Shimojiha Uechi-Ryu Karate Do
North American Headquarters • Tampa, Florida
Our Heritage
Kanbun Uechi
Kanei Uechi
Toshiyuki "Tosh" Itokazu
Yasuo Shimoji
Our dojo traces its roots to the traditional teachings of Okinawan karate, carried forward through generations of dedicated practitioners.
Sensei Reza Taher began his training under Master Itokazu Toshiyuki, an Okinawan instructor who brought Uechi-ryu karate to the Tampa Bay area after emigrating to the United States in 1979. Under Master “Tosh,” Sensei Taher developed his foundational expertise, earning the ranks of Shodan, Nidan, and Sandan (1st through 3rd degree black belts) through rigorous study and disciplined practice.
Continuing his lifelong commitment to the art, Sensei Taher has attained the rank of Nanadan (7th degree black belt) and the distinguished title of Kyoshi. These honors were conferred by Judan (10th degree) Sensei Yasuo Shimoji, a highly respected Okinawan master who leads a Uechi-ryu organization and dojo in Tokyo, Japan.
Sensei Scott Shaw serves as a senior instructor and continues this tradition alongside Sensei Taher. A Godan (5th degree black belt) promoted by Shimoji Sensei, Sensei Shaw has trained with Sensei Taher since 1986. His decades of experience bring a depth of technical knowledge, practical experience, and dedication to the continued study and teaching of Uechi-ryu karate.
Sensei Michael Chapman represents the next generation of this lineage. Currently a Nidan (2nd degree black belt), Sensei Chapman began training with Sensei Taher and Sensei Shaw in 2021 after returning to karate in his 40s, having first begun his martial arts journey as a child in the late 1980s. Determined to fulfill his childhood goal of earning a black belt and continuing as far as the journey would take him, he brings to the dojo several years of experience working with children as a Cub Scout leader, serving in roles from Den Leader to Cubmaster. Today, he assists in the instruction of the dojo's students while continuing his own study and development under his instructors. As a newly recognized member of the instructional staff, he remains a student of the art himself.
Together, our instructors represent a living lineage of Uechi-ryu karate, connecting the traditions of Okinawa with the students of today. Each instructor brings a different generation of experience to the dojo, united by the same commitment to disciplined training, personal growth, and preserving the principles and spirit of Uechi-ryu for those who come after us.