02/11/2026
The Man. The Legend. The one and only… Eddie Bethea Jr., Kyoshi.
Allow me a few moments to brag about my Sensei, if you will.
Eddie Bethea Jr. was born in Wilmington, North Carolina in 1943. Growing up in the South, he was all too familiar with racism and the negative aspects that came with it. After graduating high school, he enlisted in the United States Air Force, which would send him on an amazing pathway into becoming the legend he is today.
Sensei was fascinated with popular TV shows such as The Wild, Wild West and enamored with the martial arts action scenes often featured in the show. He began reading magazine articles about martial arts and became highly interested in attaining training. Serving in the Air Force gave him that chance.
In June of 1966, he began his formal training while stationed in Okinawa. He often tells the tale of how he ended up in the dojo of Shugoro Nakazato Hanshi, with a glimmer of excitement still in his eyes.
Once he arrived in Okinawa, he was being bused to the base along what was the only highway through the island at the time. During that trip, he saw a large sign on the side of a building that said, “Nakazato Karate Gym.” After getting checked into the base and settled in, and once he got his first paycheck, he jumped in a taxi and said, “Take me to that dojo.” He has been training ever since.
He has also been one of the most loyal students to his Sensei, Shugoro Nakazato Hanshi, and after Hanshi’s passing, to his son Minoru Nakazato Hanshi of Shorin Ryu Shorinkan.
After serving two tours in Vietnam, he came back stateside and was stationed in Kokomo, Indiana. It was here that he would firmly establish his karate legacy in a community that holds one of the longest histories of karate in Indiana. The first dojo to open in the state of Indiana was in Kokomo, under the direction of Jim Kennedy, around 1961.
In the early 70’s, Bethea Kyoshi began traveling and attending martial arts tournaments. While he tried as he might, he struggled to win many of his early events. He recalls at one event, “I won 1st place in breaking and that really upset me.” He set out on a path to train as hard as he could and become a champion.
Often quoted as saying, “My karate was just as good as anyone else’s. I just needed to change my thinking, train harder than them all and start winning.”
Since those early years, Bethea Kyoshi has become a living legend in the world of competitive karate. He has earned 3 USKA World Grand Championships spanning 3 decades, and 10 World Divisional Championships. These wins have been in kata, weapons kata, and kumite—spanning the three core elements of karate. This is not to mention the number of World Champion students he has produced at the Kokomo School of Self Defense in downtown Kokomo.
Alongside his excellence in competitive karate, Sensei is known across the world as one of the most kind, sharing, and caring Sensei anyone could ever come across. When sparring with him, it may not seem this way, because he fights with the ferocity of a tiger, but he is the first to hug you and say, “Nice job,” after the session.
His giving nature has made him one of the most sought-after teachers of traditional, authentic Okinawan karate in the world today. His knowledge is so immense that you’d need a lifetime to truly train with him and fully appreciate it.
Bethea Kyoshi is one of the original “Magnificent Seven” of the Shorinkan under Shugoro Nakazato Hanshi. They were the leaders in teaching Nakazato Hanshi’s art across the United States. They include Eddie Bethea, Tadashi Yamash*ta, Nabil Noujam, Noel Smith, Sid Campbell, to name a few. These Sensei laid a strong foundation for Shorin Ryu across the United States...and even the world.
To attest to the accomplishments of Bethea Kyoshi, he has been inducted into the prestigious Trias International, USKK Budo, USAMA Hawke’s, and PKC Elite societies. Among all his many years of accolades and accomplishments, it is his winning charm, personality, and open desire to share karate with others that people remember the most.
Being around Sensei is an amazing experience and always a wonderful time… whether at a karate event or simply hanging out with him.
Eddie Bethea Kyoshi defines the ultimate martial arts aim in life. He is highly skilled, incredibly talented, and knowledgeable in both Shorin Ryu Shorinkan and Kokusai Rengokai Kobudo, but he also sets the highest standards for being a wonderful human being.
They often say karate instills character traits such as integrity, honor, compassion, and respect, and Bethea Kyoshi’s mere presence defines each of those.
In a world where many young martial artists have lost the significance of the past masters and pioneers, the name Eddie Bethea rises above that. Still teaching today, traveling, and helping his hundreds of students across the United States, Bethea Kyoshi is the pinnacle of expectations for any true black belt in the arts.
His career has spanned 60 years of dedicated Shorin Ryu Shorinkan training, too many trips to train with his Sensei in Okinawa to count, and having taught more than 10,000 individuals who have walked through the doors of his dojo.
A role model. A humanitarian. A tough fighter. A dedicated student, teacher, and very loved friend.
Quite simply, the man who sets the example of what a true martial arts master is.
As Sensei always says:
“I ’spect I reckon I’m gonna make it. Can’t sing, can’t dance, fish ain’t bite-en, way too nice to plow. Know what I am saying.”
Which everyone who loves this man knows.
