Japanese karateka and kobudoka (1940–2023)
Fumio Demura (出村 文男, Demura Fumio, September 15, 1938 – April 24, 2023) was a Japanese karateka and kobudoka, based in the United States since the mid-1960s.[2][3] A 9th dan in Shitō-ryū karate,[3] he was Pat Morita's martial arts stunt double in the first, third and fourth Karate Kid films, and was one of the inspirations for the character Mr. Miyagi.[4]
Biography
Early years
Demura was born on September 15, 1938, in Yokohama, Japan.[3] At the age of 9 (1947/48), he began training in karate and kendo under an instructor named Asano.[3] At the age of 12 (1950/51) he started training under Ryusho Sakagami in Itosu-kai karate.[3] Demura received his 1st dan black belt in 1956,[3] and won the East Japan Championships in 1957.[3]
In 1959, he began training in kobudo, a style of traditional Okinawan weapons training, under the direction of Taira Shinken.[3][2] In 1963, he became acquainted with Kōga-ryū ninjutsu master Seiko Fujita. Demura met martial arts scholar Donn Draeger, who introduced him to Dan Ivan, who would eventually bring him to the United States as a karate instructor.[4]
United States
In 1965, Demura came to the United States, representing the Japan Karate-do Itosu-kai.[3] From his base in southern California, he became well known for his karate and kobudo skills.[4] In 1971, he was ranked 5th dan,[5] and he remained at that rank until at least 1982.[6] Through the 1970s and 1980s, Demura wrote several martial arts books, including: Shito-Ryu Karate (1971),[7] Advanced nunchaku (1976, co-authored),[8] Tonfa: Karate weapon of self-defense (1982),[9] Nunchaku: Karate weapon of self-defense (1986),[10] Bo: Karate weapon of self-defense (1987),[11] and Sai: Karate weapon of self-defense (1987).[12]
In 1986, Demura was promoted to 7th dan in Shito-ryū karate.[3] In 2005, he was promoted to 9th dan.[3] He resided in Santa Ana, California, until his death.[13]
Karate Kid films
In the 1980s, Demura became involved in the Karate Kid series of films.[4] He was the stunt double for Pat Morita, who played Mr. Miyagi.[4] The Karate Kid screenwriter Robert Mark Kamen stated that Mr. Miyagi was named after Chōjun Miyagi, the founder of the Goju-ryu karate style,[14] and that Fumio Demura was one of the inspirations for the character.[15]
Demura appeared in several films and documentaries, including: The Warrior within (1976),[16] The Island of Dr. Moreau (1977), The Karate Kid (1984), The Karate Kid Part III (1989),[17] Shootfighter: Fight to the death (1992),[18] Rising Sun (1993),[19] The Next Karate Kid (1994),[20] Masters of the martial arts (1998, presented by Wesley Snipes),[21] Mystic origins of the martial arts (1998),[22] Modern Warriors (2002),[23] XMA: Xtreme Martial Arts (2003),[24] and Ninja (2009).[25]
Later years and death
Demura was the subject of the 2015 documentary The Real Miyagi.[26]
He died on April 24, 2023, at the age of 84.[27]
