Takayuki Kubota is in the martial arts community was better known under the simple name Tak. That simple and everyone’s endearing name, by which everyone called him due to its simplicity, for many, did not at all reveal that an exceptional master of martial arts was hiding behind it. Tak Kubota was born on September 20,1934, in the historic city of Kumamoto which is located in the southern part of Japan. Kubota entered the world of martial arts very early, so from the age of four he was under the supervision of his father, who was a master of martial arts ju jitsu, kendo and ken jutsu. His early training included various disciplines, from bamboo yari,to judo,ju jutsu,kendo and keibo-jutsu,and makiwara practice. Kubota had four brothers, so already in his youth he learned modesty, but also the competitive spirit that often prevails among brothers. During World War II, he learned karate under the guidance of two Okinawans instructors Terada and Tokunaga, stationed in his village. They taught the locals the basics of karate and which they simply called Te, and did not yet use the name karate. At the age of 13, Kubota went to Tokyo to seek his fortune in a bigger city. When he came to Tokyo, he quickly realized that it was difficult to find a job as well as a permanent place to stay. Such difficult life circumstances forced him already at a young age to make good use of all his knowledge and skills in order to survive and earn enough money. Walking through the city Kubota helped the police to capture some criminals using his skill in taiho jutsu (arresting technique). Seeing that he was a capable young man, one of the commanders in the police took young Kubota under his care and helped him in his further education and development. When he managed to earn enough money, he went in search of different karate instructors throughout the region where he wanted to perfect and supplement his knowledge. In 1947, at age of 14, he was noticed by Tokyo Police and was soon teaching different martial arts (ju jutsu, karate, and kendo jutsu) to officers of Kamata Police Department. He did this for 10 years. Working as a policeman he was sometimes assigned to the most notorious part of the city where, in order to survive, he had to make the best use of all his knowledge and martial arts skills in practice. Kubota opened his first karate dojo at the age of 17. From 1950-1959, he was an instructor for the US Army, Air Force, and marines in kendo, karate, judo, ju jutsu, and giyokute-jitsu. With his work and commitment, he very quickly gained a reputation as a quality instructor, so he was soon called as an instructor in the American Army and as a governor’s employee. On August 2, 1964, Kubota was invited by Ed Parker to give a demonstration at Parker’s First Annual International karate Tournament in Long Beach, California. In late 1964, Kubota permanently relocated to America. After some time he got a job as an instructor at the Los Angeles police. He spent several years there teaching the police self-defense and various martial arts techniques. Gradually working in the police force, Kubota developed his own style of karate naming it Gosoku ryu (Go, hard – soku, fast style),and he consequently held title Soke meaning – “head of family/style” . Kubota created his style of karate gradually after many years of hard training and studying various styles of karate, practicing and making friends with various famous masters from different styles of karate. He wrote books, acting in movies, hung out with famous people and remained humble as he always was. Although today there are about twenty more well-known types of karate styles, gosoku-ryu is recognizable among all of them due to its technique. The techniques used are basically simple without any unnecessary movements .The economy of movements is taken into account as well as the power of performing individual techniques, and especially the speed of performing individual movements. In this way, a very effective style of karate was created, the effectiveness of which is equally good both in attack and in defense against attackers. Tak also performed various techniques with weapons, practicing ko-budo, kendo, ken-jutsu, combining these different techniques for self-defense purposes. Thinking about how to help the most vulnerable groups of the population to defend themselves in case of sudden attack, he designed a key chain in the shape of yawara and called it Kubotan. Kubotan is primarily intended for women, children and the elderly, but of course everyone can use it if necessary. Although Tak demonstrated many of self-defense techniques with the kubotan, it should be emphasized that he did not perform all the techniques, thus he wanted to leave other instructors the space and freedom to explore all the possibilities of using the kubotan for self-defense. Although today some instructors of various martial arts often ask questions about how practical and effective the kubotan really is. The answer to that question will be revealed by the fact that today there is no self-defense expert in the world who has not used or does not know how to use kubotan. In the history of martial arts it is known that over time all styles of karate are subject to miner or major changes (some techniques, katas, and others). Kubota was also the founder and president of the International karate association, but unfortunately, during the history of karate, it is already known that many karate associations changed their original format. Studying the history of karate, we could prove that all styles as well as various karate organizations are subject to minor or major changes, but what will certainly never change is the effectiveness of kubotan and its application in self-defense. Many people think that the basis purpose of karate is divided into three parts: practicing katas, practicing fighting- kumite and practicing various techniques – kihon, but they are wrong. The basic purpose of karate is primarily to create a brave, strong, skilled and above all good person, who is always ready to protect and help a weaker person. Giving the world his kubotan invention, Tak showed everyone that he was exactly that kind of man.
To the regret of many who loved and respected him, Tak Kubota died in Glendale, California on August 14,2024, at the age of 89. After his death, he left behind his style of karate, his association, his books and films and his contribution to self-defense. It is up us to preserve his memory by applying something off his legacy in our work and action for the future development of martial arts.
All the Best from Croatia, Yours sincerely David “Sensei“ Stainko – Mag. of kinesiology
Master 8th Dan – mixed martial sciences
