Ross Rumbell Award Recipient: 2004

Shane Yukio Higashi is born in Chemainus, British-Columbia, on October 14, 1940. The Higashi family moved to Japan in 1946, first to Hiroshima, then to Nagoya, returning to Toronto in 1956.

In 1961, he began studying karate under the tutelage of O’sensei Masami Tsuruoka, the Father of Canadian karate. Higashi sensei was O’sensei Tsuruoka’s first student to earn a black belt in 1962. In 1963, he became the kumite grand champion of the second Canadian Open Karate Championship.

Higashi sensei opened his dojo in 1962.

Higashi sensei’s interest in martial arts developed, among other ways, through his relationship with a family member of his sister-in-law, Yukio Mitsusome, who practiced karate in Osaka, Japan, as well as with his judoka brother-in-law, Genichiro Nakahara.

In 1964, Higashi sensei participated in the founding of the National Karate Association (NKA), now Karate Canada. O’sensei Tsuruoka was the President, Higashi sensei was the Vice-President, Ned Paige was the also Vice-President and John T. Matsumoto sensei was the Secretary-Treasurer.

Higashi sensei return to Japan in 1966 and received personal training from O’sensei Chitose, the founder of Chito-Ryu karate-do.

In 1970, John Carnio, Higashi sensei’s student, made history when he won the silver medal at the 1st World Karate Championship in Japan.

In 1979, Higashi sensei received his 7th dan, Kyoshi, from O’sensei Chitose, becomes O’sensei’s representative in Canada and takes part in the foundation of the Canadian Chito-Ryu Karate-Do Association. Years later, he received his 8th dan from Nidai me Soke Chitose. In 2008, the Canadian Chito-Ryu Karate-Do Association became independent. Still in 2008, Higashi sensei received his 9th dan, Hanshi, from O’sensei Masami Tsuruoka. In 2009, Karate Canada awarded him the rank of 9th dan.

In 2013, Higashi Sensei participated in the founding of the World Chito-Ryu Karate-Do Federation (WCRKDF). He was named Saiko Shihan of the WCRKDF.

Becoming involved in the many aspects of martial arts, Higashi sensei officiated at the first Canadian Black belt Championship in Alberta in 1974. In 1975, he was designated as the leading authority in Canada for Motokatsu Inoue sensei’s Ryukyu Kobujutsu HonzonShinkokai, and in 1996, he took part in the founding of the Canadian Ryukyu Kobujutsu Association.

Higashi sensei has been instrumental in spreading Chito-Ryu karate-do around the world. He has assisted various instructors from all over the world to help establish Chito-Ryu dojos in their countries.

To this day, Higashi sensei, 10th, Hanshi, still teaches at his own dojo all the while being the Saiko Shihan of the Canadian Chito-Ryu Karate-Do Association and of the World Chito-Ryu Karate-Do Federation, and presiding Karate Canada’s Technical Committee.

His accomplishments include

• Receiving the Ross Rumble Award from the NKA (2004)
• Receiving the Lifelong contribution to Chito-Ryu Award during the 60th Chito-Ryu Karate-Do anniversary in Japan (2006)
• Being inducted into the NKA Hall of Fame (2007)
• Being inducted into the Canadian Black Belt Hall of Fame (2007)
• Receiving the rank of 10th dan from the WCRKDF (2013)
• Receiving the rank of 6th dan (2013) and Shihan (2017) from Kisho Inoue sensei in Ryukyu Kobujutsu
• Being awarded the Masami Tsuruoka Award from the Canadian Black Belt Hall of Fame (2016)
• Being awarded a certificate and a medal from the Quebec National Assembly (2020)
• Receiving the rank of 10th dan from Karate Canada (2024). Only two karatekas received this honour: O’sensei Masami Tsuruoka and Higashi sensei.