 Founded in 1970 by Skipper Ingham (right), 10th Dan, Bermuda's highest
ranked martial artist, Bermuda Karate Institute focuses on the Goju (hard/soft) style, one
of the major branches of Japanese Karate, which originally developed in Okinawa. O-Sensei
Skipper received his rank from his sensei ( t e a c h e r ) , Grand patriarch Peter Urban,
who introduced the Goju style to the eastern U.S. in the early fifties after study in
Japan. Urban trained under Gogen Yamaguchi, considered until his death in 1990 as the
grand patriarch of Japanese Goju, as Mr. Urban is regarded as the grand patriarch of U. S
.A. Goju. Urban was also taught by Richard Kim, a fellow student of the late Matsutatsu
Oyama of Kyokushinkai. During his travels as a merchant seaman, O-Sensei Skipper also
trained in Manila under the late Latino Gonzales, a founder of Philippine Karate, and in
Tokyo and Nagoya, Japan. In addition
to the classical forms of Okinawan/ Japanese Goju, BKI incorporates contemporary
tournament fighting, Ippon Kumite (self-defense), Judo and Jujitsu, Kobudo (Bo staff and
Sai) and Iai-do (katana - sword - drawing). Emphasis is placed on conditioning and
stretching especially for martial arts activity. O-Sensei Skipper, as assistant coach of
the Trans World Oil Karate Team (originally the Atlantic World Karate Team) from 1987 to
1990, had the opportunity to coach and train with top international players in point
Karate and communicates the benefits of this unique experience to his students in Bermuda.
From time to time BKI holds special
training sessions under exceptionally qualified guest teachers. These have included Chuck
Merriman, U.S. National Karate coach for WKF; Kathy Baxter, AAU forms champion; Domingo
Llanos, AAU forms champion and WUKO silver medalist; Teruo Chinen, student of Goju founder
Chojun Miyagi; Toshihiro Oshiro, Okinawan Kobudo master; Toyotaro Miyazaki, forms and
weapons champion; WUKO gold medalist Billy Blanks; and Joe Pina, trainer of several East
Coast champions and coach of the Cape Verde team.
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