Master Fujimoto was born on 23rd September 1925.
He started practicing Kendo at the age of eight and Judo at the age of thirteen. He began Karate at the age of eighteen when he entered Doshisha University on Kyoto and joined it's Karate Clu He is four years junior to Master Tani, another Doshisha graduate and founder of Tani-ha Shito-ryu Shukokai. The instructor of the club was Master Kenwa Mabunim founder of Shito-ryu, but he only taught Goju-ryu (Naha-te) at the club. The young Hiroshi Fujim oto trained hard and eventually become captain of the club.
In November 1947, he and eight other students visited Tokyo and trained and competed with students of P seven universities. On that occasion, he did a demonstration infront of many karate-kas including Master Gichin Funakoshi, founder of Shotokan karate.
This visit triggered an exchange between universities in the Kanto area (around Tokyo) and those in the Kansai area (around Osaka and Kyoto), which led to the formation of the "All Japan University Karate Federation".
Master Fujimoto received the title of Goju-ryu Shihan from Master Kenwa Mabuni on 10th January 1950. He was one of the strongest Karate-ka under Master Mabuni and Master Mabuni often sent him to teach at clubs and dojos as his representative. I have met several old Shito-ryu instructors who remembered Master Fujimoto and all of them talked about him with respect.
But his life changing experience was just around the corner. He saw an advertisement for an Okinawan festival in central Osaka and decided to go as a spectator. Among dancing and music there was to be a karate demonstration which he awaited with great interest, as you can imagine. However, the demonstration consisted of a few people, Okinawan immigrants working in Osaka, just demonstrating some katas.
Not satisfied with this, Master Fujimoto went backstage and challenged these karate people. The leader of the group was Master Seijiro Sakihama and Master Toma, one of his disciples took the challenge. To his surprise, Master Fujim oto's attack just bounced back from the body of Master Toma and one seemingly gentle blow he received in response nearly made him faint. So he immediately asked Master Sakihama to take him as a student but Master Sakihama declined citing that he only taught Okinawans.
