Kenyu Chinen

Sensei Kenyu Chinen was born in 1944 on Ie Island in Okinawa Prefecture. He began training in Shorin-Ryu Karate in 1958 under Master Chōshin Chibana and later continued his studies with Masters Shūgorō Nakazato and Katsuya Miyahira. Since 1962, he has perfected Kobudo under the guidance of Master Shinpou Matayoshi, becoming his private and most famous student known as "Matayoshi student number 1." In 1976, he was sent to Europe, where he opened the first dojo in Paris.

In 1986, he published the book Kobudo d'Okinawa, which became a global bestseller. In 1993, he became President and Chief Instructor of the World Oshukai Okinawa Shorin-Ryu Karate Do Kobudo Federation. In 2004, he opened the main W.O.F. dojo in Yomitan, Okinawa, and co-founded the Okinawa Traditional Karatedo Kobudo International Center.

Sensei Chinen holds a 10th dan in Shorin-Ryu Karate and a 9th dan in Kobudo. He is an honorary doctor of martial arts and a member of the advisory committee for world Karate and Kobudo to the Governor of Okinawa Prefecture. He has trained over 1000 black belts and actively teaches worldwide.

As a patron of the Meiryoku Foundation, Sensei Chinen inspires building a community that appreciates the heritage and culture of Okinawa and the Ryukyu Archipelago islands. His teaching promotes both martial arts and the Okinawan approach to life and values, shaping characters and promoting Okinawan traditions.
The foundation aims to disseminate and develop, in the Okinawan spirit, what Sensei Chinen teaches in martial arts and the approach to life, tolerance, cooperation, mutual support in mental and physical development, and the pursuit of peace and kindness.

The idea behind our involvement is to integrate actions and develop initiatives that promote cooperation between Poland and Okinawa and, from a longer perspective, selected regions of Europe. We draw inspiration from the unique opportunity to learn from Sensei Kenyu Chinen and the rich experience resulting from direct contact with the culture, customs, and values of the people of Okinawa. Through this, we aim to build intercultural bridges, promote mutual understanding, and support joint development based on values like peace, tolerance, and cooperation.