Deshi

Since first opening his dojo in 1988, Onaga sensei has taken few students and even fewer "Deshi". In Japanese the word for student is "seito" and is used in the same way would would use it in English. Whereas the world "Deshi" woud best translate as "disciple".

Their is a special two way bond between a teacher and a disciple that doesn't exist with the standard student-teacher relationship. In an okinawan dojo being recognized as someone's deshi is a great honor, and a huge responsibility. The students will need to be seen behaving as deshi, long before the teacher will recognize him as one. The core differences are to do with the Japanese sense of "Giri" and Reigi Saho (respect and etiquette).

Of the few people Onaga sensei has accepted as Deshi over his nearly 40 years of teaching most are still active, this shows the commitment deshi feel towards Onaga sensei. And in return sensei has structured his new organization around these people. Each one of his active deshi represent a branch of the organization, or what is referred to as a "Shibu" with each branch head instructor as the Shibu-cho.

Below is a list of Deshi with authority to  manage Shinjinbukan branches.

Michiko Onaga - 6th dan - Onaga sensei's daughter and most senior student, Instructor of the Hombu dojo (Headquarters)

Yoshihiko Shinzato - 5th dan - and the only student from the original first generation of students at the Chinen-so high school dojo. instructor of the Planation dojo and Shibu-cho supervising Fukushibu dojo (sub-branches) in Tennessee and Peru.

Tooru Miyahira - 5th dan - a student of Onaga sensei at the Kyudokan  and part of the first generation of students at the Shinjinbukan. Opened the first branch Japanese shibu dojo.

Miguel Angel Ramos - 5th dan - first student to start teaching Onaga sensei's Karate outside of Okinawa, Shibu-cho with dojo in Argentina.

Daniel Kogan - 5th dan - was the first uchi-deshi (live-in disciple at the Hombu dojo) introduced Shinjinbukan karate to North America, this branch's main dojo is in Issaquah WA, has dojo in the USA, Canada and Taiwan.

Jimmy Mora - 4th dan - was accepted as a student and then Uchi deshi while serving on Okinawa, this branch's main dojo is in New York city, and has dojo in Riga Latvia and Lyon France.

Walter Palomeque - 4th dan - private branch dojo in Argentina

Devorah Dometrich - 3rd dan - private branch dojo in Kentucky USA