Soke Anthony C. Marquez

Early life

Born on the island of Puerto Rico on June 13, 1949, Marquez lived there only six months before his family moved to New York City, where he grew up. His first exposure to martial arts came through a White Crane Gung Fu school near his mother’s retail business in Chinatown.

Training in Japan (1971–1977)

In 1971 Marquez was stationed in Tachikawa, Japan, as a young United States Air Force serviceman. He received his first formal training in Yoshukai Karate under Sensei Fujikawa and Sensei Goto. Four years of full-contact training followed, during which he earned his Shodan and finished second at the 1972 All Yoshukai World Championships.

While in Japan he also joined Sakugawa Koshiki Shorinji-Ryu Karate-Do under Kyoshi Thomas Cauley, who later awarded him his Yondan (4th degree).

Okinawa (1977–1985)

His military travels led him in July 1977 to Okinawa — the birthplace of karate — where he spent eight years studying the indigenous arts of the Ryukyu Islands. He trained first at the Toma Dojo with Shihan Toma of the Seidokan, then in Okinawan Kenpo Kobudo with Master Seikichi Odo, and later with Master Masanobu Kina of the Rengeikan until Master Kina’s death in 1979.

He was then introduced to Master Masanobu Shinjo of the Shobukan Goju-Ryu Karate organization. Their relationship grew into a close friendship that included private lessons and an appointment as Master Shinjo’s advisor on international affairs. Master Shinjo awarded him his 5th and 6th Dan, and named him United States Representative.

Through Master Shinjo he met Master Katsuyoshi Kanei of the Jinbukan Dojo, a Goju-Ryu master and leading senior of Matayoshi-style Kobudo. Accepted as a private student, Marquez became one of Master Kanei’s most dedicated Jinbukan Kobudo students, earning his Nidan at the Matayoshi Dojo in 1985 and later his Godan and Shihan appointments. He served as Master Kanei’s U.S. representative until the master’s death in November 1993.

Return to the United States (1985–present)

After returning to the United States in 1985, Marquez spent the next 22 years building a distinctive blend of Okinawan Kobudo and Goju-Ryu, teaching across the United States and South America and gathering a dedicated following of students.

He founded Traditional Martial Arts International (TMAI), the Okinawa Tanzenbukan Goju-Ryu Karate-Do and the Kokusai Ryukyu Kobujutsu Kenkyokai. His search for advanced Kobudo returned him to Okinawa to study the rare art of Ufuchiku Kobujutsu under Soke Kaisu Isa, who appointed him Renshi in 1998.

He also studied Muso Jikiden Eishin-Ryu Iaijutsu under Hanshi Masayuki Shimabukuro, headmaster of Jikishin Isshinryu Iaido. The two became friends and co-founded Sekai Dento Budo Renmei. Hanshi Shimabukuro awarded him his Nidan in 2000 and his Sandan in Iaido on September 29, 2007.

The title of Soke

Soke (宗家) is a Japanese title for the head of a martial arts school or lineage. As Soke of TMAI — awarded with his Kudan in 2022 — Marquez leads the organization he founded, guides its direction and awards its black belts.

Ranks and accomplishments

• 1971Begins training in Japan
• 1972Shodan — Yoshukai Karate (1st degree black belt)
• 1975Shodan — Shorinji-Ryu Karate
• 1982Yondan — Shorinji-Ryu Karate (4th degree)
• 1985Godan — Shobukan Goju Karate (5th degree); Shobukan U.S. Director
• 1985Nidan — Matayoshi Kobudo (2nd degree)
• 1987Rokudan — Shobukan Goju Karate (6th degree)
• 1993Godan and Shihan appointment — Jinbukan Kobudo
• 1998Renshi — Ufuchiku Kobujutsu
• 2000Nidan — Jikishin Iaido
• 2007Sandan — Jikishin Iaido (3rd degree)
• 2012Hachidan — TMAI Hanshi (8th degree)
• 2022Kudan — TMAI Soke (9th degree)

Organizations founded

• Okinawa Karate Referee Association (OKRA) — Founder and first President
• “HABU” Military Martial Arts Team, Okinawa — Founder and Head Coach
• Traditional Martial Arts International (Puerto Rico, Chile, Peru, Germany, Haiti, Venezuela, USA) — Founder
• Okinawa Tanzenbukan Goju-Ryu Karate-Do — Founder and Chief Instructor
• Kokusai Ryukyu Kobujutsu Kenkyokai — Founder and Chief Instructor
• Professional Association of Traditional Martial Arts (PATMA) — Co-Founder; President for three years
• First World Martial Arts Championship for people with disabilities — Founder
• Possibilities Unlimited International — Founder, President and CEO
• First officially recognized Kobudo Federation in Venezuela — Founder
• Sekai Dento Budo Renmei — Co-Founder and Executive Director
• Origins Productions, LLC — CEO; Executive Director, 2011 Origins International Martial Arts Festival
• Southern California Karate Federation — President
• United States Professional Martial Arts on Disability — CEO
• Southern California Martial Arts Championship, LLC — CEO
• MindBodySpirit — Co-Founder
• ISAN Martial Arts — Founder and CEO

References

Biography and accomplishments provided by Soke Anthony C. Marquez.