Chuntian Academy International

TERUMASA OGAWA

Director Matt Plewes started his formative training in the martial arts with karate. He joined the first Karate School in Suffolk, Virginia, USA in 1976.
He was in the first group of students and trained five years. After the Suffolk branch closed, Plewes started a lifetime of researching and exploring other schools, styles and masters. He opened his first school in 1985 and settled into system that suited him. From Virginia in the 80s and 90s and Asia in the late 90s and 2000s, with the last 10 years in Japan, he still passionately teaches and researches martial arts.
The karate style, in which Master Plewes is still fond of, is Seikukan. The teacher, Mr. Ogawa, also introduced the Japanese culture to Plewes and was a big part of the reason Plewes moved to Japan.

About Seikukan:
Shorin-Ji Ryu Seikukan is a style of karate which was developed by Tainen Takemori shortly after World War II. Takemori first studied karate as it was introduced to Japan in the early 1930's. While stationed as a member of the Japanese Military Occupation Forces in China during World World II, Takemori studied Chinese martial arts. After the war, Takemori returned to Japan and developed the Seikukan system of karate which was influenced by his study of Chinese martial arts. He began teaching the Seikukan system of karate in Nagoya, Japan.
Terumasa Ogawa began studying under Takemori in the years following World War II. After nearly a decade, Mr. Ogawa began teaching under Takemori's direction. Mr. Ogawa also became interested in Goju-ryu, other systems of karate, as well as, Thai kick-boxing. Before the death of Takemori, Mr. Ogawa was granted full teaching licenses and the rank of Doshi. Before immigrating to the United States, Mr. Ogawa's rank was verified by the American Consulate. In 1971, he established the Seikukan Karate-do Hall in Newport News, Virginia which is licensed by the Han Japan Karate-do Association.