Shotokan head of the Japan Karate Association's Brazilian branch. Action movie star Jean-Claude Van Damme holds a 2nd "dan" black belt in Shotokan and used the style when he competed both in traditional and in full contact karate competitions in the 1970s and 1980s. Michael Jai White has a 3rd "dan" in Shotokan, although he has long practiced other karate styles such as Kyokushin and Goju Ryu. Wesley Snipes has a 5th dan black belt in Shotokan. Shotokan Funakoshi had many students at the university clubs and outside dojos, who continued to teach karate after his death in 1957. However, internal
Tenshinsho Jigen Ryu the Ryushin Shouchi Ryu. Today, Tenshinsho Jigen Ryu has its headquarters in Saitama Prefecture. It is headed by 29th headmaster, Ueno Takashi Doushin, and Ueno Kagenori, the present headmaster of the school. Ueno Kagenori has conducted several seminars outside Japan, specifically in West Virginia, North Carolina and Florida, U.S.A. <br> The philosophy of Tenshinsho Jigen Ryu is to have pride in the five virtues and to cultivate the spirit of simplicity and fortitude. These five virtues are represented on the different parts of the Japanese sword. The spirit of simplicity and fortitude is often represented by a special four character