Larry Pickel Sensei

Mr. Pickel joined the United States Marine Corp. in 1960. In 1962, Mr. Pickel was stationed in California, where he met Mr. James Ninios. From Mr. Ninios, Mr. Pickel began his study of Shorinryu Karate, earning a 5th kyu Green Belt. This training lasted 3 months, before Mr. Pickel was re-stationed to Okinawa, Japan.  

Mr. Pickel met Mr. Bill Larson, shortly after his arrival on Okinawa. Mr. Larson was studying Gojuryu karate, he took Mr. Pickel to the dojo he was training at and introduced him to his teacher. Mr. Pickel then began his study of gojuryu karate, under Master Eiichi Miyazato at the Asato (Jundokan) dojo in Naha City Okinawa, while serving at camp Sukiran. He was in Okinawa for a total of 13 months; he was promoted to Shodan on February 14, 1964. Mr. Pickel was issued a certificate from the Okinawa Karate Association signed by then Chairman Shoshin Nagamine and his teacher, Eiichi Miyazato. This was before the founding of the OGKK by Miyazato Sensei. Mr. Pickel said his Gi cost $4.00 and his obi was $.80.

Mr. Pickle stated that he was only the third American to receive a black belt from Miyazato Sensei. Mr. Pickel said that he would go watch cock fighting with Miyazato Sensei and that, Miyazato Sensei would always ask him to bring him some Aqua Velva and Golden Wedding Whiskey from the base. Mr. Pickel also recalled that Koshin Iha taught a lot.

Mr. Pickel stated that in 1963, there was a 10 year ceremony held in honor of Chojun Miyagi, and that there were several dignitaries from both Okinawa and Japan. He said that several groups ran kata and demonstrated in front of Miyagi's grave. Mr. Pickel said that Miyazato Sensei selected him to demonstrate saifa kata, and it was a great honor to be able to demonstrate at the grave of Miyagi. Mr. Pickel advised that he was able to meet several other gojuryu instructors and one from Japan (Yamaguchi) gave him an emblem of a fist made out of gold.

Mr. Pickel stated that after leaving Okinawa, he was stationed in Tokyo, Japan for 3 months. While there he and Mr. Larson continued to train together and visited some other Gojuryu schools, they were also able to train with Gogen Yamaguchi Sensei.

After his discharge from the Marines, Mr. Pickel returned to Chesterfield, Indiana and established the Jundokan of Indiana. His first students were Glenn Keeney, Larry Davenport and Jerry Brown. He taught from 1964-1967, he quite for personal reasons; however he resumed teaching in the 1970s for a few years and again in the 1980s for a few more years. Although retired now, Mr. Pickel makes the occasional visit to area dojos and still serves as technical director for a few. Mr. Pickel is credited for introducing Gojuryu to Indiana, but I think he was the first to teach Jundokan Gojuryu in the United States.