Bill Ryusaki

Mutsuto "Bill" Ryusaki is a pioneer of Kenpo in the United States.^[1]

Early life

Bill Ryusaki was born October 14, 1936, in Kamuela, on the big island of Hawaii. Being the sixth child of twelve siblings (seven brothers and four sisters) his father, Torazo Ryusaki, named him Mutsuto meaning "Sixth Child." It wasn't until fourth grade when he received the name, Bill, from his teacher who was unable to pronounce his birth name.

Torazo Ryusaki held black belts in both Kodokan Judo and Shotokan Karate, and made it mandatory that all of his sons train in two styles of Martial Arts. Bill Ryusaki trained in Shotokan Karate and Judo while his brothers trained in Kendo, Aikido, and Judo. Bill's older brothers would often use him as their practice dummy. At 19 years old, Ryusaki went to study at the University of Hawaii. He soon started training in Kenpo privately with Mariano Tiwanak (a famous Hawaiian Boxer).^[2]

Military career

Ryusaki was drafted into the U.S. Army and made his way to the Fort Ord military base in California. He was originally a military range finder, until a high-ranking officer got word of Ryusaki's martial art skills because of a fight that broke out on base. He then became advanced infantry where he taught hand-to-hand combat at Fort Benning, Georgia.

Professional life

Ryusaki returned to California, where Mariano Tiwanak told him to meet Ed Parker (American Kenpo). Ryusaki and Parker trained together and became pioneers of Kenpo Karate on the mainland of the United States. Parker asked Ryusaki to help with John Leoning and actor Poncie Ponce's dojo.^[3] In 1962 Ryusaki opened his own dojo combining his unique style of Judo, Jujitsu, Shotokan, Kenpo, and Aikido to become the founder of Ryu Dojo, Hawaiian Kenpo. He dedicated his school to his father, Torazo, to show his love and appreciation for all that is father had taught him. Ryusaki holds a tenth degree (Ju-Dan) in Hawaiian Kenpo and Kajukenbo, a seventh degree in Judo, as well as black belts in Shotokan and Aikido. Ryusaki has trained thousands of students including Dan Guzman, Otto Schumann and family, Benny "The Jet" and Arnold Urquidez, and Cecil Peoples.^[4]

Ryusaki has become successful in the entertainment industry as an actor/ stuntman.^[5]

References