Sosui Ichikawa 1924 to 2005

Sosui Ichikawa was one of two great masters of Goju Ryu in Japan, the other being Gogen Yamaguchi. Although Sosui Ichikawa is not widely known he was considered by many to be a karate genius. Perhaps he is best known because of Ohtsuka Tadahiko (a former student) and his translation of the previously guarded secret text, The bubishi. The bubishi was handed down to only Sosui Ichikawa's highest ranking and trusted students, as it was passed down to him by Kanki Izumikawa. Ohtsuka Tadahiko was the first person to translate the text and led to subsequent translations into other languages including english.

Sosui Ichikawa spent his life researching and studying karate and with this knowledge developed many advanced practices of Goju Ryu including: Bunkai, Hente, kakeshite, Tenshin, Maai and theories of kumite that allows a physically inferior person (eg. small, weaker, older) to defeat a much more physically superior opponent.

In October 2004 Sosui Ichikawa stated that Mr Chiba is the only person to receive 10th dan, Mr Sudo and Mr Tsubamoto are the only people to receive 9th dan and Mr Watanabe and Mr Ono are the only people to receive 8th Dan from him while he is alive. Unfortunately, Mr Ichikawa died 5 months later.