur boxing
1955-1958	Shuji Mikami: kendo
1957-1958	Nishioka: Shotokan Karate
1961-1969	Morihei Ueshiba O’Sensei, founder: aikido
1961-1972	Hohan Soken, founder: Matsumura Seito Hakutsuru Shorin Ryu Karatedo & Kobudo
1961-1970	Kazuo Ito, Kyuzo Mifune: Kodokan Judo
1961-1963	Masutatsu Oyama, founder: Kyokushinkai Karate
1962-1962	Chosin Chibana: Kobayashi Karate
1963-1963	Kanei Uechi, founder: Uechi Ryu Karate
1964-1964	Ubon-Sing Chub: kung fu
1964-1965	Masanobu Shinjo, Masanobu Kinjo: Goju Ryu Karate
1967-1972	Eiichi Miyazato: Goju Ryu Karate
1972-Present	Teaches Suenaka-Ha Tetsugaku Ho Aikido (Wadokai) and Matsumura Seito Hakutsuru Shorin Ryu Karatedo & Kobudo in Charleston, SC

Ranks and Awards:

Menkyo Kaiden (teaching license, certificate of complete mastery) in aikido, awarded by aikido founder Morihei Ueshiba O’Sensei.
Hachidan (8th degree black belt) in Aikido awarded 1977
Hachidan (8th degree black belt) in Matsumura Seito Hakutsuru Shorin
Ryu Karatedo & Kobudo awarded 1977
Rokudan (6th degree black belt) in Matsumura Seito Hakutsuru Shorin
Ryu Karatedo & Kobudo, awarded by Hakutsuru Shorin Ryu founder Hokan Soken, in 1972
Sandan (3rd degree black belt) in Kodokan Judo and Jiu Jitsu (dual certificate), awarded by Kazuo Ito and Risei Kano, son of judo founder Jigoro Kano, in 1970
Nidan (2nd degree black belt) in Kendo, awarded by Shuji Mikami in 1958
Hawaiian State Golden Gloves Boxing from 1954 to 1958

Teaching Experience:

Assistant aikido instructor for the Hawaii Aikikai upon receiving first aikido black belt in 1956 and until joining United States Air Force (USAF) in 1958
Started first recognized aikido school in the continental U.S. in Sacramento, CA in 1958 and maintained until USAF assignment in Japan in 1961
Instructed California Highway Patrol between 1958-1961
Instructed Military Police at Mather Air Force Base between 1958-1961
Taught judo and aikido at Encino High School, CA in 1960
Taught both juvenile offenders and counselors at “Boys Town” in Placerville, CA between 1958-1960
Taught combative measures as guest instructor in the USAF Strategic Air Command Survival Training Course at Stead Air Force Base, NV 1958-1961
While in Japan, Okinawa and Vietnam between 1961-1972, taught hand-to-hand combat to Military Police, Marines, Army Green Berets, Navy SEALS, the Air Commando Program and the Ryukyu Police Department (Naha City, Okinawa)
Started first successful aikido dojo (school) in Okinawa in 1961, which required nightly defense from physical challenges issued by local high-ranking karate practitioners. All challenges were met and won.
Opened aikido and karate dojo in Charleston, SC in 1973 which is still in operation
Taught Air Force Tactical Recovery Teams in Charleston from 1973-1974
Sole instructor of Air Force Security Police in a special program initiated by General Sadler to heighten Charleston Air Force Base security
Instructed at the Police Academy in Columbia, SC in 1988-1989 teaching State Police, FBI, city and county SWAT teams, SC State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) and correction officers at Columbia Correctional Institute maximum security prison (CCI)
Taught Costa Rican special task forces and Presidential Secret Service in 1991. Program sponsored by the Charleston City Police Department
Taught special course designed for female and smaller framed officers serving in the Charleston City Police Department in 1994
Instructed employees of city, state and county police, jailers, bodyguards, State Department officials, Border Patrol, SWAT, bounty hunters, bail bondsmen, DEA, US Marshals and agents for the Foreign Dignitary Protection Service
Conducts annual seminars in South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, Virginia and New York and special seminars in California, Washington and Colorado
Authored Complete Aikido: Aikido Kyohan in 1998 (Tuttle, Boston)