Wednesday, April 27, 2011 by C. Michial Jones
While the Jundokan in Okinawa was expanding its influence across the Pacific, a parallel legacy was beginning in the American Midwest. In 1964, the Jundokan of Indiana was established by Larry Pickel—a man whose journey to the heart of Okinawan Karate was forged during his service in the United States Marine Corps.
Training in the “House of the Father”
During his thirteen-month tour in Okinawa, Mr. Pickel immersed himself in the training at the Jundokan dojo in Asato, Naha City. Under the direct tutelage of Master Ei’ichi Miyazato, he undertook the grueling daily regimen that defined the era.
On February 14, 1964, his dedication was formally recognized. He was promoted to Shodan (first-degree black belt), receiving a certificate issued by the Okinawan Karate Association. Reflecting the unity of the Okinawan masters at the time, the certificate bore the prestigious signatures of both Ei’ichi Miyazato Sensei and Shoshin Nagamine Sensei.
Beyond the Dojo Walls
Mr. Pickel’s memories of Okinawa offered a rare, human glimpse into the life of Master Miyazato. Their relationship extended beyond the formal atmosphere of the dojo; Pickel would occasionally accompany Miyazato Sensei to watch cockfights, a popular local pastime. He also recalled the Master’s penchant for American goods, often asking Pickel to bring him Aqua Velva aftershave and Golden Wedding whiskey from the military base—small tokens of a cross-cultural friendship that existed outside the sweat and discipline of the mats.
Establishing the Indiana Root
Upon his honorable discharge from the Marines, Mr. Pickel returned to his home in Chesterfield, Indiana, bringing the Jundokan name and its rigorous standards with him. He immediately began teaching, and his first cohort of students included men who would become legends in their own right: Glenn Keeney, Larry Davenport, and Jerry Brown.
As the student body grew, the dojo moved through various locations to accommodate the demand. In 1966, a larger, permanent facility was purchased. Mr. Pickel continued to lead the school until late 1967, at which point personal reasons led him to step away from the martial arts world. Before his departure, he sold his interest in the dojo and appointed Glenn Keeney as his successor.
Under Keeney’s leadership in 1967, the Jundokan of Indiana was renamed the Komakai Academy of Karate, marking the beginning of a new chapter that would eventually lead to the formation of your own lineage at the Yushikan.
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