Ryuji Hayashi started training at age 16, studying Uechi-Ryu Karate directly under Uechi Kani Sensei, from whom he would eventually receive the highest technical award (at that time, 5th Dan was the highest technical award).
At the same time, he began Kobudo training directly under Akamine Eisuke Sensei (the senior teacher) and Minowa Katsuhiko Sensei. He also received the highest technical Dan award directly from these masters.
His teachers regularly traveled to Amami Oshima to teach, and he spent years on Okinawa. It is worth noting that during that era, Dan awards were exceptionally strict, especially under these senior masters; Hayashi Sensei was 40 years old by the time he achieved these highest awards of technical ability.
Following the passing of Akamine Eisuke in 1999, and having already achieved the highest technical grades, his trips to Okinawa became less frequent. He focused instead on polishing his own technique and passing his knowledge to his own students.
As often happens when senior teachers pass away, divisions occurred among the remaining seniors. However, Hayashi Sensei strongly maintains that he will not alter the teachings or the Kata directly passed on to him simply to appeal to the masses.
He constructed a Dojo in Amami Oshima for over 100 students, though it was tragically destroyed by a typhoon. They rebuilt, only to have the second Dojo suffer the same fate, as the Ryukyu Islands are severely prone to such storms.
Information provided by Ronnie Colwell.
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